Untreated bacteriuria in asymptomatic girls with renal scarring.

Recurrences of bacteriuria after treatment occur in 50% to 80% of asymptomatic patients. Previous experience with short-term treatment as well as long-term prophylaxis has been disappointing, with a significant risk of infections, ie, development of symptoms after treatment. Results with nontreatment are described in this report with reference to clinical course, renal growth, and glomerular filtration rate in 26 asymptomatic girls with established renal scarring and bacteriuria. Acute pyelonephritis was not seen in those with continuing bacteriuria or spontaneous clearance. Neither in scarred nor in unscarred kidneys did the duration of bacteriuria influence renal growth or glomerular filtration rate. Asymptomatic patients with bacteriuria may gain from nontreatment and may have a reduced risk of pyelonephritic attacks.

Respiratory resistance and transcutaneous PO2 during histamine provocation in children with bronchial asthma.

Bronchial reactivity was assessed in 66 children with bronchial asthma (aged 8-15 years) by provocation with histamine-HCl during a symptom-free period. A significant bronchial reaction to histamine was defined as a 50% increase in the resistance of the respiratory system (Rrs) determined by the forced oscillation technique. The provocative dose causing a 50% increase in the Rrs (PD50Rrs) was interpolated from the log dose-response curve. The mean PD50Rrs was significantly lower in children with asthma (0.22 mg/mL) compared with a group of healthy children in the same age range (1.55 mg/mL) (P < 0.001). In children with clinically severe asthma, the mean PD50Rrs was lower (0.13 mg/mL) than in children with mild asthma (0.34 mg/mL) (P < 0.001). Transcutaneous PO2 (PtcO2) was monitored in 25 of the children with asthma. In this group the proportion of mild and severe asthma, the baseline lung function variables, and the PD50Rrs were not significantly different from those of the whole group of children. During the reaction, the PtcO2 fell on average by 29% of the baseline value (P < 0.001); in 88% of the children, the fall in PtcO2 was 20% or more of the baseline value. We conclude that histamine provocation tests using the forced oscillation technique and transcutaneous PO2 to assess a bronchial reaction have a good discriminatory capacity for different degrees of clinical severity of asthma in children.

Respiratory resistance and impedance magnitude in healthy children aged 2-18 years.

Two hundred eighteen healthy children aged 2 to 18 years were studied using a modification of the forced oscillation technique. Reference values with height as predictor were determined for total respiratory resistance and impedance during inspiration, expiration, and throughout the whole respiratory cycle at an oscillation frequency of 4 Hz and, in a subpopulation of 61 children, at frequencies of 2 and 12 Hz. Mean total inspiratory resistance, determined at 4 Hz, decreased with growth from 1.3 kPa X 1(-1) X s at 2 years of age to 0.3 kPa X 1(-1) X s at 18 years. Variability in the results between individuals, expressed in terms of coefficient of variation, was found to be +27% and -21%, respectively, and within individuals, 9%. Resistance during expiration was on average 16% higher than during inspiration and the variability within individuals was 11%. A marked decrease in resistance was found in small children when the frequency was increased from 2 to 12 Hz. The frequency dependence of respiratory resistance observed in small children changes gradually with growth, in parallel with the reduction of total respiratory resistance, to an adult pattern in which no significant change in resistance can be noted between frequencies of 2 and 12 Hz.

Transcutaneous blood gas monitoring during salbutamol inhalations in young children with acute asthmatic symptoms.

The effect of salbutamol inhalations on transcutaneous blood gases was investigated in 23 children (aged 11 months-2.5 years) with asthmatic symptoms. After one salbutamol inhalation there was a mean increase in transcutaneous PO2 (tcPO2) of 0.5 kPa (P less than 0.01); after a second dose given 30 minutes later, the mean increase was 1.2 kPa (P less than 0.001). The increase in tcPO2 after only one dose of salbutamol was significantly correlated to age (P less than 0.01). No such correlation was observed after a second dose. The overall increase in tcPO2 after two salbutamol inhalations showed a negative correlation to the duration of the current symptomatic period (P less than 0.05). We conclude that salbutamol inhalations have beneficial effects in young children with acute asthmatic symptoms, even below the age of 18 months, provided that an adequate dose reaches the lung and preferably at an early stage of obstruction.

