Mental health outcomes and experiences of family caregivers of children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia.

This study examined whether certain demographic characteristics, caregiver strain, and coping behaviors were associated with the mental health outcomes of family caregivers of children with disabilities in Bolivia during the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed-methods convergent study design was used with virtual interviews to quantitatively assess caregivers' demographic characteristics, caregiver strain, coping behaviors, and mental health outcomes, as well as qualitatively assess how the pandemic affected their family. Approximately 32%-71% of caregivers experienced poor mental health outcomes (stress, anxiety, and depression), especially among those experiencing poor health, high caregiver strain, and those using maladaptive coping strategies. Qualitative responses revealed that they experienced several unique stressors during the pandemic that affected them and their children. These findings highlight the need for culturally tailored prevention and treatment interventions to help offset the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health outcomes of this at-risk population.

Determination of thyroid volume by ultrasonography among schoolchildren in Philippines.

OBJECTIVE: Iodine deficiency is defined by the goiter and the urinary iodine concentration. However, a lack of local thyroid volume reference data resulted in the vague definition of goiter, especially in school-aged children. The aim of this paper was to determine the thyroid volumes by ultrasonography in schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years living in Cagayan areas in Philippine. METHODS: Cross-sectional thyroid ultrasonographic data of 158 schoolchildren aged 6-12 years from Tuguegarao and Lagum in Cagayan valley, Philippine were used. Thyroid volumes were compared based on logistic issue and urban and rural area and compared with other previously reported data. RESULTS: The mean values of thyroid volume in Tuguerago and Lagum were 2.99 ± 1.34 mL and 2.42 ± 0.92 mL. The thyroid size was significantly in association with age (P < 0.00), weight (P < 0.00), height (P < 0.00), and BSA (P < 0.00) by Pearson's correlation. The median thyroid volumes of schoolchildren investigated in this study were generally low compared to international reference data by age group but not by BSA. CONCLUSIONS: We propose for the first time local reference ultrasound values for thyroid volumes in 6-12 aged schoolchildren that should be used for monitoring iodine deficiency disorders.

Insuficiencia de convergencia / Convergence insufficiency

Este artículo se propone hacer una revisión sobre la insuficiencia de convergencia, su definición, etiología,signos, síntomas y tratamiento, para lo cual se realizó una búsqueda de artículos en bases de datosdesde 1980 hasta el 2010. En la práctica clínica es común encontrar pacientes con insuficiencia deconvergencia, problema de la visión binocular que consiste en la dificultad para obtener o mantener una convergencia adecuada sin esfuerzo. Aunque es una condición benigna que se produce porque las capacidades visuales del paciente no son suficientes con respecto a su demanda en visión próxima, ocasionagran sintomatología y astenopia en el paciente, dificultando su rendimiento y calidad de vida. La prevalencia de insuficiencia de convergencia se encuentra entre el 4 al 6%. El tratamiento implica la corrección óptica apropiada de cualquier error refractivo y la realización de terapia activa. El tratamiento recomendado consta de tres fases, cada una con objetivos diferentes que son desarrolladas en casa y en el consultorio durante 12 a 24 semanas dependiendo de la severidad de la condición, la edad del paciente y las funciones que se encuentran alteradas.

The purpose of this article is to review about convergence insufficiency, its definition, etiology, signs, symptoms and treatment. It was made an article search in data bases from 1980 to 2010. Convergence Insufficiency (CI) is one of the most common binocular vision problems and it has been defined as the inability to maintain an adequate convergence without effort. This is typically a benign and idiopathic condition that represents a lack of concordance between visual abilities and its near work demands,the main complaint is near vision asthenopia. The prevalence is 4.2% to 6%. Treatment involves the correction of any refractive error, and active therapy. The recommended treatment has three phases each one with different goals at home and office during 12to 24 months depending on the variety of the condition, patient’s age and anomalous visual functions.