RN&C: Ano de 2024
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Browsing RN&C: Ano de 2024 by Field of Science and Technology (FOS) "Ciências Médicas"
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- Anterior fontanelle closure time in 684 healthy Portuguese childrenCosta, Ricardo Craveiro; Salgado, Joana Rosmaninho; Oliveira, Daniela; Mendes, Francisca; Silva, Alexandre; Salgado, ManuelIntroduction and Aim: The timing of anterior fontanelle (AF) closure may be a useful marker for early disease detection. However, the few published studies on this topic have reported significant differences in the normal age ranges of AF closure between countries. The aim of this study was to report AF closure time in the Portuguese population during the last two decades.Methods: This was a 21-year retrospective observational study of healthy Portuguese children conducted from January 1999 to December 2019. Data on the age of AF closure were collected by a single pediatrician during outpatient child visits at specific ages (1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months) and during unscheduled visits due to appointment changes or illness. Clinically closed AF was defined as the absence of a depressible fontanelle on physical examination. AF closure time was calculated as the mean age between the age of the last palpable AF and the age of the first clinically closed AF. Results: A total of 684 children (gestational age ≥37 weeks, birth weight ≥2500 grams) were evaluated, of whom 364 (53.2%) were boys. The mean ± 1 standard deviation (SD) age of AF closure was 14.3 ± 4.9 months (range 2−33 months). The 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles, representing ± 2 SD of AF closure time, were 6 and 25 months, respectively. Other percentiles were P5 - 7 months, P25 - 11 months, P50 - 14 months, P75 - 16 months, and P95 - 22 months. Noteworthy, 0.6% and 3.1% of children had a closed AF at three and six months, respectively, while 2.9% still had an open AF at 24 months. AF closure occurred earlier in males than in females (13.6±4.7 vs. 15.1±5.0, p <0.001). A statistically significant difference was found in the mean ± 2 SD of the gender comparison (p=0.045).Conclusions: This study showed a normal distribution of AF closure age in Portuguese children. The acknowledgment of age-related variations in AF closure timing in different populations is important to raise clinicians’ awareness for timely suspicion and detection of pathologic cases and the need for clinical study.
- An atypical presentation of pediatric malignant spinal cord compressionGaia, Maria João; Lopes, Vilma; Tenente, Joana; Coelho, Janine; Real, Marta Vila; Santos, FátimaBackground: Malignant spinal cord compression (MSCC) is a rare but serious complication of pediatric malignancies that can result in permanent neurologic deficits. The prognosis depends on neurological symptoms at diagnosis. Case report: A nine-year-old girl was evaluated for worsening pain in the left anterior iliac spine with one month of evolution. Over the next two days, she showed progressive gait instability and low back pain. During hospitalization, she developed decreased strength and sensitivity in the lower limbs, hyperreflexia with clonus, Babinski sign, and inability to walk. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a compressive intracanalicular lesion at D8-12, later identified as Ewing sarcoma. The patient was treated and had no sequelae. Conclusion: Clinicians should be aware that MSCC may have an atypical presentation, such as pain in an unusual location, and early recognition is essential to improve prognosis.
- Bronchial carcinoid tumor as a cause of recurrent pneumoniaGomes, Rita; Carvalho, Catarina; Silva, Gisela; Silva, Sílvia Ferreira; Paupério, Gonçalo S; Carvalho, Fátima; Barbosa, TelmaNeuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are the most common primary lung neoplasms. Clinical manifestations can be subtle, and chest radiograph usually shows non-specific findings, often leading to delayed or inaccurate diagnosis. Despite their indolent nature, NETs have metastatic potential and can cause significant morbidity. Early diagnosis is critical for optimal management, as surgical resection can be curative. The challenge is to correctly diagnose this rare entity while avoiding unnecessary testing. Patients with suspected NETs should be referred to a tertiary hospital for multidisciplinary evaluation, and bronchoscopy should not be delayed. Herein is reported the case of an adolescent with asthma who presented with nonspecific respiratory and constitutional symptoms. The persistence of symptoms and imaging alterations despite multiple treatments for recurrent pneumonia raised clinical suspicion of a more serious underlying condition, leading to the diagnosis of bronchial NET.
- A case of unexpected travelersSilva, Ana Castelbranco; Lança, Ana Ferreira; Nunes, Tómas; Martins, Rita; Ferreira, Maria GomesHuman myiasis is the infestation of humans with dipterous larvae. Cutaneous myiasis is the most common form and is one of the most common travel-associated skin diseases. The condition should be suspected when furuncle or boil-like skin lesions are observed in patients travelling from endemic regions. Herein is described the case of a toddler who had travelled from Guinea-Bissau seven days earlier and presented with a six-day history of painful furuncle-like swellings on the left thigh and scrotum. Two larvae were collected from one of the lesions, and entomological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of cutaneous myiasis. Complete larvae extraction is the primary treatment goal, and adequate preservation of the maggots is essential for public health analysis.
