Management of asthma in childhood: study protocol of a systematic evidence update by the Paediatric Asthma in Real Life (PeARL) Think Tank

IntroductionClinical recommendations for childhood asthma are often based on data extrapolated from studies conducted in adults, despite significant differences in mechanisms and response to treatments. The Paediatric Asthma in Real Life (PeARL) Think Tank aspires to develop recommendations based on the best available evidence from studies in children. An overview of systematic reviews (SRs) on paediatric asthma maintenance management and an SR of treatments for acute asthma attacks in children, requiring an emergency presentation with/without hospital admission will be conducted.Methods and analysisStandard methodology recommended by Cochrane will be followed. Maintenance pharmacotherapy of childhood asthma will be evaluated in an overview of SRs published after 2005 and including clinical trials or real-life studies. For evaluating pharmacotherapy of acute asthma attacks leading to an emergency presentation with/without hospital admission, we opted to conduct de novo synthesis in the absence of adequate up-to-date published SRs. For the SR of acute asthma pharmacotherapy, we will consider eligible SRs, clinical trials or real-life studies without time restrictions. Our evidence updates will be based on broad searches of Pubmed/Medline and the Cochrane Library. We will use A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews, V.2, Cochrane risk of bias 2 and REal Life EVidence AssessmeNt Tool to evaluate the methodological quality of SRs, controlled clinical trials and real-life studies, respectively. Next, we will further assess interventions for acute severe asthma attacks with positive clinical results in meta-analyses. We will include both controlled clinical trials and observational studies and will assess their quality using the previously mentioned tools. We will employ random effect models for conducting meta-analyses, and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to assess certainty in the body of evidence.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required for SRs. Our findings will be published in peer reviewed journals and will inform clinical recommendations being developed by the PeARL Think Tank.PROSPERO registration numbers CRD42020132990, CRD42020171624.</p

Jornal de Pediatria Acute upper respiratory tract infections - outpatient diagnosis and treatment

Abstract Objective: To present an updated review of the most common upper respiratory infections (URI) in children seen by the pediatrician in outpatient clinics, for better diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Source of data: References from Medline database were reviewed. The most relevant articles were selected. Summary of the findings: Acute rhinopharyngitis, sinusitis, streptococcal tonsillitis and viral croup are presented in a concise and critical view. Differential and etiological diagnosis limitations and the abusive use of antimicrobials in these illnesses are also discussed. Conclusions: URI are the most common cause of visits to pediatrician clinics. Therefore, update and critical concepts, as well as references are essential for a proper management of these illnesses, decreasing the indication of unnecessary diagnostic tests and avoiding non-effective and harmful treatments

Prevalência de sintomas de distúrbios respiratórios do sono em escolares brasileiros The prevalence of symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing in Brazilian schoolchildren

OBJETIVO: Verificar a prevalência de sintomas de distúrbios respiratórios do sono em crianças de baixo nível socioeconômico no Sul do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal em Uruguaiana (RS), utilizando questionário específico sobre sintomas de distúrbios respiratórios do sono, respondido pelos pais, em uma amostra de escolares de 9 a 14 anos participantes do International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). RESULTADOS: Foram respondidos 998 questionários de um total de 1.011 escolares elegíveis. Relato de ronco habitual ocorreu em 27,6% das crianças, apnéia em 0,8%, respiração oral diurna em 15,5% e sonolência diurna excessiva em 7,8%. Crianças com sonolência diurna excessiva apresentaram maior risco de ronco habitual (OR = 2,7; IC95% 1,4-5,4), apnéia (OR = 9,9; IC95% 1,2-51), respiração oral (OR = 13,1; IC95% 6,2-27,4) e problemas de aprendizado (OR = 9,9; IC95% 1,9-51,0). Rinite, fumo materno e testes cutâneos alérgicos estiveram significativamente associados a ronco habitual e respiração oral diurna. CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência de sintomas de distúrbios respiratórios do sono é elevada em crianças de 9 a 14 anos na cidade de Uruguaiana. A prevalência de ronco habitual foi quase duas vezes maior que a descrita nessa faixa etária em outras populações. Crianças com sonolência diurna excessiva parecem ter quase 10 vezes mais risco de problemas de aprendizado.<br>OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing among children of low socioeconomic status in the South of Brazil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, carried out in the city of Uruguaiana, RS, in which specific questionnaire about the symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing was completed by the parents of a sample of schoolchildren aged 9 to 14 years, enrolled on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). RESULTS: From the total of 1,011 eligible schoolchildren, 998 questionnaires were completed. The parents of 27.6% of the children reported habitual snoring, while 0.8% reported apnea, 15.5% described daytime mouth breathing and 7.8% complained of excessive daytime sleepiness. Children with excessive daytime sleepiness were at greater risk of habitual snoring (OR = 2.7; 95%CI 1.4-5.4), apnea (OR = 9.9; 95%CI 1.2-51), mouth breathing (OR = 13.1; 95%CI 6.2-27.4) and learning difficulties (OR = 9.9; 95%CI 1.9-51.0). Rhinitis, maternal smoking and positive allergy skin test results were significantly associated with habitual snoring and daytime mouth breathing. CONCLUSIONS: There is an elevated prevalence of symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing among children from 9 to 14 in the city of Uruguaiana. The prevalence of habitual snoring was almost twice that described in this age group in other populations. Children with excessive daytime sleepiness appear to have almost 10 times the risk of learning difficulties

