Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug hypersensitivity in children.

Introduction: There are rather few publications about hypersensitivity reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) in the paediatric age. In this study, we aimed to assess the frequency of confirmed NSAID hypersensitivity in children with a previous reported reaction to NSAID in order to investigate the role of the drug provocation test (DPT) in the diagnostic workup and to explore the factors associated with confirmed NSAID hypersensitivity.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical files from every patient under 18 years old who attended two Portuguese paediatric allergy outpatient clinics, from January 2009 to August 2014, due to a suspected NSAID hypersensitivity.

Severe Israeli spotted fever with multiorgan failure in a child.

An increased risk of severe and fatal Israeli spotted fever (ISF) has been observed in adults, mostly associated with ISF strain. Here, we report a case of severe ISF with multiorgan failure in a Portuguese child.

Nocturnal blood pressure dipping in acute ischemic stroke.

Objectives: We aim to assess the impact of early nocturnal blood pressure (BP) variation in the functional outcome of patients after an acute ischemic stroke.

Materials And Methods: We included consecutive stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVrtPA) in a tertiary stroke center. BP measurements were performed at regular intervals throughout day and night during the first 48 h after stroke onset, and subjects were divided into four dipping categories (extreme dippers, dippers, non-dippers, and reverse dippers).

Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Lacking PVL, as a Cause of Severe Invasive Infection Treated with Linezolid.

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is an emerging public health problem worldwide. Severe invasive infections have been described, mostly associated with the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). In Portugal limited information exists regarding CA-MRSA infections.

Biological and physiological markers of tactile sensorial processing in healthy newborns.

The main objective of this review is to provide a descriptive analysis of the biological and physiological markers of tactile sensorial processing in healthy, full-term newborns. Research articles were selected according to the following study design criteria: (a) tactile stimulation for touch sense as an independent variable; (b) having at least one biological or physiological variable as a dependent variable; and (c) the group of participants were characterized as full-term and healthy newborns; a mixed group of full-term newborns and preterm newborns; or premature newborns with appropriate-weight-for-gestational age and without clinical differences or considered to have a normal, healthy somatosensory system. Studies were then grouped according to the dependent variable type, and only those that met the aforementioned three major criteria were described.

Rupture of an unscarred uterus diagnosed in the puerperium: a rare occurrence.

We describe a rare case report of unscarred uterus rupture (UR) diagnosed in the puerperium after a vacuum extraction (VE) delivery of a healthy newborn. In this instance, no risk factors were found apart from the use of VE in the setting of prolonged deceleration. The suspicion of the diagnosis was made because of the patient's constant distressing abdominal pain with peritoneal signs as well as a drop in haemoglobin.

Early ''relapse'' after herpetic encephalitis: extensive white matter lesions in an infant with interferon production deficit.

Acute secondary neurological deterioration after herpes simplex encephalitis has been reported. An immune-mediated process is thought to be responsible for some cases. The authors report the case of an infant who presented with fever, irritability, and orofacial involuntary movements, 15 days after herpes encephalitis onset.

Drug provocation tests to betalactam antibiotics: experience in a paediatric setting.

Background: Few studies have been performed in children with suspected betalactam allergy. We aimed to assess the role of the drug provocation test (DPT) with betalactams in a paediatric setting and to study the association between allergy to betalactam antibiotics and other allergic diseases.

Methods: We included all the patients under 15 years old who were consecutively referred to the Immunoallergy Department, Dona Estefânia Hospital, Portugal (January 2002 to April 2008) for a compatible history of allergic reaction to betalactam.

Fractures in children and adolescents with spina bifida: the experience of a Portuguese tertiary-care hospital.

Aim: The morbidity associated with osteoporosis and fractures in children and adolescents with spina bifida highlights the importance of osteoporosis prevention and treatment in these patients. The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence and pattern of bone fractures in paediatric patients with spina bifida.

Method: We reviewed the data of all paediatric patients with spina bifida who were treated in our centre between 1999 and 2008.

Under-report and underdiagnosis of chronic respiratory diseases in an African country.

Background: Chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) are greatly underestimated. The aim of this study was to assess the burden associated with reported CRD and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as defined on the basis of various standardized criteria, by estimating their point prevalence in a sample of individuals attending the Primary Health Care (PHC) level and Emergency Room (ER) Departments in Cape Verde (CV) archipelago. The second aim of the study was to identify factors related to airways obstruction and reported CRD in this population.

Mastocytosis: a rare case of anaphylaxis in paediatric age and literature review.

The term "mastocytosis" denotes a heterogeneous group of disorders characterised by abnormal growth and accumulation of mast cells (MC) in one or more organ systems. Symptoms result from MC chemical mediator's release, pathologic infiltration of neoplastic MC in tissues or both. Multiple molecular, genetic and chromosomal defects seem to contribute to an autonomous growth, but somatic c-kit D816V mutation is more frequently encountered, especially in systemic disease.

Risk factors for asthma symptoms at school age: an 8-year prospective study.

Childhood recurrent wheezing is a very prevalent heterogeneous clinical entity. An 8-year prospective study was performed to correlate the clinical outcome of recurrent wheezing in the first years of life with prognostic risk factors. A cohort of 308 children with recurrent wheezing, aged <7 years, were enrolled in 1993, studied using a questionnaire, skin-prick tests, and serum total IgE.

Barnacle allergy: allergen characterization and cross-reactivity with mites.

Background: Barnacles are a type of seafood with worldwide distribution and abundant along the shores of temperate seas. They are particularly appreciated and regularly consumed in Portugal as well as in Spain, France and South America, but barnacle allergy is a rare condition of which there is only one reference in the indexed literature. The molecular allergens and possible cross-reactivity phenomena implicated (namely with mites) have not been established.

In vitro methods for specific IgE detection in cow's milk allergy.

Background: A new method for determining serum specific IgE (IMMULITE 2000 3gAllergy) has recently become available.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical performance of IMMULITE 2000 in the diagnosis of cow's milk allergy compared with that of UniCAP. Additionally, we verified the behavior of both methods at two diagnostic decision points proposed by other authors.

Prevalence of asthma in a Portuguese countryside town: repercussions on absenteeism and self-concept.

Background: Childhood asthma represents an increasing health problem and is the leading cause of hospital admission and absenteeism in children with chronic disease. It also compromises quality of life, eventually contributing to disturbances in self-concept. Self-concept is a recent and global perspective of "the self" and relates to skills, self-image and self-esteem.

Cold urticaria and infectious mononucleosis in children.

Physical urticaria includes a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the development of urticarial lesions and/or angioedema after exposure to certain physical stimuli. The authors present the case of a child with severe acquired cold urticaria secondary to infectious mononucleosis. Avoidance of exposure to cold was recommended; prophylactic treatment with ketotifen and cetirizine was begun and a self-administered epinephrine kit was prescribed.

Risk factors for asthma admissions in children.

Bronchial asthma is related to a high morbidity rate, leading to an increasing frequency of emergency room visits and hospital admissions. The aim of this study was to identify severity risk factors for childhood asthma related to hospitalization. The authors studied 124 children admitted to the hospital for asthma, during a 2-year period, correlating the obtained data with a sample of outpatients with asthma matched by age, gender, and socioeconomic status.

Risk factors for latex sensitization in children with spina bifida.

Background: Children with spina bifida represent the major risk group for latex sensitization.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of latex sensitization in these children and to identify risk factors.

Material And Methods: We studied 57 patients with spina bifida.