Retrieval-induced forgetting in children and adolescents with and without obesity.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Previous research indicates that youth with obesity exhibit deficits in executive functioning (EF), which often take the form of impaired response inhibition. One aspect of EF not previously studied in obesity is the adaptive process known as retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF), the suppression/inhibition of intrusive or non-target items by the retrieval of specific items from memory. The present study investigated if child or adolescent obesity disrupts the ability to inhibit retrieval of intrusive memories. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We compared the manifestation of RIF in children (ages 8-12) and adolescents (ages 13-18) as a function of their weight status and sex. We also evaluated the effects of these variables on simple recall of items from episodic memory under conditions where competition from intrusive items was reduced. RESULTS: Children with obesity did not demonstrate significant RIF, whereas RIF was exhibited by preteens without obesity and by teenage participants with- and without obesity (Weight Status × Age Group interaction p = 0.028). This pattern of results did not differ as a function of sex for either age group. No differences in episodic memory were found. Additional analyses using Age as continuous covariate (and not as a nominal group) comparing participants who exhibited RIF with those who did not, found that the no RIF group consumed fast-food meals more frequently (p = 0.024) and had higher percentages of total body adiposity and android fat compared to the RIF group (p's < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings expand what is known about the effects of childhood obesity on cognitive functioning, identify impaired RIF with specific behavioral and dietary factors and increased adiposity, and suggest the possibility that impairments in the ability to inhibit intrusive memories of food and eating may contribute to poor early-life weight control.

A comparison of negative affect and disinhibited eating between children with and without parents with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Children whose parents have type 2 diabetes (T2D) are at high-risk for developing T2D. In youth, negative affect has been shown to predict insulin resistance (IR), and disinhibited-eating behaviors have been linked to IR. It is unknown if youth with a parent with T2D (P-T2D) report greater psychological and behavioral symptoms than those without a P-T2D. OBJECTIVE: To compare youth with and without a P-T2D on symptoms of negative affect and disinhibited-eating. METHODS: Nine-hundred thirty-two youth (13.3 ± 2.6 years; BMIz 1.06 ± 1.06; 67.8% female; 53.6% people of color; 10.7% with a P-T2D) completed questionnaires of anxiety and depressive symptoms, eating in the absence of hunger, and emotional-eating. Loss-of-control (LOC)-eating was assessed by interview. In two separate subsamples, energy intake was explored using laboratory test meals simulating eating in the absence of hunger and LOC-eating, respectively. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity. In follow-up analyses, fat mass (kg) and height, and IR were included as covariates, respectively. RESULTS: Adjusting for all covariates including adiposity and IR, compared to youth without a P-T2D, youth with a P-T2D reported more anxiety and depression symptoms, greater eating in the absence of hunger, and emotional-eating (ps < 0.05). No significant differences were found for LOC-eating, or in exploratory analyses of energy intake for either test meal (ps > 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported negative affect and disinhibited-eating may be higher among youth with P-T2D compared to those without P-T2D. Prospective studies should examine, among those with a P-T2D, what role such symptoms may play for their subsequent risk for T2D.

Bridging executive function and disinhibited eating among youth: A network analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Poorer executive function (EF) has been linked to disinhibited eating in youth, suggesting poor EF predisposes toward obesity, yet the specific nature and extent of interconnections between facets of these domains is unclear. Network analysis provides a promising framework for elucidating the relationship between poor EF and disinhibited eating, and offers insights into potential maintenance processes. METHOD: Among youth ages 8-17 years, a regularized partial correlation network of EF and disinhibited eating facets was estimated to examine expected influence centrality and bridge expected influence. Computerized neurocognitive tasks assessed EF variables, including decision-making, general and food-related inhibitory control, delayed gratification, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. Disinhibited eating variables included total carbohydrate-fat intake at a laboratory test meal and self-reported eating in the absence of hunger, emotional eating, and loss-of-control eating severity. RESULTS: In the current sample (N = 248; Mage = 12.5; 54.8% female; 43.5% non-Hispanic White; 25.8% non-Hispanic Black; BMI %ile = 65.8 ± 27.8), emotional eating in response to depressive symptoms emerged as a central symptom in the network. Carbohydrate-fat intake had the highest bridge expected influence and was most strongly connected to general inhibitory control (part r = .14). DISCUSSION: The link between general inhibitory control and objective palatable food intake may be particularly salient in maintaining maladaptive eating behavior. Interventions targeting behavioral disinhibition may disrupt associations among a network of disinhibited eating facets in youth and should be targets for longitudinal research.

