Impact of an Asthma Education Program During Admission.

OBJECTIVES: Health educational interventions improve health outcomes and quality of life in children with asthma. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an education intervention for an asthma inhaler technique during hospital admission for an asthma exacerbation. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in a pediatric hospitalization unit of a third-level hospital. Children admitted for an asthma exacerbation were eligible for inclusion. It was developed in 2 phases: during hospital admission (T1) and 1 month after discharge (T2). In the T1 phase, caregivers completed the questionnaire to assess asthma control in children (CAN questionnaire) and performed the inhaler technique, which was evaluated with a 6-step checklist. An educational intervention was performed. In the T2 phase, caregivers completed the CAN questionnaire, and the inhaler technique was reevaluated. We hypothesized that the inhaler technique improved after the implementation of an asthma education program. RESULTS: A total of 101 children were included, of whom 85 completed the T2 phase (84%). At baseline, 11.8% of participants performed the inhaler technique correctly. All steps of the inhaler technique upgraded in the T2 phase significantly (P < .01), except for the step "assemble the inhaler device correctly." Former evaluation by a pediatric pneumologist was associated with a higher score in the inhaler technique in the T1 phase. The median CAN questionnaire score in the T1 phase was 8 (interquartile range 4-16), which reduced to 4 (interquartile range 1.2-6) in the T2 phase (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The development of an educational intervention during admission improved inhaler technique as well as asthma knowledge.

[Thickening of the pituitary stalk in children and adolescents with central diabetes insipidus: Causes and consequences]. / Engrosamiento del tallo hipofisario en niños y adolescentes con diabetes insípida central: causas y consecuencias.

BACKGROUND: Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a rare disorder in children. The aetiology of CDI in childhood is heterogeneous. The aim of this study is to illustrate the importance of a careful clinical and neuro-radiological follow-up of the pituitary and hypothalamus region in order to identify the aetiology and the development of associated hormonal deficiencies. METHODS: Clinical and auxological variables of 15 children diagnosed with CDI were retrospectively analysed in a paediatric hospital. Evaluations of adenohypophyseal function and cranial MRI were performed periodically. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis of CDI was 9.6 years (range: 1.32-15.9). The aetiological diagnosis could be established initially in 9 of the 15 patients, as 7 with a germinoma and 2 with a histiocytosis. After a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (range: 1.6-11.8), the number of idiopathic cases was reduced by half. At the end of the follow-up, the aetiological diagnoses were: 9 germinoma (60%), 3 histiocytosis (20%), and 3 idiopathic CDI (20%). There is a statistically significant association between stalk thickening and tumour aetiology. At least one adenohypophyseal hormonal deficiency was found in 67% of cases, with the majority developing in the first two years of follow-up. Growth hormone deficiency (60%) was the most prevalent. CONCLUSION: The follow-up of CDI should include hormone evaluation with special attention, due to its frequency, to GH deficiency. In addition, a biannual MRI in an idiopathic CDI should be performed, at least during the first 2-3 years after diagnosis, as 50% of them were diagnosed with a germinoma or histiocytosis during this period.