Luis R. C. M. Bonilha

Acidentes de mordeduras de cães na infância

The incidence of dog bites injuries among children aged 0 to 15 years seen at CSE D. Pedro I health center in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, in the period of 1993 to 1997, was studied. The results show that there is a need to develop and implement educational and preventive programs about the risks and severity of accidents occurred while in contact with dogs.Estudou-se a incidencia de casos de mordeduras caninas atendidas em uma unidade basica de saude da cidade de Ribeirao Preto, SP, no periodo de 1993 a 1997, entre criancas com idades de 0 a 15 anos. Os dados encontrados mostraram a importância de se promover programas educativos sobre os riscos dessas ocorrencias para evitar acidentes causados por contatos com caes.

Nível sérico de zinco e sua associação com deficiência de vitamina A em crianças pré-escolares

OBJECTIVES: To identify the prevalence of zinc deficiency in a population with high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency; to verify whether zinc deficiency is associated with vitamin A deficiency in the population studied; to verify risk factors for zinc deficiency (sex, age, diarrhea and fever). METHOD: Cross-sectional study of 182 healthy children aged > 24 months and 48 and 48 and < 60 months tended to have lower zinc serum levels than children of other ages. Zinc serum levels were not changed by previous diarrhea and/or fever.

Detection of vitamin A deficiency in Brazilian preschool children using the serum 30-day dose–response test

Background: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is endemic in Brazil and health professionals have difficulty in recognizing its subclinical form. In addition, serum retinol concentrations do not always represent vitamin A status in the organism.Objective: To identify VAD in preschool children by the serum 30-day dose–response test (+S30DR) and to examine its potential as a tool for the assessment of vitamin A status in the community.Design: A prospective transverse study in which blood samples were obtained from 188 preschool children for the determination of serum retinol concentrations and the children were submitted to ocular inspection and anthropometric measurements. Information about the presence of diarrhea and/or fever during the 15 days preceding the study was also obtained. The children received an oral dose of 200,000 IU vitamin A immediately after the first blood collection. A second blood sample was obtained 30–45 days after supplementation in order to determine the +S30DR.Results: In all, 74.5% (140/188; 95% confidence interval: 68.3–80.7%) of the children presented +S30DR values indicative of low hepatic reserves. The mean serum retinol concentration was significantly lower before supplementation (0.92 and 1.65 μmol/l, respectively; P<0.0001). No child presented xerophthalmia; 3.7% (7/188) of the children were malnourished. The presence of fever and/or diarrhea during the 15 days preceding the first blood collection did not affect the +S30DR value.Conclusions: The prevalence of VAD in the study group was elevated. +S30DR proved to be a good indicator of subclinical VAD in children from an underdeveloped country.Sponsorship: The study was supported by School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Zinc serum levels and their association with vitamin A deficiency in preschool children

OBJECTIVES To identify the prevalence of zinc deficiency in a population with high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency; to verify whether zinc deficiency is associated with vitamin A deficiency in the population studied; to verify risk factors for zinc deficiency (sex, age, diarrhea and fever). METHOD Cross-sectional study of 182 healthy children aged > or = 24 months and < 72 months. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from fasting children to determine zinc serum levels. Information about presence of diarrhea and/or fever during the 15 days preceding the study was also obtained. Vitamin A deficiency was identified by a serum 30-day dose-response test (+S30DR). RESULTS Of the children studied, 0.5% (1/182) presented zinc serum levels < 65 microg/dL; however, 74.7% (136/182) of them had vitamin A deficiency. Zinc serum levels were not correlated with retinol serum levels. Zinc serum levels were not changed by previous diarrhea and/or fever. There was no difference in zinc levels between boys and girls. Children aged between > or = 48 and < 60 months tended to have lower zinc serum levels than children of other ages. CONCLUSION Zinc deficiency prevalence was low and did not represent a risk factor for vitamin A deficiency. Children aged between > or = 48 and < 60 months tended to have lower zinc serum levels than children of other ages. Zinc serum levels were not changed by previous diarrhea and/or fever.

Dog bites and accidents in children

The incidence of dog bites injuries among children aged 0 to 15 years seen at CSE D. Pedro I health center in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, in the period of 1993 to 1997, was studied. The results show that there is a need to develop and implement educational and preventive programs about the risks and severity of accidents occurred while in contact with dogs.Estudou-se a incidencia de casos de mordeduras caninas atendidas em uma unidade basica de saude da cidade de Ribeirao Preto, SP, no periodo de 1993 a 1997, entre criancas com idades de 0 a 15 anos. Os dados encontrados mostraram a importância de se promover programas educativos sobre os riscos dessas ocorrencias para evitar acidentes causados por contatos com caes.