Food cravings and loss-of-control eating in youth: Associations with gonadal hormone concentrations.

OBJECTIVE: Among youth with overweight, food cravings (FC) are associated with loss-of-control (LOC)-eating, but the impact of sex-associated biological characteristics on this relationship is unknown. We examined whether sex and gonadal hormone concentrations moderated the relationships between FC and LOC-eating severity among healthy boys and girls across the weight strata in natural and laboratory environments. METHOD: Using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), FC, and LOC-eating severity were reported 3-5 times a day for 2 weeks. In the laboratory, participants reported FC, consumed lunch from a buffet test meal designed to simulate LOC-eating, and rated LOC-eating severity during the meal. RESULTS: Eighty-seven youth (13.0 ± 2.7 years, 58.6% female, 32.2% with overweight/obesity) participated. EMA measured general and momentary FC were positively associated with LOC-eating severity (ps < .01), with no differences by sex (ps = .21-.93). Estradiol and progesterone significantly moderated the relationships between FC and LOC-eating such that general FC and LOC-eating severity were only positively associated among girls with greater (vs. lower) estradiol (p = .01), and momentary FC and LOC-eating severity were only positively associated among girls with greater (vs. lower) progesterone (p = .01). Boys' testosterone did not significantly moderate the associations between FC and LOC-eating severity (ps = .36-.97). At the test meal, pre-meal FC were positively related to LOC-eating severity (p < .01), without sex or hormonal moderation (ps = .20-.64). DISCUSSION: FC were related to LOC-eating severity in boys and girls. In the natural environment, gonadal hormones moderated this relationship in girls, but not boys. The mechanisms through which gonadal hormones might affect the relationship between FC and LOC-eating warrant investigation.

Inhibitory control and negative affect in relation to food intake among youth.

Negative affect and poor inhibitory control are related to disinhibited eating behaviors in youth and may contribute to the development and/or maintenance of obesity. Although few studies have jointly examined these constructs in youth, it has been theorized that poor inhibitory control may be driven by negative affect. If supported, impaired inhibitory control, driven by negative affect, could represent a modifiable neurocognitive treatment target for disinhibited eating. The current study examined whether inhibitory control mediates the relationship between negative affect and eating among youth. Youth (8-17 years) participated in a Food Go/No-Go neurocognitive task to measure inhibitory control as the percentage of commission errors. A composite negative affect score was created from self-report measures of anxiety and depression. A laboratory buffet meal modeled to simulate disinhibited eating was used to measure total and snack food intake. Cross-sectional mediation models with bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals (CI) were conducted using negative affect as the independent variable, inhibitory control as the mediator, and intake patterns as dependent variables. One-hundred-eighty-one youths (13.2 ± 2.7y; 55% female; BMIz 0.6 ± 1.0) were studied. Total Go/No-Go commission errors mediated the relationship between negative affect and total intake (95%CI = [0.3, 31.6]), but not snack intake (95%CI = [-2.5, 7.3]). Commission errors for Food-Go blocks significantly mediated the relationship between negative affect and total intake (95%CI = [7.7, 44.4]), but not snack intake (95%CI = [-3.4, 9.5]). Commission errors on Neutral-Go blocks did not significantly mediate any of these relationships. Negative affect may lead to poorer inhibitory control as well as a stronger approach tendency toward food, increasing the likelihood of engaging in disinhibited eating. Future research should determine if, in combination with approaches to reduce negative affect, improved inhibitory control could help prevent overeating in youths with depressive or anxiety symptoms.

