A.B.F. Fomin

Secondary hypogammaglobilinemia after use of carbamazepine: case report and review

Immunologic disorders related to anticonvulsant therapy have been described in the last three decades, including cellular and humoral alterations that result in recurrent infections; however, the physiopathologic mechanisms are not completely understood. This report describes a patient with complex partial epilepsy and hypogammaglobulinemia while in treatment with carbamazepine, with significant improvement in clinical signs and laboratory tests after substitution to sodium valproate. The authors stress the importance of clinical and laboratory evaluation of patients in continuous anticonvulsant therapy, including immunoglobulins levels and peripheral blood evaluations.

Repelentes de insetos: recomendações para uso em crianças

ABSTRACT Objective: To present a literature review about the use of insect repellents on children, highlighting the protection against mosquitoes. Data sources : Pubmed and Lilacs databases were searched for articles in English and Portuguese published in the last ten years with the following key-words: “insect repellents”, “chil-dren”, “mosquitoes”, “N,N-dietil-metatoluamida (DEET)”. Data synthesis : Concerning topical repellents, DEET, icaridine and natural oil of lemon eucalyptus are effective to prevent mosquito bites in children and adults and have favorable safety profile when used in appropriate concentra-tion. They are generally recommended for children older than two years-old. Physical barriers are essential for infant protection, especially if they are six months old or less, with special interest in the permethrin-treated nets. Conclusions: Mosquitoes are vectors of a variety of infectious and parasitic diseases which annually affect millions of people and cause thousands of deaths world-wide. The combat to mosquitoes includes individual and environmental measures. Topic repellents for children’s individual protection demand specific handling attention and knowledge about the ideal product for each age, espe-cially regarding their efficacy and safety.