Pain in children and adults with cystic fibrosis: a comparative study.

Pain is a potential complication of cystic fibrosis (CF), but its consequences in daily life and other issues of pain management are not yet clearly understood. We undertook a comparative study of children and adults with CF to assess the prevalence of pain symptoms, their characteristics and treatment, their impact on daily quality of life, and the occurrence of procedural pain. The study included 73 children (1-18 years) and 110 adults (18-52 years); 59% of the children and 89% of the adults reported at least one episode of pain during the previous month.

Glutathione S-transferases related to P. aeruginosa lung infection in cystic fibrosis children: preliminary study.

Objectives: In cystic fibrosis (CF) children, we investigated the predictive impact of glutathione S-transferases (GST) activity and genotypes P1, M1 and T1, and antioxidant levels on stage-severity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection.

Methods: GST activity was determined in whole blood by spectrophotometry, and GST genotypes by multiplex PCR RFLP for 36 CF and 9 control children. Levels of glutathione in erythrocyte and vitamins A, E and C in plasma were measured by HPLC.

Posttraumatic stress disorder in children affected by sickle-cell disease and their parents.

Children affected with sickle-cell disease experience painful crises that may be life threatening, or felt as if they were. We evaluated by semistructured interviews and questionnaires the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder in 11 children affected by sickle-cell disease and having suffered at least one hospitalization for a painful crisis, and in their parents (10 mothers, 1 father). Three children (27%) and four parents (40%) were diagnosed with the disorder.