Assessment of loss-of-control eating in healthy youth by interview and questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate two questionnaires, an updated youth version of the questionnaire on eating and weight patterns (Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns-5 Children/Adolescent [QEWP-C-5]) and the Loss-of-Control (LOC) Eating Disorder Questionnaire (LOC-ED-Q), against the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) interview to assess the presence of LOC-eating among youth. METHOD: Two-hundred and eighteen youths (12.8 ± 2.7 years) completed the QEWP-C-5, LOC-ED-Q, and EDE, depressive and anxiety questionnaires, and adiposity assessment. Sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive value, negative-predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy were calculated; Cochran's Q and McNemar's tests were used to compare measures. Receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) analyses were performed. Mood and adiposity based on LOC-eating presence and absence based on each measure were examined. RESULTS: The QEWP-C-5 and LOC-ED-Q demonstrated poor sensitivity (33%; 30%) and high specificity (95%; 96%) compared with the EDE. The AUCs suggested neither the QEWP-C-5 (0.64) nor the LOC-ED-Q (0.62) demonstrated acceptable diagnostic accuracy. Comparing distributions of LOC-eating presence between assessments, the QEWP-C-5 and EDE did not differ significantly (p = .10), while the LOC-ED-Q and EDE had significantly different distributions (p = .03). LOC-eating presence was associated with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms across all measures (ps < .02). Greater adiposity (ps < .02) was associated with LOC-eating presence on the EDE and LOC-ED-Q, and higher BMI z-score (p = .02) on the LOC-ED-Q. DISCUSSION: Neither the QEWP-C-5 nor the LOC-ED-Q was sensitive for identifying LOC-eating presence as determined by the EDE, although both were associated with greater mood symptoms. Research is needed to improve self-report questionnaires to better screen for LOC-eating presence among pediatric populations.

Associations of sleep with food cravings and loss-of-control eating in youth: An ecological momentary assessment study.

BACKGROUND: Inconsistent sleep patterns may promote excess weight gain by increasing food cravings and loss-of-control (LOC)-eating; however, these relationships have not been elucidated in youth. OBJECTIVE: We tested whether sleep duration and timing were associated with food cravings and LOC-eating. METHOD: For 14 days, youths wore actigraphy monitors to assess sleep and reported severity of food cravings and LOC-eating using ecological momentary assessment. Generalized linear mixed models tested the associations between weekly and nightly shifts in facets of sleep (i.e., duration, onset, midpoint, and waketime) and next-day food cravings and LOC-eating. Models were re-run adjusting for relevant covariates (e.g., age, sex, adiposity). RESULTS: Among 48 youths (12.88 ± 2.69 years, 68.8% female, 33.3% with overweight/obesity), neither weekly nor nightly facets of sleep were significantly associated with food cravings (ps = 0.08-0.93). Youths with shorter weekly sleep duration (est. ß = -0.31, p = 0.004), earlier weekly midpoints (est. ß = -0.47, p = 0.010) and later weekly waketimes (est. ß = 0.49, p = 0.010) reported greater LOC-eating severity; findings persisted in adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS: In youth, weekly, but not nightly, shifts in multiple facets of sleep were associated with LOC-eating severity; associations were not significant for food cravings. Sleep should be assessed as a potentially modifiable target in paediatric LOC-eating and obesity prevention programs.

Longitudinal associations between facets of sleep and adiposity in youth.

OBJECTIVE: Beyond sleep duration, other facets of sleep such as variability and timing may be associated with obesity risk in youth. However, data are limited. Using a longitudinal design, this study tested whether multiple facets of sleep were associated with fat mass gain over 1 year. METHODS: A convenience sample of non-treatment-seeking youth (age 8-17 years) wore actigraphy monitors for 14 days. Average weekly sleep duration, within-person sleep duration variability, weekend catch-up sleep, bedtime and wake time shift, social jet lag, bedtime, wake time, and sleep midpoint were calculated. The association of each facet of baseline sleep with 1-year fat mass, adjusting for baseline fat mass and height, was examined. RESULTS: A total of 137 youths (54.0% female; mean [SD], age 12.5 [2.6] years; 28.4% non-Hispanic Black or African American; baseline fat mass = 15.3 [8.9] kg; 1-year fat mass = 17.0 [10.0] kg; 28.5% with baseline overweight or obesity) were studied. Wake time (p = 0.03) and sleep midpoint (p = 0.02) were inversely associated with 1-year fat mass, such that earlier wake time and midpoint were associated with higher 1-year fat mass. No other facet of sleep was significantly associated with 1-year fat mass (p > 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Using objective measures, youth with earlier wake times and sleep midpoints had greater gains in fat mass. Additional research is needed to determine whether sleep timing may be a modifiable target to prevent pediatric obesity.

Associations between weight-based teasing and disordered eating behaviors among youth.

