Long-term effects of short-acting methylphenidate on growth rates of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health.

Background: Methylphenidate (MPH) is generally considered to be first-line treatment for the core symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Long-term administration of MPH in childhood may have adverse effects on growth.

Objective: To determine the effect of long-term, short-acting MPH medication on growth.

The effect of teacher education on the prevalence of obesity in kindergarten children.

Background: Childhood obesity is increasing worldwide and becoming an important health problem in both the children's current life and their later years. Providing kindergarten teachers with the knowledge should reduce the severity of obesity and prevent childhood obesity.

Objective: To monitor the prevalence of over-nutrition and obesity in kindergarten children for 3 years, and to evaluate the effects of teacher education on the prevalence of over-nutrition and obesity.

Trend study of autistic spectrum disorders at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health.

Background: Increases in the incidence and prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders have been reported recently in the United States and Europe, but there are only a few reports on the trend of this problem in Thailand.

Objectives: To study trend in autistic spectrum disorder patients and to find the factors that correlate with the incidence of this disorder at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health.

Material And Method: A hospital-based prospective trend study was conducted in patients aged less than 12 years old, who attended the Child and Adolescent Department, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok, form January 1998 to December 2002.

Linear growth of prepubertal asthmatic Thai children receiving long-term inhaled corticosteroids.

Background: Long-term inhaled corticosteroids are recommended in persistent asthma in children. The aim of this study was to determine the growth rate of asthmatic Thai children who received long-term inhaled corticosteroids.

Method: This controlled clinical trial was carried out on 145 prepubertal asthmatic Thai children, 81 in the study group (the group who received long-term inhaled corticosteroids) and 64 in the control group.