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Biomedical subjects

M A Geertsma

Publications and source records attributed to M A Geertsma.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Colic--a pain syndrome of infancy?

A review of colic research supports the theory that colic may be caused by pain, particularly pain generated by gastrointestinal causes. At the same time, it also supports the view that disturbing crying in the first 3 months of life may be secondary to behavioral-interactive problems or simple parental misinterpretation of cry. In fact, a closer look at the methodology of colic studies along with our preliminary results suggest there may be at least two different patterns of disturbing infant crying. It is possible that one is associated with true pain and the other not. Dependence on retrospective parental reports alone to substantiate the presence of pain is only as reliable as parent interpretation of crying. Although specific cry patterns may represent specific infant conditions, parents may not be accurate interpreters of those patterns. In trying to determine the presence of gastrointestinal pain in colicky crying, close attention therefore should be given to the nature of the cry. Specific attention to qualitative and quantitative aspects of crying in colicky infants is identified as important by our pilot work. In the future this may help to explain the apparent discrepancies in the colic literature and to determine to what extent infant colic is a true pain syndrome.

Child Behavior↗
PubMed1985

Feeding resistance after parenteral hyperalimentation.

Infants requiring prolonged hyperalimentation for a variety of conditions may experience difficulty in establishing oral feedings. Indeed, active resistance to oral feeding is often observed. We describe an infant who was deprived of normal oral feedings for the first ten months of life. Because subsequent feeding resistance was apparently due to behavioral and developmental factors, we suggest that the approach to such cases should involve particular attention to these areas. The child development literature and our surgical experience with esophageal atresia give supporting evidence.

Child Behavior↗
PubMed1977

Benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia.

Severe methemoglobinemia developed in a healthy 14-month-old infant following the topical application of a benzocaine-containing gel administered for the relief of the discomfort of teething. Congenital methemoglobinemia and hemoglobin M disease were excluded by appropriate laboratory studies. The patient is considered to have a normal methemoglobin-reducing capacity and her response to the drug is one that presumably could occur in any other child of comparable age on receiving an equivalent dose of benzocaine. Parents should be cautioned against the indiscriminate use of similar medications, particularly since the process for which these medications are administered is both benign and physiologic.

Administration, Topical↗