Análisis de los factores ligados al diagnóstico del trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad en la infancia / Analysis of the factors linked to a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children

Introducción: El trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH) es un trastorno neuropsiquiátrico de origen multifactorial. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar el porcentaje de pacientes que presentan TDAH del global de los enviados a la consulta por este motivo, y explorar los factores epidemiológicos y clínicos asociados al diagnóstico. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo analítico de una muestra de pacientes derivados a la consulta de neuropediatría por sospecha de TDAH, a la que se le aplican los criterios diagnósticos del DSM-IV. Se realiza un análisis de regresión logística para explorar los factores asociados al diagnóstico. Resultados: De los 280 pacientes, 224 eran varones (relación niños/niñas 4/1) con una edad media ± desviación estándar de 8,4±3,08 años. El 49% fue remitido desde el ámbito escolar. El 64,9% de ellos nacieron en el segundo semestre del año, fenómeno que es más acusado en las mujeres. Tras la evaluación de los sujetos, un total de 139 casos fueron diagnosticados (49,7%). Los factores asociados a un incremento de diagnósticos de TDAH fueron: el sexo varón, el TDAH parental, trastornos del sueño asociados, la presencia de tics y la ausencia de retraso del desarrollo psicomotor. Conclusiones: Solo la mitad de los niños enviados con sospecha de TDAH fueron diagnosticados del trastorno. La mayoría se encuentra entre los más jóvenes del curso escolar, sugiriendo una sobreestimación de la sospecha. Una entrevista clínica donde se explore la psicopatología parental, los trastornos del sueño y los tics parece necesaria para mejorar el proceso diagnóstico (AU)

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder originating from multiple factors. The aim of this study is to determine the percentage of patients with ADHD out of all patients referred to our clinic for assessment, and to explore the epidemiological and clinical factors linked to this diagnosis. Patients and methods: retrospective analytical study of a sample of patients under 15 years old sent to the paediatric neurology clinic for suspected ADHD. DSM-IV criteria were used for diagnosis. We completed a binary logistic regression analysis to determine which risk factors were associated with the diagnosis. Results: Of the 280 selected patients, 224 were male (male/female ratio 4:1); mean age (SD) was 8.4 (3.08) years. Almost half (49%) of the patients were referred by their schools and 64.9% were born in the second half of the year, but this tendency was more marked in girls than in boys. Assessment according to DSM-IV criteria resulted in diagnosis of 139 subjects (49.7%). The risk factors linked to diagnosis were male sex, parents with ADHD, associated sleep disorders, tics, and absence of neurodevelopmental delay. Conclusion: Only half of the children referred for suspected ADHD were diagnosed with that condition, and most were among the youngest in their classes, which suggests that suspected ADHD is overestimated. An exhaustive clinical interview investigating the family's psychological disorders and the patient's sleep disorders and tics is needed to improve the diagnostic process (AU)

Analysis of the factors linked to a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. / Análisis de los factores ligados al diagnóstico del trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad en la infancia.

INTRODUCTION: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder originating from multiple factors. The aim of this study is to determine the percentage of patients with ADHD out of all patients referred to our clinic for assessment, and to explore the epidemiological and clinical factors linked to this diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: retrospective analytical study of a sample of patients under 15 years old sent to the paediatric neurology clinic for suspected ADHD. DSM-IV criteria were used for diagnosis. We completed a binary logistic regression analysis to determine which risk factors were associated with the diagnosis. RESULTS: Of the 280 selected patients, 224 were male (male/female ratio 4:1); mean age (SD) was 8.4 (3.08) years. Almost half (49%) of the patients were referred by their schools and 64.9% were born in the second half of the year, but this tendency was more marked in girls than in boys. Assessment according to DSM-IV criteria resulted in diagnosis of 139 subjects (49.7%). The risk factors linked to diagnosis were male sex, parents with ADHD, associated sleep disorders, tics, and absence of neurodevelopmental delay. CONCLUSION: Only half of the children referred for suspected ADHD were diagnosed with that condition, and most were among the youngest in their classes, which suggests that suspected ADHD is overestimated. An exhaustive clinical interview investigating the family's psychological disorders and the patient's sleep disorders and tics is needed to improve the diagnostic process.

