[Usefulness of simple paranasal sinus radiographs and axial computed tomography in the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis]. / Utilidad de la radiografía simple de senos paranasales y la tomografía axial computada en el diagnóstico de sinusitis crónica.

AIMS: A prospective, observational clinical trial is presented with the object of determining the frequency with which CT scans of the paranasal sinuses establish the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis in patients with symptoms of sinusitis but without alterations in the plain films of the paranasal sinuses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 113 patients, 64 females and 49 males, with the clinical diagnosis of chronic sinusitis. All had plain films of the paranasal sinuses. CT scans of the paranasal sinuses were performed on all patients with negative findings on plane films. RESULTS: Of the 113 patients, 68 (60%) presented positive radiographic findings of chronic sinusitis on plain films. In the 45 remaining patients (39%) in which plain films were negative, CT scans of the paranasal sinuses were performed and demonstrated ethmoid sinusitis in all of them (100%). CONCLUSION: That CT scan is more sensitive in the diagnosis of ethmoid sinusitis as compared to plain films of the paranasal sinuses, due to the fact that ethmoid anatomy is better delineated by this method. Plain films of the paranasal sinuses are of lesser use in determining ethmoid anatomy due to the superposition of images that occurs in this technique.

[Asthma associated with gastroesophageal reflux]. / Asma asociada a reflujo gastroesofágico.

OBJECTIVE: In order to explore the association between poorly controllable asthma and gastroesophageal reflux (GER), a prospective clinical trial is presented. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This trial included 28 patients with negative atopic indicators who presented difficulty in the management of their disease. All patients underwent a complete medical history as well as skin tests for common airborne allergens, total serum IgE, peripheral blood eosinophils, spirometry, chest X-ray and esophageal barium films. Additionally, esophageal endoscopy was performed on 9 patients, and esophageal manometry in 1 patient. All were submitted to antireflux therapy and received omeprazole and cisapride for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Complete improvement was observed in 24 patients (85.7%), moderate improvement in 3 patients (10.7%), and no improvement in 1 patient (3.6%). Three patients required antireflux surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms reappeared 2-3 weeks after suspending treatment, which led to the recommendation that antireflux measures become a way of life for these patients.

[Anaphylactic reaction caused by the performance of skin tests: report of a case]. / Reacción anafiláctica por aplicación de pruebas cutáneas: comunicación de un caso.

A case of anaphylaxis following skin tests for airborne allergens in a 25-year-old female patient diagnosed with bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, is presented. The purpose of this paper is to alert against severe systemic reactions related to skin tests. The reaction occurred 15 minutes after administration of various airborne allergens (pollens, air molds, and house dust), and the symptoms were: hypogastric pain, transvaginal bleeding, generalized urticaria, and bronchospasm. Immediate treatment consisted of antihistamines, bronchodilatators and steroids; the symptoms subsided in 12 hours. We conclude that skin testing can give rise to severe systemic reactions which should be identified and treated immediately by trained physicians and ancillary personnel, and that these tests should be avoided when pregnancy is suspected.

[Epidemiology of allergic diseases in the metropolitan area of Monterrey]. / Epidemiología de las enfermedades alérgicas en el área metropolitana de Monterrey.

A study was conducted in order to know whether the prevalence of allergic illnesses, in an open population, has changed in the last 10 years. For the study, 243 families from the Monterrey metropolitan area, were randomly selected, using a questionnaire. Of the total number of families studied, 95 were found to have some kind of allergic disease, 11.2% of 1207 people interviewed.