Leda Solano de Freitas Souza

Avaliação da atenção à saúde através da investigação de óbitos infantis

All deaths of children under one year of age and residing in the Pau da Lima Health District, in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, during the year 1991 were investigated through home visits and analysis of patient files. The study measured effectiveness of health services by verifying potentially avoidable deaths and the level of medical care these children received. More than half of the total of 47 deaths were related to causes considered amenable to prompt action by health services; 10 (21.3%) of the deaths occurred at home or in public (outside of health care facilities). Loss of information occurred in 36 (76.6%) of the mothers interviews, related to incomplete information on the death certificate and to changes of address. Analysis of patient files in the health clinics showed a 58.3% loss of information, indicating low-quality organization of hospital statistics; there was a prevalence of consultations classified as inadequate or barely adequate, due mainly to problems with physical examination and treatment. Despite this studys operational limitations, the results point to problems of access, effectiveness, and adequacy in the health care process.

OSAS in children: clinical and polysomnographic respiratory profile

UNLABELLED Obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome in children (osas) has an estimated prevalence of up to 3% and can be associated with neurocognitive and behavioural abnormalities, and also cardiovascular complications. This study may help pediatricians, who are unaware of the problem, to recognize osas. STUDY DESIGN series of cases. AIM to describe the clinical characteristics and polysomnographic respiratory findings in a population of children with obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome referred to the sleep laboratory from january 2002 up to july 2003. METHODS we studied 93 patients between 2 and 10 years of age with polysomnographic diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome. Age, gender, racial group and questions about the childrens health and sleep related disorders were evaluated. Apnea-hypopnea index, oxyhemoglobin desaturation, and arousal index were evaluated too. RESULTS males represented 61.3%, With a mean age of 5.2+/-2.1 (Years-old). The complaints that most commonly lead to the exams were snoring in 24.7% And restless sleep in 24.7%. Associated medical conditions frequently reported were allergic rhinitis (98.9%) And adenoid hypertrophy (50.6%). Mild apnea was found in 66%. The mean and sd of spo2 nadir was 89.1+/-3.5% And the mean and sd of the number of arousals was 8.4+/-3.5/Hour of sleep. CONCLUSION the results suggest the possibility that obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome should be suspected in children with allergic diseases and adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy with snoring and restless sleep complaints.

Estudo de infecções respiratórias agudas virais em crianças atendidas em um centro pediátrico em Salvador (BA)

From January to December 1998, 482 cases of acute respiratory infections in children attended at the emergence or pediatric wards of Centro Pediatrico Professor Hosannah de Oliveira, of Universidade Federal da Bahia, in Salvador (Brazil), were analysed. The aim of this study was to know data about the role of viruses in these infections. Nasopharyngeal secretions were examined for viruses by indirect immunofluorescence and cell culture. Viruses were detected in 154 (31.9%) cases. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most prevalent (55.2%), followed by influenza A (17.5%), parainfluenza 3 (16.2%), adenoviruses (7.1%), influenza B (3.8%) and parainfluenza 1 (0.64 %). The epidemic period of RSV was related to the rainy season. One outbreak of influenza was observed from September to November. The majority of the infections were represented by upper respiratory tract infection (63.3%) while lower respiratory tract infections were detected in 177 (36.7%) cases. Viral acute respiratory infections were more frequent in children until one year of age (72.7%).

Ecological correlation among prevalence of asthma symptoms, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema with notifications of tuberculosis and measles in the Brazilian population

