Biomedical subjects
Fiona Finlay
Publications and source records attributed to Fiona Finlay.
Immunisation hotline calls as five-in-one vaccine introduced.
Announcement of the introduction of the five-in-one vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib) into the primary immunisation schedule was made on 9 August 2004. In this study all calls to the immunisation hotline were recorded between 9 August 2004 and 19 November 2004, noting who called and the nature of their enquiry. A total of 208 calls were received during the study period, and of these 23 (11.1%) related to the new vaccine. Calls were from parents (10/23, 43%), health visitors (9/23, 39%) and practice nurses (3/23, 13%). A variety of themes were covered in calls including local availability of the five-in-one vaccine, vaccine safety, mercury content and efficacy. Calls not connected with the new vaccine concerned mostly adolescent MMR (17.3%) as there was a local mumps epidemic. Others related to clarification of a child's immunisation status (13.5%), primary MMR immunisation (13.5%), vaccination scheduling or administration difficulties (12%), other schedule (12.5%) and non-schedule vaccines (2.4%), vaccine reactions (2.4%), travel vaccines (6%), BCG (6%), and a few miscellaneous queries (3%). Overall questions about the new five-in-one vaccine accounted for an extra 23 calls to the immunisation hotline during the study period (11.1% of calls).
Body piercing in school children: a review of the issues.
Over recent years piercing of parts of the body other than the earlobes has become more common among school children. This article seeks to explore the issues raised by the practice, particularly for the school nurse, who may be involved in the management of children with body piercing in school. An overview of the different types of body piercing is provided, as well as a discussion of the legal aspects of body piercing in children under the age of 18. The infectious and non-infectious complications that may arise are examined. The article also addresses some of the psychological issues around body piercing, in particular exploring what motivates children to have a piercing done, and looks at the evidence that associates body piercing with high risk behaviours in this age group. Finally, the article provides practical guidance to healthcare professionals about managing children with body piercings, looking in particular at steps that can be taken to promote safe healing and the avoidance of complications.
Body piercing of young children.
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Should verrucas be covered while swimming?
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Adolescent facilities: the potential....
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Constipation in children: avoiding hospital admissions by the use of a specialist community nurse.
OBJECTIVE: To review paediatric admissions with a primary diagnosis of constipation to see whether some could have been managed in the community instead. METHOD: A review of the medical notes of all patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of constipation to the children's ward of a district general hospital over a 12-month period. RESULTS: Of 41 admissions (19 girls and 22 boys, age range 6 weeks to 12 years), the average length of stay was less than two nights. CONCLUSION: The short duration of hospital stay implies rapid improvement. It is likely that many of these children could have been managed in the community if suitable resources, such as a community nurse specialising in constipation, were available.