RESUMO
The scorpion Centruroides limpidus limpidus (C.l.l.) is endemic in México, producing hundreds of accidents in humans; children being one of the most susceptible targets. Few studies reported that severe envenoming by scorpion venom induces cardiac damage and electrolytes abnormalities in children, but the relationship of envenoming severity and toxic blood levels is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship among clinical status of envenoming, serum electrolyte, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and serum toxin levels in 44 children stung by scorpion over a period of 6 months in the State of Morelos, Mexico. The patients were said to be asymptomatic, when they presented just local symptoms, and were said to be symptomatic when showing local symptoms and at least one systemic symptom. The clinical status was evaluated at the admission at the emergency room of the Hospital, and 30 min after the administration of polyspecific F(ab')2 anti-scorpion therapy to symptomatic children. Forty-one percent of the children were asymptomatic and 59% symptomatic. Potassium and sodium imbalance and an elongation of the QT interval were detected; the rate of hypokalemia was higher in symptomatic than on asymptomatic children (50% and 6%, respectively). Hypokalemia persisted in 19% in symptomatic patients, whereas sodium reached normal levels 30 min after anti-venom therapy. The hypokalemia statistically correlated with elongation of the QT interval. The concentration of the toxic components of C.l.l in serum was significantly higher in symptomatic than asymptomatic children, and the serum levels of the toxic component significantly decreased to undetectable levels after the application of anti-venom therapy. Despite the small size of the sample, this study establishes that severity of envenoming was statistically related to potassium imbalance in serum, QT interval and the concentration of toxic components in serum, which decreased at undetectable levels after specific treatment with the anti-scorpion venom, correlating with clinical disappearance or greatly reduction of symptoms of envenomation.
Assuntos
Mordeduras e Picadas , Eletrólitos/metabolismo , Venenos de Escorpião/metabolismo , Escorpiões , Adolescente , Animais , Criança , Eletrocardiografia , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , MéxicoRESUMO
PURPOSE: To describe the patterns of drugs consumed by the male and female elderly living in Mexican private and public nursing homes. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty elderly participants from four nursing homes (2 private and 2 public) were selected for the six month study: 108 subjects were excluded; the remaining 242 were between 65 and 100 years old; 123 were females and 119 males. A complete clinical history was taken and clinical files were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 242 elderly studied, 193 took diverse medications and 28.5% were at risk of some type of drug interaction. The groups of drugs more frequently consumed were vitamins and anti-anemic medications, followed by cardiovascular drugs. Females consumed greater number of drugs. They also consumed more drugs simultaneously. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to monitor the elderly for their drugs pattern use.
Assuntos
Serviços de Saúde para Idosos , Casas de Saúde , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Artrite Reumatoide/tratamento farmacológico , Doenças Cardiovasculares/tratamento farmacológico , Monitoramento de Medicamentos , Uso de Medicamentos/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Sistemas de Medicação , MéxicoRESUMO
A study of the nutritional status of beta-carotene and retinol of 228 institutionalized elderly individuals, in four elderly homes of México City was carried out. Subjects varied between 61 and 101 years of age (151 were females and 77 were males). High pressure liquid chromatography was used to quantitate retinol and beta-carotene. Ninety eight percent of elderly individuals showed beta-carotene levels less than acceptable (at risk); 85.2% were deficient (high risk), and 12.9% were low (medium risk), only 1.85% had acceptable values (low risk). Ninety two percent of subjects had acceptable values (low risk) of retinol, while 6.0% and 2.0% were low (medium risk) and deficient (high risk) respectively. There were not significant differences among the four elderly homes. No significant correlation with age was found for any of the two vitamins. No sex related difference (p > 0.05) was observed in serum vitamin A and beta-carotene in either group.