Hernia discal lumbar en la infancia. Forma de presentación y características clínicas / Herniated lumbar disc in childhood: presentation and clinical features

Introducción: La hernia discal lumbar tiene escasa incidencia antes de los 21 años, siendo excepcional antes de los 10. La forma de presentación clínica es diferente a la del adulto, por lo que resulta difícil establecer el diagnóstico. Se revisa la bibliografía para conocer mejor las peculiaridades del cuadro clínico en el niño, diferenciarlas de las del adulto y aumentar el índice de sospecha diagnóstica. Caso clínico: Niña de 9 años y 11 meses que consulta por cojera y dolor en el hueco poplíteo izquierdo, de un mes de evolución, con rigidez y escoliosis lumbar, y signo de Lasegue positivo bilateral. La resonancia magnética (RM) muestra una hernia discal en L5-S1. Discusión y conclusiones: Es una enfermedad poco frecuente, de diagnóstico difícil y tardío. Debe sospecharse ante un paciente con dolor ciático, pero también ante un dolor en el hueco poplíteo, especialmente cuando exista un signo de Lasegue o una retracción o tensión dolorosa y persistente de los isquiotibiales. La alerta aumentará cuando se añada una escoliosis y una gran restricción de la movilidad lumbar, sin olvidar sospechar la ante una alteración de la marcha poco clara en su origen

Introduction: Lumbar disc herniation is uncommon in individuals under 21 years of age, and extremely in frequent before the age of 10. The clinical presentation differs from that observed in the adult, making the diagnosis difficult. We have reviewed the literature to identity the peculiarities of this lesion in children, in order to distinguish it from the presentation in adults and, therefore, increase the index of suspicion to facilitate diagnosis. Clinical report: We report a case of herniated L5-S1 disc in a girl who was not quite ten years old. She had been complaining of a limp and left knee pain for about one month. We detected limited lumbar mobility, lumbar scoliosis and a markedly positive result in Lasegue's test. The presence of the herniated disc was revealed by magnetic resonance imaging. Discussion and conclusions: Lumbar disc herniation is anuncommon lesion, with a difficult and late diagnosis. It should be suspected not only when a patient presents with sciatica, but algo when pain is noted in the posterior region of the knee, especially when there is a positive result in Lasegue's test or an isolated and severe hamstring tightness. The diagnostic suspicion is increased by the presence of lumbar scoliosis and decreased lumbar motion, and should be kept in mind when gait disturbances of unclear etiology develop

[Variability in the treatment of headaches in visits to the Neuropaediatrics service at six Spanish hospitals]. / Variabilidad en el tratamiento de las cefaleas en las consultas de Neuropediatría de seis hospitales españoles.

INTRODUCTION: Headache is one of the chief reasons for visiting Neuropaediatric units. Variability in clinical practice has been defined as variations in the rates a clinical procedure is employed. The aim of this work is to study the variability in the treatment of children's headaches in six Spanish hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study involving patients who first visited because of a headache some time in the year 1999. Data were collected in December 2003. The following variables were analysed: type of headache, neuroimaging scans, beginning of prophylaxis, follow-up visits to clinic and number of patients who dropped out of the follow-up. RESULTS: In all, 372 children were attended. 63.4% of the headaches were considered as being migraine-type; 43% of the patients were submitted to neuroimaging and prophylaxis was established in 36.8%. Mean follow-up time in the clinic was 10.6 months and the mean number of visits was 3. 30% had dropped out of the follow-up. In the comparative analysis, significant differences were found in all the variables studied. CONCLUSIONS: Overall results are similar to those found in other series. The differences found between centres can be accounted for by differences in population, differences in health professionals' styles of medical practice or by the nonexistence of clear guidelines regarding a particular procedure.

