Prevalence of recurrent wheezing in infants

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of recurrent wheezing in infants in the city of Curitiba, PR, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study carried out by means of administering questionnaires to the parents of infants aged 12 to 15 months attending health centers for immunization during the period between August 2005 and December 2006. This is a standardized and validated instrument consisting of questions on demographic characteristics, wheezing, respiratory infections and risk factors. At the time of the study the City Health Department had 107 health centers, 35 of which were selected by lots and distributed homogeneously across the municipal territory. RESULTS: A total of 1,364 infants (45.4%) had episodes of wheezing during their first 12 months of life, with onset at 5.5±3.1 months (mean ± standard deviation), and 678 (22.6%) had had three or more episodes. In 84.6% of the wheezing children treatment was with β2-agonists, with inhaled corticosteroids in 18.5%, oral corticosteroids in 24.3% and leukotriene receptor antagonists were used with 5.4%. The wheezing children exhibited nocturnal symptoms, intense difficulty breathing and visits to emergency services in the proportions of 58.9, 46.2 and 57.6%, respectively; 12.7% were admitted to hospital for asthma and 10.9% had had a medical diagnosis of asthma. Nocturnal symptoms, visits to emergency, severity of symptoms, hospital admissions for asthma and medical diagnoses of asthma were all more common among those who had suffered three or more crises (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is an elevated prevalence of wheezing among the infants of Curitiba, with early onset and elevated morbidity. It is possible that these infants represent a large contingent of asthmatics.OBJETIVO: Verificar a prevalência da sibilância recorrente em lactentes na cidade de Curitiba (PR). MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal pela aplicação de questionários aos pais de lactentes, idade entre 12 e 15 meses, que procuraram unidades de saúde para imunização no período entre agosto de 2005 e dezembro de 2006. Este instrumento padronizado e validado consiste de perguntas sobre características demográficas, sibilância, infecções respiratórias e fatores de risco. Durante o período de estudo, a Secretaria Municipal de Saúde possuía 107 unidades de saúde, das quais 35 foram selecionadas por sorteio e distribuídas homogeneamente no território municipal. RESULTADOS: Um total de 1.364 lactentes (45,4%) apresentou um ou mais episódios de sibilância nos primeiros 12 meses de vida, com início aos 5,5±3,1 meses (média ± desvio padrão), e 678 (22,6%) tiveram três ou mais episódios. Utilizaram β2-agonistas, corticóides inalatórios, corticóides orais e antagonistas do receptor de leucotrienos 84,6, 18,5, 24,3 e 5,4% dos sibilantes, respectivamente. Sintomas noturnos, dificuldade intensa para respirar e visitas a emergência estiveram presente em 58,9, 46,2 e 57,6% dos lactentes que sibilaram; destes, 12,7% foram hospitalizados por asma e 10,9% tiveram diagnóstico médico de asma. Sintomas noturnos, visitas à emergência, gravidade dos sintomas, hospitalização por asma e diagnóstico médico de asma foram mais freqüentes entre os que apresentaram três ou mais crises (p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de lactentes sibilantes em Curitiba é elevada, com início precoce e alta morbidade. Possivelmente, esses lactentes representam um contingente expressivo de asmáticos.Universidade Federal do Paraná Hospital de ClínicasUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUniversidade de Santiago do ChileUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Radon exposure: a major cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers

ABSTRACT Exposure to radon can impact human health. This is a nonsystematic review of articles written in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese published in the last decade (2013-2023), using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and SciELO. Search terms selected were radon, human health, respiratory diseases, children, and adults. After analyzing the titles and abstracts, the researchers initially identified 47 studies, which were subsequently reduced to 40 after excluding reviews, dissertations, theses, and case-control studies. The studies have shown that enclosed environments such as residences and workplaces have higher levels of radon than those outdoors. Moreover, radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer, especially in nonsmokers. An association between exposure to radon and development of other lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD, was also observed. It is crucial to increase public awareness and implement governmental control measures to reduce radon exposure. It is essential to quantify radon levels in all types of buildings and train professionals to conduct such measurements according to proven efficacy standards. Health care professionals should also be informed about this threat and receive adequate training to deal with the effects of radon on human health

Asthma and Rhinitis in South America: How Different They are From Other Parts of the World.

