RESUMEN
RATIONALE: Prospective studies that evaluated the outcome of childhood empyema are limited. OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of pulmonary function in children with empyema. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children discharged with a diagnosis of empyema underwent a longitudinal study including measurement of pulmonary function and radiographic imaging. RESULTS: The population consisted of 39 patients, 24 males, and 15 females; with a median age of 4.6 years. Etiology was defined in 20/39 patients, and predominant microorganism was Streptococcus pneumoniae (19/20 isolates). Chest tube drainage with or without fibrinolytic agents was the primary intervention in 25 children. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed in 14 and 5 children as primary and secondary intervention, respectively. Thirty-five children completed the lung function follow-up. At first follow-up visit, 5 out of 17 children able to perform spirometry (initially collaborating children) had normal tests, and 12 had mild-to-moderate defects of lung function that returned to normal over 2-57 months. Eighteen children unable to perform spirometry at first follow-up visit (initially non-collaborating children) had normal tests when they were evaluated 5-78 months postdischarge. At the end of the follow-up, all patients had normal lung function. Time to normalize did not differ between groups receiving different treatments (initially collaborating children, P = 0.064; initially non-collaborating children P = 0.223). Three previously healthy children had recurrent cough, and all children had normal chest radiographs aside from pleural thickening. CONCLUSIONS: The respiratory outcome in children with empyema is generally good and is not influenced by the type of intervention.
Asunto(s)
Empiema Pleural , Adolescente , Tubos Torácicos , Niño , Preescolar , Drenaje , Empiema Pleural/diagnóstico por imagen , Empiema Pleural/fisiopatología , Empiema Pleural/terapia , Femenino , Fibrinolíticos/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Lactante , Estudios Longitudinales , Masculino , Estudios Prospectivos , Radiografía , Espirometría , Cirugía Torácica Asistida por VideoRESUMEN
GOALS: The goal of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of an intake of Lactobacillus salivarius LS01 (DSM 22775) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children. BACKGROUND: AD is an inflammatory and pruritic chronic relapsing skin disorder with multifactorial etiopathology. Some evidence suggests that probiotics may improve AD by modulating the immune system and the composition of intestinal microbiota. STUDY: A total of 43 patients aged from 0 to 11 years were enrolled in the study (M/F ratio=1:1) and treated with the probiotic strain L. salivarius LS01. Clinical efficacy of probiotic treatment was assessed from baseline by changes in itch index and in the objective SCORAD/SCORAD index. RESULTS: Patients being given probiotic treatment showed a significant improvement in clinical parameters (SCORAD and itch values) from baseline. The reduction in SCORAD and itch index observed after 4 weeks of treatment also persisted after the cessation of probiotic supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: L. salivarius LS01 seems to be able to improve the quality of life of children affected by AD and, as a consequence, it may have promising clinical and research implications.