Variabilidad en el tratamiento de las cefaleas en las consultas de Neuropediatría de seis hospitales españoles / Variability in the treatment of headaches in visits to the neuropaediatrics service at six spanish hospitals

Introducción. La cefalea es una de las principales causasde consulta en las unidades de Neuropediatría. La variabilidad en lapráctica médica se ha definido como la variaciónes en las tasas deun procedimiento clínico. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar lavariabilidad en el manejo de las cefaleas infantiles entre seis hospitalesespañoles. Pacientes y métodos. Se trata de un trabajo retrospectivoen el que se incluyen aquellos pacientes que acudieron a laconsulta debido a una cefalea por primera vez durante el año 1999.La recogida de datos se realizó en diciembre de 2003. Se analizaronlas siguientes variables: tipo de cefalea, realización de neuroimagen,inicio de profilaxis, tiempo de seguimiento en consultas y número depacientes que abandonaron el seguimiento. Resultados. Se atendieron372 niños. Un 63,4% de las cefaleas se consideró migrañosa; aun 43% de los pacientes se les practicó neuroimagen y se inició profilaxisa un 36,8%. La media de seguimiento en consultas fue de 10,6meses, y el número medio de visitas fue de tres. Un 30% había abandonadoel seguimiento. En el análisis comparativo, se han encontradodiferencias significativas en todas las variables estudiadas. Conclusiones.Los resultados globales son similares a los encontrados enotras series. Las diferencias encontradas entre los centros puedeninterpretarse como debidas a las diferencias poblacionales, por losdiferentes estilos de práctica médica de los profesionales, o bien porla inexistencia de pautas claras con respecto a un determinado procedimiento

Introduction. Headache is one of the chief reasons for visiting Neuropaediatric units. Variability in clinical practicehas been defined as variations in the rates a clinical procedure is employed. The aim of this work is to study the variability inthe treatment of children’s headaches in six Spanish hospitals. Patients and methods. We conducted a retrospective studyinvolving patients who first visited because of a headache some time in the year 1999. Data were collected in December 2003.The following variables were analysed: type of headache, neuroimaging scans, beginning of prophylaxis, follow-up visits toclinic and number of patients who dropped out of the follow-up. Results. In all, 372 children were attended. 63.4% of theheadaches were considered as being migraine-type; 43% of the patients were submitted to neuroimaging and prophylaxis wasestablished in 36.8%. Mean follow-up time in the clinic was 10.6 months and the mean number of visits was 3. 30% haddropped out of the follow-up. In the comparative analysis, significant differences were found in all the variables studied.Conclusions. Overall results are similar to those found in other series. The differences found between centres can beaccounted for by differences in population, differences in health professionals’ styles of medical practice or by the inexistenceof clear guidelines regarding a particular procedure

Parálisis transitoria del III par craneal, ¿un caso de migraña oftalmopléjica? / Transient third nerve palsy. A case of ophthalmoplegic migraine?

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[Physiologic jaundice in preterm newborns (author's transl)]. / Ictericia precoz (fistológica?) en niños prematuros.

Jaundice appearing in the first 24 hours of life, usually called early jaundice, is regarded as pathologic. On the opposite, one of the defining criteria of physiologic jaundice is its' occurrence after the first day of postnatal life. Authors, starting from repeated clinical observations of early jaundice of unknown etiology in preterm newborns, bring about a retrospective study of 1,527 clinical records in order to identify the cases of early jaundice of unknown origin. After known early jaundice-producing causes were excluded, 11 "unknown origin" cases were left. On comparing them with 11 other cases of similar characteristics (gestational age, weight at birth, year and season) who had presented physiologic jaundice, it turned out that the evolution of jaundice was comparable in both groups, except for age of appearance. Early jaundice group bilirubinemia was X = 7.4 (SD +/- 1.59 mg./dl. at 14 (+/- 6.6) hours of age, and physiologic jaundice group bilirubinemia was X = 9.8 (SD +/- 2.25) mg./dl. at 53 (+/- 21.3) hours at age. Since according to selection criteria both groups were made up by healthy preterm newborns, without any perinatal pathology, a study of the drugs administered to the mothers within 24 hours prior to birth was performed: not any reason for early appearance of jaundice was found. Authors' hypothesis support that the chronological criteria used to define physiologic jaundice in full-term newborns cannot always be applied to preterm newborns.