Asthma and rhinitis epidemiology has wide variations around the world. The aim of this review was verify the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis in South America and report differences from other regions of the world. We reviewed studies with International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) methodology in South America, Phases I and III. In South America the ISAAC Phase I ranked four countries among top ten in prevalence of asthma and three countries among top ten in prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis. ISAAC Phase III showed little changes in asthma and rhinitis prevalence in South American countries. The prevalence increases of asthma and rhinitis in South American centers indicate that the burden of both is continuing to rise, but the differences in prevalence are lessening.Revisión por pare

ANGIOEDEMA HEREDITÁRIO: UMA ATUALIZAÇÃO.

Objective: Hereditary angioedema is a genetic disease with autosomal dominance inheritance characterized by quantitative and qualitative deficiency of C1 inhibitor, resulting in edema of multiples organs. The present study provides a literature review and update on diagnosis, classification and treatment of this pathology. Method: Review of recent and relevant literature, original articles and national and international guidelines. Results: Hereditary angioedema clinical manifestations are abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and swelling of limbs, face, larynx and genitals. The diagnosis is made by history, physical exam and laboratory tests such as serum C4 and enzyme inhibitor C1-esterase. Classification is based on deficiency or absence of C1 esterase. Therapeutic approach follows guidelines to avoid triggering factors, medications for the management of attacks and prophylactic treatment. Androgens attenuated are used for preventive and antifibrinolytic treatment and fresh plasma are used in acute attacks. New drugs for inhibiting bradykinin and concentrated plasma-derived C1 have been used in the treatment and prevention of acute episodes. Conclusions: Hereditary angioedema is a serious disease with high morbidity and mortality. The correct diagnosis of this condition by several health professionals is essential for its proper management. Objetivo: O angioedema hereditário é uma doença genética, de herança autossômica dominante caracterizada pela deficiência quantitativa e qualitativa do inibidor de C1 resultando em edema de vários órgãos. O presente estudo tem como objetivo uma revisão da literatura, visando atualização do diagnóstico, classificação e tratamento desta patologia.Método: Revisão da literatura recente de artigos originais e diretrizes nacionais e internacionais.Resultados: As manifestações clínicas de angioedema hereditário são dor abdominal, vômitos, diarreia e edema de membros, face, laringe e genitais. O diagnóstico se faz por anamnese, exame físico e exames laboratoriais, entre eles dosagem sérica de C4 e do inibidor da C1-esterase. A classificação é baseada na deficiência ou não da enzima C1 esterase. A abordagem terapêutica segue orientações gerais para evitar fatores desencadeantes, medicamentos para o manejo das crises e tratamento profilático. Andrógenos atenuados são utilizados para tratamento preventivo e antifibrinolíticos e plasma fresco são empregados nas crises. Novas drogas inibidoras de bradicinina e concentrados de C1 derivados de plasma têm sido utilizados no tratamento e prevenção das crises. Conclusões: O angioedema hereditário é doença grave, com alta morbidade e mortalidade. O diagnóstico correto desta condição pelos profissionais da saúde é essencial para seu manejo adequado

A narrative review of recent literature of the quality of life in hereditary angioedema patients

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disorder that causes unpredictable and debilitating cutaneous and submucosal edema and can lead to death. HAE can impair patients' ability to perform daily activities, proportional to pain severity, with patients reporting lower productivity, missed time from work or school and potentially resulting in missed career and educational opportunities. Many patients with HAE experience a significant psychological burden, including anxiety and depression. Available treatment aims to prevent and/or treat HAE attacks as they occur, to reduce morbidity and mortality and, finally, to improve health-related quality of life. Two different validated specific angioedema instruments are available to assess patients' quality of life. The Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire (AE-QoL) examines diagnosed patients' quality of life but is not specific for HAE. The disease-specific questionnaire is the Hereditary Angioedema Quality of Life (HAE-QoL), and the first used for hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitors (C1-INH) deficiency. These quality-of-life instruments are helpful to the HAE patients' assessment and to the development of better therapeutic strategies as clinical tools, as defined by international guidelines. Considering this context, this review was conducted to compare the effects of acute vs. long-term prophylaxis on HAE patients’ health-related quality of life. In addition, the prevalence of anxiety and depression among these individuals was also reviewed