Radiopharmaceutical dosage of 99Tcm-HMPAO for cerebral blood flow SPET studies in children.

Four methods of calculating the activity of 99Tcm-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime to be administered in cerebral blood flow investigations of children were evaluated in patient studies. Three of the methods were based on the size of the child. We also constructed a theoretical dosage model based on physiological data and attenuation effects. The aim of the study was to find a dosage calculation method that gave the same image quality for children of all ages as well as for adults. The results showed that the dosage method based on body weight is the only one of the four methods that does not exhibit an age-dependent variation in image quality and therefore this method is recommended.

Tracheotomy--a satisfactory method in the treatment of acute epiglottitis. A clinical and functional follow-up study.

A follow-up study, including clinical examination, X-ray and function tests, of 27 children with acute epiglottitis treated with tracheotomy at the ENT-Department, Mölndal Hospital during 1971-1975 has been performed. The function tests were an important part of the investigation and included measurement with the He-dilution technique, flow--volume curves and the forced oscillation technique. No child had any detectable tracheal stenosis or any other serious per- or postoperative complication. The only complication at all was one ugly scar on the neck. The tracheotomized patient needs very little sedation and the time spent at the intensive care unit can be shorter than for those patients treated with nasotracheal intubation.

Lung volumes in scoliosis before and after correction by the Harrington instrumentation method.

Studies of static lung volumes were performed before and after surgery in 92 scoliotic patients, aged 10 to 25 years. The majority of the patients had idiopathic dorsal curves. Vital capacity, total lung capacity, functional residual capacity and residual volume were measured at least 18 months after surgery. A significant increase was observed in all static volumes, averaging 10 per cent; the pre- and postoperative values were expressed in per cent of predicted normal values according to age and height. Correction of body height was taken into consideration in the prediction of normal values. Patients with the more advanced scoliosis had the greatest improvement in lung volumes. The patients were treated postoperatively with a Milwaukee brace for an average of 15 months. The use of this brace, which allows for chest expansions, might account for the improved lung function compared to previous series where plaster body jackets were used. Thus the correction of idiopathic scoliosis by the standard posterior fusion with Harrinton instrumentation together with our postoperative routine provides a lasting reduction of the spinal deformity, prevents progression of respiratory impairment and, in fact, increases the lung volumes, vital capacity, total lung capacity and functional residual capacity by an average of 10 per cent.

Transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and a clinical symptom scale for monitoring the acute asthmatic state in infants and young children.

Measurement of transcutaneous PO2 and PCO2 in addition to a clinical symptom grading system was used to monitor the acute asthmatic attack in children under two years of age. tcPO2 was lowered already at signs of mild obstruction and decreased in parallel with clinical deterioration. tcPCO2 was almost unchanged at mild to moderate obstructive symptoms. With clinical deterioration tcPCO2 rose steadily. An increase of the oxygen concentration to 30-40% in the inspired air increased tcPO2, on the average by 70%, but did not change the tcPCO2, level. Continuous recording of tcPO2 and tcPCO2 as well as the clinical grading system are valuable tools when monitoring severely obstructive infants and young children.

A case of near-miss SIDS developing an abnormal respiratory reaction to hypoxia.

A SIDS sibling is described who showed a normal respiratory regulation at 1.5 months but who was equipped with an apnea monitor at home on psychological indications. At 3 months he had a near-miss SIDS episode. He was then found to have developed a reaction to hypoxia with appearance of periodic breathing. With theophylline this response pattern was normalized but despite theophylline medication episodes of prolonged apnea occurred.

A simple method of background subtraction in two-detector renography.

To increase the accuracy in the routine measurement of the side distribution of kidney function from 131I-Hippuran renograms, a simple method of background subtraction has been developed. Principally a background curve was adapted to the renogram on each side, assuming an initial amplitude corresponding to the amplitude of phase I of the renogram. The amplitudes of the renogram over background after 2 min is recognized as a measured of kidney function and a background quotient was calculated by dividing the background curve amplitude at 2 min with its initial amplitude. Mean values of the background quotient recorder over thorax was 0.62 and over an empty kidney region 0.73. It was found that a quotient of 0.70 could be used generally, thus omitting the need for a background curve registration at each renographic examination.