- Deliberate self-harm in adolescence: a cross-sectional studyMendes, Joana; Martins, Miguel Vieira; Azevedo, Isabel; Patrício, Pedro; Ferreira, SofiaIntroduction: The high prevalence of deliberate self-harm (DSH) and its strong association with suicide make the condition a natural target for intervention to prevent harmful consequences for adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of DSH and to characterize DSH patterns and associated risk factors in a sample of adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by applying a questionnaire based on the “Lifestyle and Coping Questionnaire” adapted to the Portuguese language. Adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years attending the outpatient clinic of a secondary-care hospital were invited to participate. Data were analyzed by descriptive, bivariate, and regression analysis using SPSS v.25 software. Results: A total of 159 eligible responses were obtained from adolescents with a mean age of 15 years. Of the 25.8% who reported having engaged in DSH, the majority (61%) did so more than once, and the same percentage did not seek help. A statistically significant association was found between DSH and befriending less easily, having a history of bullying, and seeking online information on how to self-harm. A significantly higher risk of self-harm was found among adolescents who had experienced a variety of negative life events (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.47, confidence interval [CI] 1.231-1.1763; p<0.01), whereas having no health problems (aOR 0.356, CI 0.13-0.969; p=0.04) and not using drugs (aOR 0.087, CI 0.012-0.633; p=0.016) were protective factors. Conclusions: DSH is a common but often overshadowed problem in adolescents. The findings of this study highlight the need for careful assessment of adolescents with better screening for DSH and associated risk factors.
- Dermatology clinical caseLeal, Bárbara; Ribeiro, Daniela; Matos, Catarina; Coelho, SóniaA previously healthy nine-month-old boy presented to the Emergency Department with a two-week history of rash that started in the diaper area and later extended to the trunk, limbs and face. The mother reported a family history of psoriasis. The child had multiple erythematous papules and plaques on the face, trunk, diaper area, and limbs. He was diagnosed with guttate and napkin psoriasis and started on topical treatment, with good response. Psoriasis is a chronic condition that can manifest clinically at any stage of life. In pediatric age, the presence of a positive family history is common and guttate or napkin psoriasis are typical clinical presentations. Sometimes, napkin psoriasis rapidly progresses to a more widespread form, typically involving the face. The diagnosis is clinical and must be differentiated from other common causes of exanthema and diaper rash in infants.
- Ear pain − Not always otitisPires, Joana F.; Ventura, Inês Bileu; Tomé, Maria Luís; Pena, Teresa; Guedes, Raquel; Ribeiro, LeandroAcute auricular perichondritis is an infection of the external ear that can lead to potentially serious complications if not promptly diagnosed and treated. The authors present the case of a five-year-old boy who was diagnosed with acute perichondritis after presenting to the Pediatric Emergency Department with acute ear redness, swelling, and pain. The diagnosis of acute perichondritis was established based on the classic physical examination findings of erythema and edema with sparing of the earlobe.
- The emerging landscape of SGLT2 inhibitors in pediatric populations with kidney diseases: A comprehensive literature reviewFreitas, Joana; Machado, Sara Nogueira; Vieira, Beatriz; Monteiro, Sara; Faria, Sameiro; Costa, Teresa; Mota, ConceiçãoSodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), originally developed as innovative antihyperglycemic agents, have demonstrated significant benefits in improving metabolic markers and protecting the kidneys and heart in patients with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus. The mechanisms behind these unexpected cardiorenal benefits cannot be attributed solely to improved glycemic control. Recent data suggest that metabolic reprogramming plays a role in the development of cardiorenal metabolic disease.Despite the effectiveness of SGLT2i in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD)-related comorbidities in adults, their use in the pediatric population remains to be validated. The challenge in pediatric CKD lies in the imbalance between the metabolic needs of a growing child and the declining functional capacity of a failing kidney. Developing strategies to address modifiable factors in the progression of kidney disease is critical given the extended lifespan of the pediatric population. SGLT2i have emerged as innovative candidates for the treatment of CKD in children. By improving renal hemodynamic adaptation and mitigating overall CKD complications, these agents have the potential to be a novel therapeutic option for pediatric patients. This review will focus on the current understanding of how SGLT2i may provide cardiorenal protection.
- From behavioral inhibition in toddlers to anxiety disorder: Influencing factorsMonteiro, Maria do Rosário; Rodrigues, Márcia; Martins, VâniaBehavioral inhibition (BI), a biologically driven temperamental trait defined by fearful, avoidant, and withdrawn reactions to novelty, is known to represent an early vulnerability in the development of anxiety disorders. Herein is reported the case of two 18-month-old twins whose parents exhibited high levels of anxiety, restricting the infants’ exposure to new stimuli and experiences. One of the twins exhibited inhibited behaviors with high physiological activation and met criteria for inhibition to novelty disorder. Several factors may predict the persistence of BI across the lifespan and moderate its association with later anxiety disorders, including cognitive or attentional biases, variations in neural functioning, attachment processes, parental psychopathology, and parenting practices. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated parental anxiety and pre-existing risk factors in particularly vulnerable children.
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric hospital admissions: Retrospective study in a Portuguese level II hospitalGarrotes, Maria; Ferreira, Madalena; Condessa, Luzia; Guimarães, Carolina; Fialho, Madalena; Sousa e Cunha, ManuelIntroduction: Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, pediatric admissions from all causes have decreased.This was mainly due to a decrease in all common respiratory diseases, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on pediatric admissions and diagnoses in a level II hospital. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted, including all children admitted to a Portuguese level II hospital between March 2020 and December 2021 and the homologous period 2018-2019. The number of admissions, most common diagnoses, and demographic data were analyzed. Results: A total of 2956 admissions were included. A 44.1% decrease in pediatric hospital admissions was observed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Admissions for common communicable diseases such as acute bronchiolitis, acute gastroenteritis, varicella, and stomatitis decreased. An increase in respiratory illnesses, mainly due to respiratory syncytial virus, was observed when the pandemic restrictions ended.Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on pediatric hospital admissions. Social distancing measures and the use of masks limited the transmission of common infectious diseases previously responsible for hospital admissions. Future studies are needed to understand whether the changes in respiratory virus epidemiology were transient.
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