Weight-based teasing (WBT) is commonly reported among youth and is associated with disinhibited and disordered eating. Specifically, youth who experience WBT may engage in disordered eating behaviors to cope with the resultant negative affect. Therefore, we examined associations between WBT and disordered eating behaviors among youth and assessed whether negative affect mediated these relationships. Two hundred one non-treatment seeking youth (8-17y) completed questionnaires assessing WBT, disinhibited eating, depression, and anxiety. Disordered eating and loss-of-control (LOC) eating were assessed via semi-structured interview. Analyses of covariance were conducted to examine relationships between WBT and eating-related variables, and bootstrapping mediation models were used to evaluate negative affect (a composite of depressive and anxiety symptoms) as a mediator of these associations. All models were adjusted for sex, race, age, and adiposity. Among 201 participants (13.1 ± 2.8y; 54.2% female; 30.3% Black; 32.8% with overweight/obesity), WBT was associated with emotional eating, eating in the absence of hunger, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (ps ≤ 0.02). These associations were all mediated by negative affect. WBT was also associated with a threefold greater likelihood of reporting a recent LOC eating episode (p = .049). Among boys and girls across weight strata, WBT was associated with multiple aspects of disordered eating and these relationships were mediated by negative affect. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the directionality of these associations and to identify subgroups of youth that may be particularly vulnerable to WBT and its sequelae.

[Respiratory virus in children aged less than 10 years old suffering from respiratory infection in the Hospital Militar Central in Bogota from 2000-2001]. / Virus Respiratorios en Menores de Diez Años con Infección Respiratoria en el Hospital Militar Central de Bogotá 2000-2001.

OBJECTIVE: A study was carried out on children seeking medical care at the Hospital Militar (Hosmil) in Bogota due to acute respiratory infection; it was aimed at estimating the frequency of respiratory virus-associated acute respiratory disease (ARD) in children aged under 10. METHODS: Three to five children aged less than 10 years old were selected every week from the hospital's emergency ward or ambulatory services over an 18-month period from March 2000 to September 2001. Nasopharyngeal samples were obtained from them and processed using indirect immunofluorescence. The relative frequency of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, adenovirus and parainfluenza were calculated. RESULTS: Around 40% of the 139 children examined proved positive for at least one respiratory virus. RSV was the most frequently found virus (27% positivity: 38 patients) followed by influenza (5%: 7 patients) and adenovirus (3%: 4 patients). RSV circulation peaks coincided with peaks related to ARD and pneumonia in the hospital: it was found most frequently in children aged less than 3 and was present throughout the year. CONCLUSION: Respiratory viruses were an important cause of moderate to severe respiratory illness in children seeking health care at Hosmil; RSV was the leading agent amongst such viruses.

Emociones, creencias y actitudes del personal asistencial hacia habitantes de calle que usan drogas en Medellín, Colombia / Emotions, beliefs and attitudes of healthcare workers towards homeless who use drugs in Medellín, Colombia / Emoções, crenças e atitudes do pessoal de assistência social com os moradores de rua que usam drogas em Medellín, Colômbia

Resumen Objetivo: Identificar algunos aspectos relacionados con el estigma de personal asistencial hacia habitantes de calle consumidores de sustancias psicoactivas. Metodología: Para lograr este objetivo, se llevó a cabo un estudio cualitativo, con enfoque hermenéutico y de alcance descriptivo, mediante el análisis categorial de las transcripciones de las grabaciones de los discursos de dos grupos focales con 32 participantes, miembros del Sistema de Atención al Habitante de Calle Adulto de Medellín, Colombia. La sistematización y la codificación del análisis se hicieron en un archivo de Excel®, destacándose la emergencia de las categorías: "emociones", "creencias" y "actitudes". Resultados: En los discursos de los participantes, se reiteran contenidos ambivalentes de los estigmas hacia esta población. Por una parte, la frustración en su trabajo, como principal emoción que coincide con las creencias de desconfianza y actitudes evasivas hacia ellos; y, por otro, los sentimientos de gratificación por la labor realizada, acordes con posturas más protectoras y pacientes durante el acompañamiento, pero que no se alejan de un ideal moralista de cero consumos. Conclusión: Reconocer y discutir abiertamente sobre el estigma podría orientar otras formas más humanizadas en la labor con este tipo de población, en tanto se devela que el rol profesional no nos exime del prejuicio, el estereotipo y la discriminación.