This study aims to assess the relationship among incidence of tuberculosis and measles, in the general population, within the year of birth and the prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema in teenagers from different Brazilian cities enrolled in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) phases I and III. Positive answers to the questions: ‘Have you had wheezing or whistling in the chest in the past 12 months?’, ‘In the past 12 months, has this nose problem been accompanied by itchy‐watery eyes?’ and ‘Has this itchy rash at any time affected any of the following places: the folds of the elbows, behind the knees, in front of the ankles, under the buttocks, or around the neck, ears or eyes?’ identified the teenagers with asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema, respectively. The incidence of tuberculosis and measles, in the general population, observed in the year of birth of the enrolled teenagers (1981/82 and 1988/89) were obtained from governmental agencies: National Foundation of Health (FUNASA) and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). They were compared with the prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema reported in both ISAAC phases I and III. Although we observed reduction of the incidence of tuberculosis and measles in the general population in all cities, the prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema remained stable in most of the centers. In Pernambuco and Paraná, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis. These data do not corroborate the findings of an inverse relationship between the prevalence of atopic diseases and the decreasing incidence of tuberculosis and measles.

Inalador dosimetrado com espaçador artesanal versus nebulizador no tratamento da crise de sibilância na criança

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of salbutamol administration by metered-dose inhaler with a home-made spacer versus jet nebulizer in children with moderate wheezing attacks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized, single-blinded trial was performed with a convenience sample of children presenting wheezing. The children were enrolled in an emergency room and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: home-made spacer group or nebulizer group. Clinical scores and oxygen saturation were recorded at baseline and 15 minutes after salbutamol administration. Treatment with salbutamol (100 µg/3 kg in the spacer group, and 250 µg/3 kg in the nebulizer group) was repeated at 20-minute intervals, until the child was considered to have improved significantly, with no need of any further dose, or until three doses were delivered. Treatment cost, time spent to prepare and deliver the drug, and level of parental satisfaction with the treatment were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-four children with age between 22 days and 11.7 years were enrolled - 27 in each group. Baseline and demographic characteristics were similar for both groups. The spacer was as effective as the nebulizer in terms of clinical score and oxygen saturation. The different doses (100 µg/3 kg with the spacer, and 250 µg/3 kg with the nebulizer) were shown to be clinically equivalent. Treatment cost was significantly lower in the spacer group, as was the time to prepare and deliver the drug. Parental satisfaction was similar for both inhaler devices. CONCLUSION: The home-made spacer with a metered-dose inhaler is a cost-effective alternative to a jet nebulizer in the delivery of salbutamol to children with moderate wheezing attacks.

Intervenções educativas em asma na infância: uma revisão analítica da literatura

A review of the literature published from 1992 to 2002 was performed in order to evaluate educational interventions for asthmatics from 0 to 18 years of age and to identify characteristics related to the efficacy of such interventions. Various databases were used, and a manual search of the references found in the studies selected was conducted. Thirty-nine studies (including 27 controlled studies) were selected, and, although presenting varying results, these studies provided valuable insights into the validity of education in the control of pediatric asthma. The studies evaluated the following parameters: morbidity, use of health care services, quality of life, pulmonary function, knowledge of the disease and self-care abilities. In 32 studies (82%), a beneficial effect was attributed to one or more of the variables. Among the 27 controlled studies, 85.7% presented evidence of improvement in self-care abilities, 83.3% demonstrated increased knowledge, 80% showed a reduction in diurnal and nocturnal asthma symptoms, 71.4% demonstrated fewer unscheduled medical visits, 66.6% showed that the capacity for physical activity increased, 54.5% reported fewer hospital admissions, 50% demonstrated fewer emergency room visits, 50% presented evidence of improved pulmonary function, 22,2% showed fewer school absences, and 20% found an improvement in quality of life. Among the educational programs reviewed, the number of topics was the only characteristic that was found to correlate with the degree of efficacy. The use of sophisticated educational techniques did not lead to better results. Although asthma education programs for children and adolescents has beneficial effects, further studies with better control of confounding variables are needed in order to evaluate the efficacy of such programs with greater precision.

