Pulmonary hydatidosis in childhood. Review of 21 cases

Spain is one of the countries with a very high incidence of hydatidosis in the childhood. It represents 16.8% of all cases intervened for thoracic surgery for hydatidosis cysts in our department during the last ten years with a total of 21 children (inferior to 14 years) operated due to hydatidosis. Cough and pain were the symptoms more frequently encountered. The ratio unruptured/ruptured cysts was 3/1, higher than in the adults, with an average of 2.62 cysts per patient. Specific immunoglobulin E and histamine liberation test were the most useful tests in the laboratory. The usual surgical technique was a cystopericystectomy with total extirpation of the parasite of its rests. No recurrence was found in the follow-up of our patients.     

Abdominal cystic lymphangioma in childhood: report of eight cases

Lymphangioma is a common pathology in children, however intra-abdominal cystic lymphangioma is rare. Morphology and clinical symptoms are variable and can be mixed up with other etiology. Ultrasound can make the diagnosis in the majority of the cases. Surgery is the best choice of treatment and prognosis is in general good. Authors present eight cases in a period of fifteen years, all of them treated surgically. Results were good in seven cases. One late death was observed.     

Cow's milk protein intolerance in childhood. Review of 30 cases]

Retrospective clinical study of 30 cases of cow's milk protein intolerance with a long term follow-up (3-141/2 years) in 22 cases. The onset of the disease is usually in the first 6 months, following a short exposure to cow's milk proteins. A later onset is also possible, particularly following an intestinal infection which seems to favor the sensibilisation. Usually the digestive disturbances predominate and are often associated with respiratory, cutaneous and other general problems (especially unexplained prolonged fever). In about half the cases, laboratory studies reveal signs of exsudative enteropathy or generalized malabsorption with lesions of varying severity of the jejunal mucosa. Clinical observation and investigation allows us to divide the patients into three groups according to different manifestations: 1. acute anaphylactic, 2. chronic and benign (colitis), 3. chronic and severe, with accompanying malnutrition and intestinal malabsorption. This last category leads occasionally to diagnostic difficulties in distinguishing it from coeliac disease. Whatever manifestations encountered, the disease is usually transitory, and disappears between the age of 2 and 21/2 years, but can also persist for a much longer time. The long-term follow-up study showed complete catch-up growth, absence of further gastro-intestinal problems, and a low incidence of other allergic diseases (18%).     

Tuberculous meningitis in childhood. Forty-three cases.

Forty-three patients in the pediatric age group had tuberculous meningitis. Therapy included the use of adrenocorticosteroids. All four patients who were in stage 1 on admission to the hospital, seven of the 33 in stage 2, and one of the six in stage 3 (coma) recovered without gross neurological sequelas. Eight patients died, and the remaining 23 recovered, with late neurological sequelas. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment determine the prognosis of tuberculous meningitis.     

Minor burns in childhood. Clinical cases]

The paper reports a retrospective study of 106 cases of first and second degree burns which were treated in an outpatient setting in order to identify the overall conditions which expose a child to these risks and the risk factors leading to complications. The aim of the study was to establish a correct prevention programme.