Abstract Objective: To identify some aspects related to the stigma of healthcare workers towards the homeless who consume psychoactive substances. Methodology: To achieve this objective, a qualitative study with a hermeneutic approach and descriptive scope was carried out, through the categorical analysis of transcriptions of recorded speeches from two focus groups comprised of 32 participants, members of the System of Attention to the Homeless Adult in Medellín, Colombia. Systematization and analysis encoding were performed in an Excel ® file, highlighting the presence of categories: "emotions", "beliefs" and "attitudes". Results: Ambivalent contents of the stigma towards this population are frequent in participant's speeches. On the one hand, the frustration about healthcare work, as the main emotion that coincides with the beliefs of distrust and evasive attitudes towards the homeless. On the other hand, the feelings of gratification for the work done and the presence of more protective and forbearing attitudes, but that do not alienate from the moralistic ideal of zero consumption. Conclusion: Recognizing and openly discussing stigma could guide more humanized ways of working with this type of population, as it is showed that the healthcare role does not exempt them from prejudice, stereotype and discrimination.

Resumo Objetivo: Identificar alguns aspectos relacionados ao estigma do pessoal de assistência social com os moradores de rua consumidores de substâncias psicoativas. Metodologia: Para alcançar este objetivo, foi realizado um estudo qualitativo, com abordagem hermenêutica e âmbito descritivo, através da análise categorial das transcrições das gravações dos discursos de dois grupos focais com 32 participantes, membros do Sistema de Atenção ao Morador de Rua Adulto de Medellín, Colômbia. A sistematização e a codificação da análise foram feitas num arquivo Excel®, destacando-se a emergência das categorias: "emoções", "crenças" e "atitudes". Resultados: Os participantes reiteraram em suas falas, conteúdos ambivalentes dos estigmas dessa população. Por um lado, a frustração em seu trabalho, com emoção principal que coincide com as crenças de desconfiança e atitudes evasivas com eles; e por outro, os sentimentos de gratidão pelo trabalho realizado, de acordo com posturas mais protetoras e pacientes durante o acompanhamento, mas que não se distanciam de um ideal moralista de consumo zero. Conclusão: Reconhecer e discutir abertamente o estigma poderia orientar outras formas mais humanizadas no trabalho com este tipo de população, e ao mesmo tempo se revela que o compromisso profissional não os exime do preconceito, o estereótipo e a discriminação.

Relación entre psicólogos y estudiantes usuarios en el 2014: factor determinante en los servicios de prevención de adicciones de la Universidad de Antioquia / Relationship between psychologist and student users in 2014: a determining factor in Universidad de Antioquia's Addiction Prevention Services / Relação entre psicólogos e estudantes utentes no 2014: fator determinante nos serviços de prevenção de adições da Universidade de Antioquia

Resumen Objetivo: Describir la relación entre psicólogos y estudiantes usuarios que accedieron a los servicios del Programa Educativo de Prevención de Adicciones, servido por la Universidad de Antioquia, sede Medellín, en el 2014, y su influencia en la percepción de la calidad del mismo. Metodología: Se realizó una investigación cualitativa, utilizando herramientas del método conocido como teoría fundada. Se contó con fuentes primarias de información, constituidas por los discursos resultantes de entrevistas aplicadas a estudiantes que hubieran accedido al programa. Las herramientas de recolección fueron entrevista semiestructurada y entrevista a profundidad. Resultados: La calidad percibida del programa está condicionada significativamente por la relación entre los psicólogos y los estudiantes usuarios, teniendo en cuenta, por parte de los últimos, aspectos como la percepción positiva de los servicios y el cumplimiento de sus necesidades y expectativas. Conclusión: El buen trato, la amabilidad y la confianza que los psicólogos generen en los estudiantes usuarios se reconocen como elementos determinantes en la adhesión al proceso y la percepción de calidad de los servicios.

Abstract Objective: To describe the relationship between psychologists and student users who attended the addiction prevention program offered by Universidad de Antioquia, at the Medellin campus, in 2014, and its influence on the perception of the quality of the program. Methodology: A qualitative research was conducted using tools of the method known as Grounded Theory. The primary information sources of this study were discourses resulting from interviews with students who had accessed the program. The Collection tools were a semi-structured interview and an in-depth interview. Results: Perceived program qualityis conditioned significantly by the relationship between psychologists and student users, taking into account, on the part of the latter, aspects as a positive perception of services and the fulfillment of their needs and expectations. Conclusion: Good treatment, kindness and the trust that psychologists build with student users are recognized as determining elements in continuing the process and in service quality perception.

