[Perinatal tuberculosis--diagnostic and therapeutic approach].

Introduction: The number of people suffering from tuberculosis has increased rapidly in the whole world over the past three decades. The classical age distribution of disease has also changed. According to the epidemiological data the number of pregnant women having tuberculosis has also risen with the resulting increase in the incidence of perinatal tuberculosis.

The influence of inhaled fluticasone on bone metabolism and calciuria in asthmatic children.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids have become the first-line medication for treatment of childhood asthma. Possible adverse effects, such as those on bone metabolism and urinary excretion of calcium are in the focus of interest. We investigated the influence of inhaled fluticasone on bone metabolism and renal excretion of calcium, sodium, and potassium in asthmatic children.

[Childhood asthma and risk factors].

Introduction: This article summarizes the contribution of epidemiology to the understanding of childhood asthma. The first task in epidemiology is to determine prevalence and incidence of any disease.

Prevalence: Epidemiological investigations are aimed at evaluating hypotheses about causes of disease by defining demographic characteristics of a certain population as well as by determining possible effects of environmental factors.

[Possibilities of the primary and secondary prophylaxis in treatment of childhood asthma].

Introduction: The natural course of asthma is unpredictable and appears to be unaffected by any therapeutic strategy. Under such circumstances, the attention must be focused on the opportunities for prevention of a disease which is chronic, life long and incurable, even thought it can be very effectively controlled. During the past decades, a lot of a studies have been performed and started, in which relatively large numbers of children were included and followed prospectively to determine the incidence of risk factors for asthma in childhood.

Innovative approach to laser acupuncture therapy of acute obstruction in asthmatic children.

A prospective randomized study encompassed 100 patients with asthma in the stage of acute bronchial obstruction, 7 to 17 years of age, of both sexes and with the similar rate of attack severity. The patients were spirometrically monitored (FVC, FEV1, PEF and FEF 25-75%) by a pediatrician-pulmonologist for 12 days. Fifty patients were subjected to conservative drug therapy, whereas other 50 patients additionally underwent the Su Jok therapy according to the 6-Ki principles, applying laser ray at the acupuncture points in the hand.

[Reference values for the peak expiratory flow].

Introduction: Peak expiratory flow (PEF) is an important screening method for investigation and follow-up of the pulmonary function. Since reading the obtained PEF results requires reference values, the aim of this study was to establish normal values for PEF in our adolescent population.

Material And Methods: The investigation included 1154 healthy teenagers aged from 15 to 19 years using a peak flow meter Harlow, Essex CM 2ED.