Growth Rate of Lung Function in Healthy Preterm Infants

Rationale: It remains unclear whether premature birth, in the absence of neonatal respiratory disease, results in abnormal growth and development of the lung. We previously reported that a group of healthy infants born at 32–34 weeks' gestation and without respiratory complications had decreased forced expiratory flows and normal forced vital capacities at 2 months of age

Bronquiolite aguda por rinovírus em lactentes jovens Rhinovirus and acute bronchiolitis in young infants

OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de infecção por rinovírus em lactentes menores de 6 meses hospitalizados por bronquiolite aguda. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados de forma prospectiva lactentes hospitalizados com diagnóstico de bronquiolite aguda, no Hospital São Lucas da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, no período entre maio e setembro de 2002. Foi pesquisada a presença de vírus respiratórios no aspirado nasofaríngeo (ANF), através de imunofluorescência direta para vírus sincicial respiratório, parainfluenza, influenza e adenovírus. Para detecção do rinovírus, foi utilizada a reação de transcrição reversa, seguida de reação em cadeia da polimerase, específicas para picornavírus, seguidas de hibridização com sonda específica para rinovírus. RESULTADOS: Foram selecionados 45 lactentes hospitalizados com diagnóstico de bronquiolite aguda. A mediana da idade dos pacientes selecionados foi de 2 meses. Foram encontradas amostras positivas para vírus respiratórios em 35/45 (77,8%) casos. Foi detectado mais de um vírus em 7/35 (20%) amostras. Das amostras positivas, o vírus sincicial respiratório foi detectado em 33/35 (94%) casos. O rinovírus foi detectado em 6/35 casos (17%). CONCLUSÕES: O rinovírus foi o segundo agente mais freqüentemente detectado em secreção nasal de lactentes jovens hospitalizados por bronquiolite aguda.<br>OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of rhinovirus infection in hospitalized young infants with acute bronchiolitis. METHODS: Hospitalized children with acute bronchiolitis admitted to the Hospital São Lucas/PUCRS between May and September 2002 were selected prospectively. Nasopharyngeal samples were assayed for respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza, influenza and adenovirus by immunofluorescence. For rhinovirus test a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for picornavirus was used, followed by hybridization with rhinovirus specific probes. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were selected for the study. The median age of the subjects studied was 2 months. Positive samples for respiratory viruses were found in 35/45 (77.8%) subjects and 7/35 (20%) patients had dual infection. Respiratory syncytial virus was detected in 33/35 (94%) cases. Rhinovirus was detected in 6/35 patients (17%). CONCLUSIONS: Rhinovirus was the second most common agent detected in nasal secretions from young infants hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis

Lung function adjusted for body length and gestational age in male (black) and female (gray) premature infants.

<p>Data are represented as the mean (+SD). Sixty-six (35 female) were exposed to HCA (combined Grade 1 and Grade 2) and 29 not exposed to HCA (17 female). There was a significant sex by HCA interaction for FEF₅₀ (F = 8.76; p = 0.004), FEF_25–75 (F = 8.11; p = 0.005) and FEV_0.5 (F = 4.81; p = 0.031). Post hoc analyses revealed a significant reduction in lung function in exposed female preterm infants when compared to females not exposed to HCA. The effect of exposure to HCA was not significant in males. *<i>p</i><0.05, **<i>p</i><0.01 (Post hoc Holm-Sidak test).</p

Lung function values, stratified by sex and chorioamnionitis.

<p>Lung function, Weight/age, and Length/age expressed in Z scores. Data are mean±SD.</p>*<p>p<0.05; **p<0.01; for Mann-Whitney Test for continuous variables between male versus female preterm infants and between None versus HCA Grade 1 and HCA Grade 2 combined.</p>#<p>p<0.05 for Jonckheere–Terpstra trend test for continuous variables between None, HCA Grade 1 and HCA Grade 2.</p

Lung function variables, expressed as mean z-score by HCA level in premature infants.

<p>*<i>p</i><0.05 for Jonckheere–Terpstra trend test.</p