Characteristics of suicides of young people in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, from 2010 to 2016.

The purpose of this study was to describe demographic, toxicological, criminal, and medicolegal characteristics of suicides of young people aged up to 24 years examined by the Porto Alegre Medicolegal Office, from 2010 to 2016. This cross-sectional study collected data from the Porto Alegre Medicolegal Office and the Rio Grande do Sul State Police Department. The information was obtained from death certificates, toxicological analyses and police reports. Rates were calculated according to sex and age range (under 15 years old, 15 to 19 years old, and 20 to 24 years old) for comparing local with national data. There were 143 people who died by suicide in the period, 120 males and 23 females. Hanging was the most frequently used method, but in the range of 10 to 14 years old, firearm use was the predominant method. Fifty percent of male victims and 30% of female victims had some criminal history. Suicide rates in the study groups generally followed national trends. The relative frequency of suicide by firearm in this study diverged from international findings, as it was relatively more frequent in children under 15 years old and less frequent in older ranges. If confirmed, the finding draws attention to access to firearms in this age range. In older age ranges, adolescents and young adults were frequently involved in the criminal system. This finding may be useful for planning interventions involving both mental health education and screening for problems that may be associated with criminal involvement.

Criança com síndrome de Edwards, abordagem fisioterapêutica / Child with Edwards syndrome physiotherapic approach

A síndrome de Edwards caracteriza-se por um prognóstico reservado, por apresentar em literatura, que cerca de 55 a 65 por cento dos recém-nascidos afetados morrem ao primeiro ano de vida. O foco central deste estudo descreve o relato de uma criança de cinco anos, com diagnóstico de síndrome de Edwards qua apresenta hoje uma boa qualidade de vida, por ser acompanhada pela fisioterapia desde os primeiros meses de vida, contribuindo diretamente com a sua evolução. Inferindo sobre as formas de tratamento como CPAP e técnicas do conceito Bobath.