RESUMO
Introduction Wheezing is common in preschool-aged children, affecting about half of all children within their first six years of life. Children who have recurrent wheezing experience disease-related morbidity, including increased emergency visits and hospitalizations. Early-life lower respiratory tract viral infections are linked to recurrent wheezing and eventual asthma onset. Identifying high-risk children is crucial, with the frequency and severity of wheezing episodes being good predictors of long-term outcomes. Aim To identify predictors of severe exacerbations in children with recurrent wheezing. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 168 pediatric patients with recurrent wheezing followed up at our outpatient clinic. The outcome of interest was the occurrence of a severe exacerbation, defined as any exacerbation requiring hospitalization and the need for supplemental oxygenation or ventilatory support. Results The median age of the first wheezing exacerbation was five months, with a predominance of the male gender. Approximately two-thirds of the patients had a family history of atopy. Comorbid allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were present in 15.4% and 16.7% of patients, respectively. Twenty percent of patients had a severe wheezing exacerbation as the first form of presentation, and 30% presented at least one severe exacerbation from the first presentation to the last follow-up. Patients with severe exacerbations were younger at the first episode (median age 4 months, IQR 2-7, versus 7 months, IQR 4-12, p=0.027) and more frequently had a family history of atopy (71.7% versus 55.6%, p=0.050). In this cohort, patients who initially presented with a severe episode are at increased risk of incident severe exacerbations during follow-up, HR 2.24 (95%CI 1.01-4.95). Conclusions We know that the severity of exacerbations in children with recurrent wheezing correlates with the long-term outcomes of the disease. Therefore, preventing severe exacerbations can positively impact the prognosis of these patients. In this analysis, we found independent predictors of severe exacerbations to be the first clinical episode before the age of three months and a family history of atopy. We also found that patients whose initial presentation was severe have a higher risk of new severe exacerbations. Therefore, these subgroups of patients should be closely monitored by pediatricians.
RESUMO
In the past decade rickets has re-emerged in developed countries due to changes in lifestyles and dietary habits. We describe a case of a 28-month-old black infant with failure to thrive. He was exclusively breastfed until nine months of age, without vitamin supplementation, and never ingested milk products due to alleged cowâÄôs milk intolerance. His examination revealed bowlegs, rachitic rosary and wide wrists. Alkaline phosphatase and intact parathyroid hormone levels were elevated, and calcidiol was decreased. Radiographic images showed bone demineralization, fraying and cupping of the distal radius and ulna. Nutritional rickets was considered and treatment with colecalciferol and calcium carbonate was initiated, with clinical, laboratory and radiologic improvement. In this case, a group of factors contributed to severe nutritional rickets, alerting to the re-emergence of this disease.
Na última década o raquitismo tem ressurgido nos países desenvolvidos, devido a alterações no estilo de vida e hábitos alimentares. Descrevemos o caso de uma criança de 28 meses, raça negra, antecedentes de aleitamento materno exclusivo até aos nove meses sem suplementação vitamínica e ausência de ingestão de produtos lácteos por suspeita de intolerância às proteínas de leite de vaca, internado por má progressão estaturo-ponderal. Apresentava varismo acentuado, rosário costal e punhos de boneca. Analiticamente destacava-se elevação da paratormona intacta e fosfatase alcalina, com diminuição do calcidiol. O estudo radiológico evidenciava desmineralização óssea generalizada, com alargamento das extremidades e metáfises do rádio e cúbito distais em forma de taça. Admitido o diagnóstico de raquitismo carencial, foi instituída terapêutica com colecalciferol e carbonato de cálcio, com progressiva melhoria clínica, laboratorial e radiológica. Neste caso destacam-se vários fatores que, conjugados, contribuíram para um raquitismo carencial grave, alertando para o ressurgir desta patologia.