Phadiatop® in the diagnosis of respiratory allergy in children: Allergy Project - PROAL

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a positividade do Phadiatop® em criancas acompanhadas em servicos brasileiros de alergologia e compara-la aos resultados de IgE serica especifica a alergenos inalantes e alimentares. CASUISTICA E METODO: Em 457 criancas acompanhadas em servicos de alergia pediatrica e um grupo de criancas controle nao-alergicas (n = 62), distribuidas em cinco faixas etarias, foram determinados em amostra de soro: Phadiatop® e IgE especifica (RAST) a alergenos inalantes e alimentares (UniCAP - Pharmacia®). RESULTADOS: O Phadiatop® foi positivo em 305 criancas atopicas (67,6%) e em 25,8% das controles (p < 0,001). Entre as criancas atopicas, a distribuicao de positividade variou de acordo com a faixa etaria: 7,9% (24/305) entre as abaixo de 2 anos, 15,4% (47/305) nas de 2 a 3 anos, 22,0% (67/305) nas de 3 a 4 anos, 19,3% (59/305) nas de 4 a 5 anos e 35,4% (108/305) nas de 5 a 12 anos. Nao houve concordância entre os alergenos alimentares e a presenca de Phadiatop® positivo. O estudo da relacao entre os RAST positivos para alergenos inalados e o Phadiatop® positivo mostrou melhores indices com os acaros domiciliares (D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae e Blomia tropicalis). CONCLUSOES: O Phadiatop®e metodo util no diagnostico de alergia aos acaros domiciliares.

Aerosol therapy in childhood asthma

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this review are to present research data about aerosoltherapy and to discuss the optimization of this form of drug administration.METHOD: Review of the literature, covering some of the most important studies about aerosoltherapy, inhaler devices, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of inhaled drugs.RESULTS: Factors that influence deposition pattern and pharmacokinetics of inhaled drugs are discussed, as well as how they can affect clinical efficacy. Positive and negative features of inhaler devices are compared; an attempt to establish dose equivalency of drug delivered by different devices is made.CONCLUSIONS: Different inhaler devices and different inhaling techniques produce different drug deposition patterns and clinical effects. So, those who deal with aerosoltherapy, including patients, must be well aware of all those issues, in order to achieve the best results.

Chlamydia trachomatis: a major agent of respiratory infections in infants from low-income families

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) due to Chlamydia trachomatis in newborn infants and to describe the clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of the disease. METHODS A cross-sectional study carried out over a 12-month period. All infants up to 6 months of age admitted consecutively at the Centro Pediátrico Professor Hosannah de Oliveira of the Universidade Federal da Bahia in Salvador, Brazil, and diagnosed with LRTI according to clinical and/or radiological criteria were included in the study. C. trachomatis infection was diagnosed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of IgM-class antibodies. The prevalence of LRTI by C. trachomatis was determined and the prevalence ratios for the infection and clinical or laboratory variables were calculated. RESULTS One hundred and fifty-one infants were submitted to serology for C. trachomatis and 15 (9.9%) tested positive. Chlamydial infection was found only in infants under 5 months of age, mainly in those aged under 2 months. Three of the infants with C. trachomatis infection were born by cesarean section. Conjunctivitis and eosinophilia had occurred in 33.3% of the cases. Chest X rays were abnormal in 92.0% of cases. There was an association between C. trachomatis infection and the duration of hospitalization exceeding 15 days (p = 0.0398) and oxygen therapy (p = 0.0484). CONCLUSIONS There was a high prevalence of C. trachomatis respiratory infection in the population studied. The infection was associated with a more severe form of the disease, emphasizing the importance of testing pregnant women for this infection to avoid infection in the newborn infant.

Experiência de Alunos de Graduação em Medicina com a Estratégia AIDPI

SOUZA, E.L.S., et al. Experiência de Alunos de Graduação em Medicina com a Estratégia AIDPI. In: CUNHA, A. J. L. A., BENGUIGUI, Y., and SILVA, M. A. S. F., orgs. Atenção integrada às doenças prevalentes na infância: implantação e avaliação no Brasil [online]. Rio de Janeiro: Editora FIOCRUZ, 2006, pp. 243-267. ISBN: 978-85-7541-604-4. Available from: doi: 10.7476/9788575416044.0015. Also available in ePUB from: http://books.scielo.org/id/v3d7g/epub/cunha-9788575416044.epub.