Biomedical subjects

Nevenka Roncević

Publications and source records attributed to Nevenka Roncević.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Adolescent health].

INTRODUCTION: Growth, development, and adaptation to numerous internal changes, as well as the changing roles of adolescents within the family and the community often take place within an environment of drug abuse, increased sexual freedom, weakened family structure, and under the strong influence of the media. Confronted with these pressures, adolescents often develop risky behaviours, which are also important health risks. Up to 75% of deaths and serious morbidity in adolescence is associated with risky behaviours. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to establish the frequency and types of risky behaviours in adolescents, as well as the characteristics of adolescents and families that engage in risky behaviours. METHOD: We performed this research with the help of 789 adolescents, aged 10 to 19, from elementary and secondary schools in Novi Sad. The questionnaire included items on risky behaviours in adolescents, based on: age, sex, school achievement, and family characteristics: family composition, socioeconomic status, emotional support, family conflicts, and risky behaviours of other family members. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that a high percentage of adolescents in Novi Sad engage in risky behaviours. Significantly more girls than boys engage in numerous risky behaviours. In comparison to their peers, adolescents from poor families, from families with either one or both parents unemployed, from families with inadequate emotional support, from families with frequent conflicts, or from families whose members themselves engage in different risky behaviours, engage in numerous risky behaviours significantly more often. CONCLUSION: Considering the fact that adolescent engagement in risky behaviours significantly affects adolescent morbidity and mortality, it is essential to implement comprehensive preventative programmes, which should include all adolescents before they start to engage in risky behaviours. In this process, the most important role belongs to the family. However, the entire community, schools, and health workers, should also play an active part.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Treatment of acute infections of the lower respiratory tract in children].

INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory tract infections are the most common childhood diseases. A preschool child suffers up to 5-7 infections of upper airways during a year. Lower airway infections make 5-20% of all respiratory infections. ETIOLOGIC FACTORS: In developed countries, 75% of pneumonias in childhood are of viral etiology, in 15% of bacterial, and in 10% of some other causative agent (mycoplasma, rickettsiae, fungi, parasites). In developing countries, bacterial pneumonias are present in much higher percentages. TREATMENT: Treatment of respiratory infections includes antimicrobial therapy (causal), relief of symptoms (symptomatic) and conduction of general principles in child treatment. The choice of antimicrobial drug is based on evidence of agents and their sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs, age, patient's condition, previous treatment and possible allergic reactions to the drug. In cases where we cannot provide adequate specimen for microbiologic testing, when these tests do not reveal the agent, or when therapy must be started before the agent is available, we must decide about the therapy, taking in consideration the most frequent agents, and those that would cause the most devastating clinical picture. This therapy can later be modified according to the isolated agent and its sensitivity to the drug. CONCLUSION: Having in mind the incidence and importance of respiratory infections in morbidity and mortality of children, the aim of this article was to show guidelines in treatment of respiratory infections in children. The main point remains that we should take in consideration the individual patient before all.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infections in children].

INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory tract infections are the most common diseases of childhood. A preschool child suffers up to 5-7 infections of upper airways during a year. Upper airway infections make 80-90% of all respiratory infections. ETIOLOGY AND TREATMENT: In 75% of all cases respiratory infections are of viral etiology, 15% of bacterial and 10% are caused by mycoplasma, rickettsiae, fungi, parasites. The treatment of respiratory infections includes antimicrobial therapy (causal), relief of symptoms (symptomatic) and application of general principles of child treatment. The choice of antimicrobial drug is based on the evidence of agents and their sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs, age, patient's condition, previous treatment and possible allergic reactions to the drug. In cases where adequate specimen cannot be obtained for microbiologic tests, when these tests do not reveal the agent, or therapy must start before evidence of the agent is available, we must decide about the therapy, taking in consideration the most frequent agents, and those that would cause the most devastating clinical picture. This therapy can be modified later, according to the isolated agent and its sensitivity to the drug. Considering the incidence and importance of respiratory infections in morbidity and mortality of children, the aim of this article was to present guidelines in treatment of respiratory infections. The main point remains that the treatment should take into consideration the individual patient before all.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Reference values for the peak expiratory flow].

INTRODUCTION: Peak expiratory flow (PEF) is an important screening method for investigation and follow-up of the pulmonary function. Since reading the obtained PEF results requires reference values, the aim of this study was to establish normal values for PEF in our adolescent population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The investigation included 1154 healthy teenagers aged from 15 to 19 years using a peak flow meter Harlow, Essex CM 2ED. Detailed explanations, purpose of investigation and function demonstrations were done prior to testing. Results were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Obtained results showed an increase of PEF values with age and body height in both sexes. Elevation of PEF was more significant in boys; high correlation was found in regard to age and height in boys and moderate correlation in girls. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Regression equations for sex, age and height were made after measurements and data analysis. PEF values can be easily calculated knowing one's age and height.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Chronic diseases in adolescence].

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of chronic diseases in adolescence is constantly increasing, especially in the last two decades. Adolescence is a period of important changes: body growth and development, sexual development, development of cognitive abilities, change in family relations and between peers, formation of personal identity and personal system of values, making decisions on future occupation etc. CHRONIC DISEASES IN ADOLESENCE: Chronic disorders affect all development issues and represent an additional burden for adolescents. The interaction between chronic disorders and various development issues is complex and two-way: the disease may affect development, and development may affect the disease. Developmental, psychosocial and family factors are of great importance in the treatment of adolescents with chronic disorders. Chronic disorders affect all aspects of adolescent life, including relations with peers, school, nutrition, learning, travelling, entertainment, choice of occupation, plans for the future. Physicians should keep in mind that chronic diseases and their treatment represent only one aspect of person's life. Adolescents with chronic diseases have other needs as well, personal priorities, social roles and they expect these needs to be recognised and respected. Adolescent health care should be adjusted to the life style of adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Fever without a focus in children 0-36 months of age].

INTRODUCTION: About 20% of fevers in childhood have no apparent cause. A small, but significant number of these children may have a seroius bacterial infection. Fever without a focus of infection is an acute febrile illness with rectal temperature of 38 degrees C or higher in children younger than 36 months, without localizing signs or symptoms. PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR MEDICAL CARE: In this article, practical recommendations for medical care of febrile children 0-36 months of age are given, bearing in mind children's age, clinical presentation (toxic manifestations) and risk for serious bacterial infection (sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection...). Toxic appearance is a clinical presentation characterized by lethargy, poor perfusion, marked hypo/hyperventilation and cyanosis. All febrile children under 36 months of age, who are appearing toxic, require hospitalization, evaluation for sepsis and administration of empiricial antibiotic therapy. All febrile neonates, however, must be hospitalized; cultures of blood, urine and spinal fluid should be taken and empirical antibiotic therapy administered immediately. Febrile infants, 28 to 90 days of age, need to be evaluated in order to determine whether they are in the low-risk group for serious bacterial infections (Rochester Criteria). Yale Observation Scale is recommended to assess febrile children aged 3-36 months, and the risk of occult bacteriemia. Febrile children, 3-36 months of age who appear well, with temperature of less than 39 degrees C without focus, should be closely followed up without laboratory tests and antibiotics and 2-3 days later reexamined. In febrile children, 3-36 months old, with temperature of 39 degrees C and above, without toxic manifestations, blood culture should be taken and ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg/in a single dose should be given, if leukocyte count is 15000/mm3 or absolute neutrophil count is over 10.000/mm3.

Bacterial Infections↗