Biomedical subjects

E Carballo Ruano

Publications and source records attributed to E Carballo Ruano.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

[Somatization symptoms. An emerging pediatric entity].

BACKGROUND: Somatization symptoms are a clinical reality in our environment. However, many pediatricians have little information about this condition or experience of its management. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical and differential characteristics of these patients. The early identification of these patients and initiation of therapy in the initial stages of the process would improve prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective review was performed of the children admitted to the short-stay unit of a tertiary hospital because of somatic complaints and whose final diagnosis was that of a somatization disorder. RESULTS: Sixty medical records were analyzed, of which 38 (63 %) corresponded to girls, with a mean age of 11 years at presentation. The most frequent reasons for consultation were related to the digestive and neurological systems. Thirty-four patients (57 %) had previously consulted for the same reason. In the sample analyzed, the most frequent personality trait was anxiety. The main triggers were familial and school factors. The most frequent diagnosis was pain disorder in 42 children (70 %). All patients received psychotherapy and 39 received complementary pharmacological treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The data analyzed in this study indicate that somatization symptoms most frequently occur in anxious, prepubescent girls, with migraine or non-specific abdominal pain of approximately one month's duration. Patients have usually made several previous visits and no organic causes are discovered on physical examination.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

[Voluntary poisoning as a form of attempted suicide].

BACKGROUND: Voluntary intoxication as form of attempted suicide is currently a significant problem among the teenage population. Suicide attempt is the most frequent psychiatric emergency in adolescents. We present our 2-year experience of voluntary intoxication in a pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive study of patients admitted because of voluntary intoxication in our center from January 1996 to December 1997. We analyzed age, sex, approximate time of intoxication, toxic habit antecedents, psychiatric evaluations or previous intoxications, type of toxic substance and method of obtaining it, symptomatology on arrival at the emergency department, therapeutic attitude and most common complementary examinations, and days of hospital stay. RESULTS: Forty-six patients with voluntary intoxication were admitted during the study period. The mean age was 15.6 years; 40 patients (87%) were female. Twenty-eight patients (60.9%) had previously been evaluated in a psychiatric department. The toxic substance used was of pharmacological origin, and in 38 patients (82.6%) it was obtained from the home first-aid kit. In 22 patients (47.8%) intoxication was due to multiple drugs. Six patients (13%) required admission to the pediatric intensive care unit. Mean duration of admission was 3 days. COMMENTS: Voluntary intoxication as a form of attempted suicide is a significant problem among the teenage population, especially among teenage girls. The best preventive measure would be identification of the at-risk population, which consists mainly of teenage girls with depression, eating disorders, or previous suicide attempts.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

[Nebulized prostacyclin treatment for pulmonary hypertension in a 2-year-old girl].

INTRODUCTION: Primary pulmonary hypertension is an unusual disease of unknown aetiology in childhood. It is defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 25 mmHg at rest with normal wedge pulmonary pressure and absence of secondary causes. Treatment is based on diuretics and calcium-channel blockers and, in non-responders, on continuous intravenous prostacyclin. We report the case of a patient who was treated with nebulized prostacyclin who showed clinical improvement for 3 months. CASE REPORT: A 2-year-old child with right heart failure was admitted and stabilized with oxygen, restriction of liquids, and diuretics. The patient was diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension after exclusion of secondary causes. Cardiac catheterization confirmed the diagnosis. Pulmonary vascular reactivity did not test positive. Because of clinical deterioration, treatment with nebulized prostacyclin was started. We observed clinical improvement with a decrease in oxygen and diuretics demand for 3 months. After this period, the patient deteriorated and continuous intravenous prostacyclin was started. The patient died of heart failure 6 months after diagnosis. DISCUSSION: The use of prostacyclin in the management of primary pulmonary hypertension is an alternative in non-responding patients. Clinical improvement and decrease in oxygen demand support the use of nebulized prostacyclin as a useful approach in pediatric patients.

Aerosols↗