[Passive smoking and other risk factors associated to the lower respiratory illnesses in sucking infants]. / Tabaquismo pasivo y otros factores de riesgo en las afecciones respiratorias de vías bajas en los lactantes.

OBJECTIVES: We try to evaluate the frequency of lower respiratory illnesses (LRIs), during the first year of life and it's relation to other risk factors, overall passive smoking and modes of feeding. DESIGN: This is a retrospective study in our city. SETTING: Primary Health Care. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: The study population is 240 children during the first year of life, born in 1993 and we have collected clinical information about risk factors and LRIs number. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A 37% have suffered from at least one episode of LRIs, during the first year of life. The parental smoking appears in 46.6%. The incidence of LRIs was strongly associated with passive smoking (OR = 1.86), exclusive breast-feeding and at least for 5 months (OR = 2.1) and older brothers (OR = 3.12). The number of episodes of LRIs was statistically significative higher in males (males 0.82 +/- 1.67 episodes; females 0.48 +/- 0.67 episodes) (p = 0.0489). CONCLUSIONS: In our report, the risk factors more strongly related with LRIs in suckling infants are passive smoking, older brothers, male sex and less than 5 months of breast feeding.

[Acute otitis media in the first year of life and its relationship with various risk factors]. / Otitis media aguda durante el primer año de vida y su relación con algunos factores de riesgo.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of acute otitis media (OMA) in our city (urban population) during the first year of life and its relationship to some risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 240 children. We collected information about risk factors (sex, gestational age, birthweight, duration of breastfeeding, older siblings, parental smoking and nursery care). We related these to the number of OMA episodes during the first year of life. RESULTS: Of the infants studied 40% had suffered at least one episode of OMA during the first year of life. There was a higher incidence during winter and spring. Three out of every four episodes occurred after six months of age. The incidence of OMA was strongly associated to whether there were older siblings (odds ratio: 1.98) and to the male sex (odds ratio: 1.98). Children in the breastfed group (exclusive breastfeeding for at least 5 months) have less otitis episodes than the milk-adapted formula group, but the difference was not statistically different (0.41 +/- 0.68 vs 0.69 +/- 1.01 episodes; p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: In our report, the only risk factor strongly related with OMA in suckling infants are the presence of older siblings and the male sex. Breastfeeding did not have a protective effect in comparison to commercial formula, although a prospective study might be of interest for further addressing this issue.

[Usefulness of aplanation tonometry in primary care]. / Utilidad de la tonometría de aplanación en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of the aplanation tonometer (Glaucotest model) for primary care screening of ocular hypertension (OH) in 40 to 80-year olds. DESIGN: A descriptive prospective study. SETTING: Teruel Health Centre (urban). PATIENTS: Users between 40 and 80 of both sexes, selected after four on-demand consultations. The sample was randomised and stratified for age against the general public seeking care. Patients diagnosed with glaucoma or OH, or who were blind for any reason, were excluded. INTERVENTION: Measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) with a Heine Glaucotest aplanation tonometer with a head for 18 mmHg. Those patients with IOP figures above 18 mmHg were referred to the ophthalmology service, so that they could be tested there with a Goldmann tonometer. OH was defined as IOP above 21 mmHg. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There was a sample of 354 patients, 38% men and 62% women, average age 63.5. A tonometer reading > 18 mmHg was recorded in 49 cases. These were referred to the ophthalmologist, who confirmed IOP in 10 cases (2.8% of the total). The positive predictive value for IOP, with a cut-off point at 18 mm Hg in our study, was 20.4%. 60% of patients with IOP presented risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the aplanation tonometer used was suitable for IOP screening in primary care centers.