Browsing by Author "Feio, Ana"
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- Scurvy in a 5-Year-Old Girl - A Re-emerging DiagnosisCorreia de Azevedo, Aida; Rodrigues, Ana Sofia; Feio, Ana; Faria, João; Andrade, Beatriz; Rolim, Sara; Sequeira, AlexandraMonotonous diets may lead to various nutritional deficits, which in turn can result in diseases such as scurvy. A five-year-old girl presented with a one-month history of anorexia, inability to walk, and bleeding gums. Her daily dietary intake consisted almost exclusively of chocolate milk at every meal. Due to frequent missed appointments with her family doctor and her parents’ limited parenting skills, the condition remained undiagnosed for nearly two years. Serum vitamin C levels were undetectable, while vitamin D and iron levels were low. Knee X-rays revealed Trümmerfeld zones, Frankel lines, and an enlarged metaphyseal margin. The diagnosis of scurvy was established, and a multidisciplinary approach was implemented, including iron, vitamin C, and vitamin D supplementation, alongside behavioral intervention. The patient achieved full recovery. Although scurvy is generally a rare disease, its prevalence has been increasing due to unbalanced and monotonous diets. It can cause a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, and its diagnosis is based on anamnesis, physical examination, and complementary tests. Treatment involves vitamin C supplementation, with an overall excellent prognosis.
- Sleep habits and screen use in an adolescent population during the COVID-19 pandemicVieira, Paula Manuel; Cascais, Inês; Alba, Diana; Bernardo, Ana; Faria, João; Feio, Ana; Coelho, Margarida Paiva; Ribeiro, Maria do Céu; Gomes, Lúcia; Fonseca, Paula; Rios, MartaIntroduction: Screen use among adolescents has increased, with excessive screen time associated with poor sleep. Isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated these problems. This study aimed to characterize adolescents’ sleep and screen use behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.Methods: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive study of adolescents aged 10 to 18 years evaluated in an Adolescent Medicine outpatient visit of four hospitals in northern Portugal between January and March 2021. Adolescents completed a survey with questions about screen use and sleep and the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (Portuguese version).Results: A total of 131 adolescents (66.4% female; median age 15 years) were enrolled during the study period. Participants reported a median sleep duration of nine hours on weekdays and 10 hours on weekends, with 25.9% sleeping less than eight hours on weekdays. Approximately 80% reported good or very good sleep quality. Onset insomnia was identified in 39.7% and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in 13.7%. Most adolescents (74.0%) reported screen time of ≥6 hours/day. Screens were mainly used for attending classes and talking to friends. Smartphones were available in the bedroom at night for 83.2%, while 61.1% had televisions, 57.3% had computers, and 16.0% had gaming consoles in their bedrooms. Fifty-five percent used screens within an hour of bedtime every day. Screen time ≥6 hours/day and having a computer or smartphone in the bedroom at night were associated with shorter sleep duration on weekdays and EDS. Screen use within an hour of bedtime ≥4 times/week was associated with sleep-onset insomnia, shorter weekday sleep duration, and EDS. Discussion: Online classes during the COVID-19 lockdown may explain the use of devices ≥6 hours/day. Although most adolescents reported normal median sleep time and subjective good or very good sleep quality, screen use ≥6 hours/day and within one hour before bedtime was associated with sleep deprivation on weekdays and EDS.Conclusions: Excessive screen time during the pandemic appears to have had a negative impact on adolescents’ sleep. These findings underscore the importance of identifying and intervening in these issues when addressing adolescent global health.