Resumo Objetivo: Descrever a relação entre psicólogos e estudantes utentes que acessaram aos serviços do Programa Educativo de Prevenção das Adições, oferecido pela Universidade de Antioquia, na Sé do Medellín, no 2014, e a sua influência na percepção da qualidade do mesmo. Metodologia: Se realizou uma investigação qualitativa, utilizando ferramentas do método conhecido como teoria fundada. Se contou com fontes primarias de informação, constituídas pelos discursos resultantes de entrevistas aplicadas a esses estudantes que tiveram acedido ao programa. As ferramentas de coleta foram a entrevista semiestruturada e entrevista aprofundada. Resultantes: A qualidade percebida do programa está condicionada significativamente pela relação entre os psicólogos e os estudantes utentes, levando a sério, por parte dos últimos, aspectos como a percepção positiva dos serviços e a adimplência na frente dessas, as suas necessidades e expectativas. Conclusão: O bom atendimento, a amabilidade e a confiança que os psicólogos gerem nos estudantes utentes sejam reconhecidos como elementos determinantes na aderência ao processo e a percepção de qualidade dos serviços.

[Adenovirus in children under five years of age. Circulation patterns and clinical and epidemiological characteristics in Colombia, 1997-2003]. / Adenovirus en Niños Menores de Cinco Años. Patrones de Circulación, Características Clínicas y Epidemiológicas en Colombia, 1997-2003.

OBJECTIVE: The Colombian National Institute of Health has been studying the epidemiology of several respiratory viruses since 1997 to identify their circulation patterns and the role they play as pathogenic agents of acute and/or moderate respiratory infection (RI) in children aged less than 5. METHODS: The study used sentinel surveillance methods in sentinel hospitals in Bogotá and Manizales. Four to eight nasopharyngeal samples were collected every week in the sentinel hospitals from children aged less than five consulting for low or high RI. Nasopharyngeal samples were processed by indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: 1,743 children were examined from January 1997 to December 2003; 35 % were found to be positive for respiratory viruses. Respiratory syncytial virus was found more frequently while adenovirus was found in 47 patients (2,6 % of the sample; 1,4-2,5 % 95 %CI). Adenovirus was detected throughout the year (excepting January) but peaks occurred in March, July, October and December. Most patients were hospitalised (50-87%) and were in need of oxygen support. Fatality:case ratio was 7%; B7, 2, C1, and B3 serotypes were identified. CONCLUSION: The data suggested that respiratory infection due to adenovirus was a low frequency event amongst the children seeking medical care at the sentinel hospitals. However, when respiratory disease was caused by adenovirus, it was severe.

Virus Respiratorios en Menores de Diez Años con Infección Respiratoria en el Hospital Militar Central de Bogotá 2000-2001 / Respiratory virus in children aged less than 10 years old suffering from respiratory infection in the Hospital Militar Central in Bogota from 2000-2001

Objetivo: Se llevo a cabo un estudio en niños que consultaban por infección respiratoria aguda al Hospital Militar (Hosmil) de Bogota, Colombia, con el objetivo de estimar la frecuencia de enfermedad respiratoria aguda en esa institución producida por algunos virus respiratorios. Métodos: Durante 18 meses, de Marzo de 2000 a Septiembre de 2001, se seleccionaron semanalmente tres a cinco niños con infección respiratoria de aquellos que consultaban al servicio de emergencia o de consulta ambulatoria del Hospital. De cada uno de ellos se obtuvo muestras nasofaringeas que fueron examinadas por inmunofluorescencia para virus sincitial respiratorio (VSR), influenza, adenovirus y parainfluenza. Resultados: Se estudiaron 139 niños de los cuales el 40 por ciento fue positivo para alguno de los virus estudiados. El agente viral mas frecuentemente encontrado fue el VSR (27 por ciento), seguido por el virus de la influenza (5 por ciento) y adenovirus (3 por ciento). La circulación de VSR coincidía con los picos de hospitalizaciones por IRA y por neumonía y del hospital, era mas frecuente en los niños menores de 3 años y se encontraba presente durante todo el año. Conclusiones: Los virus respiratorios causan gran parte de la enfermedad respiratoria moderada o severa en el Hosmil y el VSR es el agente más importante entre ellos.

