Prognostic value of multiple-frequency tympanometry in acute otitis media.

Multiple-frequency tympanometry (MFT) and conventional 226-Hz tympanometry were performed in 86 ears of children affected by acute otitis media (AOM) after therapy. In a 3-month follow-up period, the recurrence rate of AOM and persistence of middle-ear effusion in these children were evaluated in comparison with the early results of the two methods, as well as the relation of MFT findings to the possibility of development of AOM sequelae. It seems that abnormal resonant frequency values and recordings by MFT right after an episode of AOM indicate persistence of changes in the mass and stiffness balance of the middle ear, not demonstrated by conventional tympanometry, that could be responsible for a higher probability of AOM sequelae.

Resistance pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae in children during a four-year period in Greece.

The resistance pattern of 432 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from children with various infections over a 4-year period (1992-1995) was determined. The rates of resistance to penicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin, clindamycin, cefotaxime, and vancomycin were 10%, 2.8%, 4.

Nutritional considerations in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

Bone marrow transplantation is often associated with multiple organ failure which is usually reversible. Oral mucositis and dysphagia, vomiting, diarrhoea, protein losing enteropathy, transient exocrine pancreatic impairment, hypoalbuminaemia, biochemical trace element and mineral deficiencies are all common following transplantation and have profound nutritional consequences. Malnutrition affects negatively the clinical outcome.

Cat scratch disease in Greece.

An indirect fluorescent antibody test for Bartonella henselae, B quintana, and B elizabethae was performed in all 18 children who presented to our paediatric outpatient clinic with cat scratch disease over a six year period. Serum samples were taken on admission, after 15 days, and after six months. Diagnosis was confirmed in 15 patients (83%) and was based on seroconversion or a fourfold change of the antibody titre to B henselae in 12 patients and on a single high titre (> 128) in three patients.

Arterial blood pressure changes in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic nephropathy may develop in childhood and is often related to hypertension. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressures were measured in 63 children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and were compared with those of 54 healthy siblings. The patients were without clinical complications.

Epidemiology of community-acquired Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in children.

The epidemiology of community-acquired Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in children during a one-year period (January through December 1993) was evaluated. A total of 6,859 clinical samples, each one representing a separate individual with suspected infection, were cultured. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from 218 children with various infections occurring in the following order of frequency: chronic suppurative otitis media, 76.

Peritonsillar abscess in children. Is incision and drainage an effective management?

Debate continues concerning proper management of peritonsillar abscess (PA). We studied 189 children (mean age, 9 years) admitted in our department during the last 7 years with the diagnosis of PA. Management consisted of incision and drainage (performed in 92.

Evaluation of acoustic reflectometry in detecting otitis media in children.

Accurate detection of middle-ear effusion in children is not only useful but also necessary for diagnosis, management and follow-up of otitis media. A relatively new device, the Acoustic Otoscope (model 101, ENT Medical Devices) has been introduced for detecting middle-ear fluid in children. We tested 158 ears and the diagnosis was confirmed by acoustic admittance, acoustic reflex and pneumatic otoscopy.