[The current problems of persistent diarrhea in children]. / Unele probleme actuale privind diareea persistenta la copii.

Although incidence of persistent diarrhea episodes is lower than the incidence of acute diarrhea episodes (5%), the former is, due to its consequences--including great mortality--, a problem in pediatric practice. The authors present a synthesis of the topical knowledge of persistent diarrhea in children in developing countries. After the definition, incidence and impact of the persistent diarrhea and of its risk and prognostic factors, the paper reports on the main physiopathological aspects involved. The treatment of the persistent diarrhea is presented in a concise manner; both the dietary and drug treatments are recommended.

[The role of maternal care in reducing perinatal and neonatal mortality in developing countries]. / Rolul îngrijirilor materne în reducerea mortalitatii perinatale si neonatale în tarile în curs de dezvoltare.

PIP: Neonatal and perinatal mortality is directly linked to the health of the mother immediately after birth. Numerous international scientific meetings among them the 45th session of the Mixed Committee of WHO in January 1985, have dealt with this issue. Maternal mortality is defined as the death of the mother 42 days after delivery. Perinatal mortality includes delayed fetal death and early neonatal death. Delayed fetal death often occurs in newborns weighing under 1000 gm. Usually perinatal mortality is defined as the number of delayed fetal deaths and early neonatal deaths among those weighing over 1000 gm/1000 live births. The neonatal mortality level corresponds to the number of deaths of children born alive at 4 weeks/1000 live births. Postnatal mortality means the death of children born live up to 1 year of age. Infant death means death under age 1. Infant mortality level is defined as deaths of infants that survive for a whole year. The major problems of infant health include diarrheal diseases normally requiring vaccination and malnutrition during the first month of life. In Bangladesh, Lesotho, and Mexico, the mortality level ranges between 32.8 to 135/1000 live births. Neonatal mortality makes u 42-63% of infant mortality. The perinatal period comprises the period between 28th week of pregnancy and the 7th day of life. Diarrhea and respiratory infections contribute to perinatal mortality. In developing countries, maternal mortality related to pregnancy of women aged 15-45 occurs most often. 2-10 maternal deaths/1000 live births to as high as 20/1000 are current estimates. In Nigeria, among adolescents, the rate is 50-70 deaths/1000 live births. 124 perinatal deaths that occurred in 1970 and 1973 in India were analyzed yielding these percentages: insufficient birth weight 32%, asphyxia 19%, obstetrical trauma 18%, congenital anomalies 7%, tetanus of the newborn 3%, and others 21%. In Africa and Southeast Asia tetanus-related neonatal mortality amounts to 10-30/1000 live births and the total annual toll reaches 750,000 to 1 million globally mostly because of nonsterile instruments. 90% of tetanus incidence in Romania was eradicated by vaccination. Preventive measures can reduce mortality: education of women on health and hygiene, avoidance of heavy labor during pregnancy, family planning services, aseptic techniques, vaccination against tetanus and other infectious diseases, chemical prophylaxis against malaria, improved obstetrical care, consolidated support system, and community participation.^ieng

[Pulmonary radiographic changes in the course of otomastoid diseases with minimally symptomatic clinical evolution (in infants and young children)]. / Modificarilke radiografice pulmonare în cursul îmbolnavirii otomastoidiene cu evolutie clinica paucistimptomatica (la sugar si copilul mic).

Otomastoiditis of infants and young children, masked in its evolution by antibiotics, continues to be increasingly met with. Diagnostic difficulties are caused by the paucity of the symptomatology in such cases. The present study included 111 cases of otomastoiditis admitted to the ORL Clinic for Children; routine X-ray of the lungs was performed. The results showed particular pulmonary alterations (interstitial design, diffuse or segmentary opacities, emphysema), without corresponding clinical pulmonary distress.