Objective: A study was carried out on children seeking medical care at the Hospital Militar (Hosmil) in Bogota due to acute respiratory infection; it was aimed at estimating the frequency of respiratory virus-associated acute respiratory disease (ARD) in children aged under 10. Methods: Three to five children aged less than 10 years old were selected every week from the hospital's emergency ward or ambulatory services over an 18-month period from March 2000 to September 2001. Nasopharyngeal samples were obtained from them and processed using indirect immunofluorescence. The relative frequency of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, adenovirus and parainfluenza were calculated. Results: Around 40 percent of the 139 children examined proved positive for at least one respiratory virus. RSV was the most frequently found virus (27 percent positivity: 38 patients) followed by influenza (5 percent: 7 patients) and adenovirus (3 percent: 4 patients). RSV circulation peaks coincided with peaks related to ARD and pneumonia in the hospital: it was found most frequently in children aged less than 3 and was present throughout the year. Conclusion: Respiratory viruses were an important cause of moderate to severe respiratory illness in children seeking health care at Hosmil; RSV was the leading agent amongst such viruses.

Adenovirus en Niños Menores de Cinco Años: patrones de Circulación, Características Clínicas y Epidemiológicas en Colombia, 1997-2003 / Adenovirus in children under five years of age: circulation patterns and clinical and epidemiological characteristics in Colombia, 1997-2003

Objetivo: Desde 1997 el Instituto Nacional de Salud vigila la ocurrencia de algunos virus respiratorios con el fin de identificar sus patrones de circulación y el papel que tienen en la ocurrencia de enfermedad respiratoria moderada o severa, en niños menores de 5 años. Métodos: La vigilancia está basada en hospitales centinela de Bogotá y Manizales en los que todas las semanas se recolectan 4 a 8 muestras nasofaríngeas, de niños menores de cinco años que consultan por enfermedad respiratoria alta o baja. Las muestras son procesadas por inmunofluorescencia indirecta. Resultados: De Enero de 1997 a Diciembre de 2003 se examinaron 1 743 pacientes y se encontraron virus respiratorios en 35 por ciento de las muestras procesadas. El adenovirus se encontró en 47 casos (2,6 por ciento, IC95 por ciento 1,4-3,5 por ciento) y fue detectado durante todos los meses, excepto enero, con picos en marzo, julio, octubre y diciembre. La mayoría de los pacientes requirieron hospitalización (50 a 87 por ciento) y soporte con oxigeno y la razón muerte/caso fue de 7 por ciento. Los serotipos de adenovirus encontrados fueron B7, 2, C1 y B3. Conclusiones: Los datos del presente estudio datos sugieren que en nuestro medio los adenovirus no son los agentes mas frecuentes de enfermedad respiratoria pero, cuando están presentes, producen enfermedad severa.

Objective: The Colombian National Institute of Health has been studying the epidemiology of several respiratory viruses since 1997 to identify their circulation patterns and the role they play as pathogenic agents of acute and/or moderate respiratory infection (RI) in children aged less than 5. Methods: The study used sentinel surveillance methods in sentinel hospitals in Bogotá and Manizales. Four to eight nasopharyngeal samples were collected every week in the sentinel hospitals from children aged less than five consulting for low or high RI. Nasopharyngeal samples were processed by indirect immunofluorescence. Results: 1 743 children were examined from January 1997 to December 2003; 35 percent were found to be positive for respiratory viruses. Respiratory syncytial virus was found more frequently while adenovirus was found in 47 patients (2,6 percent of the sample; 1,4-2,5 percent 95 percentCI). Adenovirus was detected throughout the year (excepting January) but peaks occurred in March, July, October and December. Most patients were hospitalised (50-87 percent) and were in need of oxygen support. Fatality:case ratio was 7 percent; B7, 2, C1, and B3 serotypes were identified. Conclusion: The data suggested that respiratory infection due to adenovirus was a low frequency event amongst the children seeking medical care at the sentinel hospitals. However, when respiratory disease was caused by adenovirus, it was severe.