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Biomedical subjects

T J Metcalf

Publications and source records attributed to T J Metcalf.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Simethicone in the treatment of infant colic: a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of simethicone in the treatment of infant colic. DESIGN: Randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled. SETTING: Three general pediatric practices in distinct geographic regions. PATIENTS: Eighty-three infants between 2 and 8 weeks of age with infant colic. INTERVENTIONS: Treatment with simethicone and placebo in double blind crossover fashion. RESULTS: A total of 166 treatment periods, ranging from 3 to 10 days, were evaluated in the 83 infants. Compared to baseline, improvement in symptoms was reported for 54% of the treatment periods, worsening was reported for 22%, and, for 24%, there was no change. The likelihood of the treatment period being rated as showing improvement, worsening, or no change was the same whether the infant was receiving placebo or simethicone. Twenty-eight percent of he infants responded only to simethicone, 37% only to placebo, and 20% responded to both. No statistically significant differences were noted among these three groups of responders. No difference could be shown even when infants with "gas-related symptoms" (by parental report) were separated out as a group. CONCLUSION: Although both produced perceived improvements in symptoms, simethicone is no more effective than placebo in the treatment of infantile colic.

Colic↗
PubMed1983

Circumcision. A study of current practices.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current incidence of circumcision, the reasons governing parental decisions regarding circumcision, the immediate and later complications from the procedure, as well as genital problems occurring in uncircumcised boys. The incidence of circumcision was found not to have changed over the past five years despite the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision. The reasons given for circumcision reflected mostly the strength of tradition, rather than a medical approach. Four per cent of newborns experienced early complications from the procedure, whereas 13 per cent experienced later, minor complications. Problems reported in uncircumcised infants were probably variants of normal. While the results of this study and evidence for discontinuing neonatal circumcision, we strongly recommend that, if physicians dissuade parents from having their infants circumcised, they must give adequate information concerning hygiene and the slow, natural separation of the foreskin from the glans.

Child↗
PubMed1981

Hygienic care in uncircumcised infants.

A written questionnaire was used to determine the advice pediatricians give concerning hygienic care of uncircumcised infants. A telephone survey was conducted in which new mothers were asked what they had been told about genital hygiene and how they were caring for their infants. Pediatricians' advice concerning hygiene in uncircumcised infants varied greatly. Most counseled mothers to retract the foreskin and clean the child, but few (22%) knew when this could be readily accomplished. None of the mothers of uncircumcised children had been told when the foreskin could be expected to retract, and only half had been given any advice concerning hygiene. Mothers of infants whose foreskins had been manipulated by physicians felt this practice was traumatic. Both this and the stress of caring for their infants without adequate instruction caused 40% of the mothers to state they would choose to have the next child circumcised. Recommendations for hygienic care of uncircumcised infants are given.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Acute arsenic exposure treated with oral D-penicillamine.

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is the arsenic compound most commonly implicated in acute toxic exposures. The toxicity of As2O3 is a function of the preparation's particle size and solubility. A 16-month-old female presented at a local emergency room with a history of acute ingestion of As2O3 obtained from a commonly available pesticide. Classic gastrointestinal symptoms of arsenic toxicity were exhibited shortly after ingestion; however, aggressive decontamination followed by early chelation therapy resulted in the cessation of toxic manifestations and an uneventful recovery. Oral chelation therapy with D-penicillamine has rarely been reported as an effective agent in the treatment of arsenic poisoning. The case reported herein is further documentation that D-penicillamine is effective in increasing the mobilization of arsenic. The authors also recommend that products containing arsenic compounds should not be used where children may come in contact with them until the Environmental Protection Agency's child resistant packaging regulations become effective.

Arsenic Poisoning↗
PubMed1979

Evaluation of cefaclor and amoxycillin in the treatment of acute otitis media.

Twenty-eight patients with acute otitis media were treated in a random double blind manner with either amoxycillin or cefaclor. The predominant organisms isolated were H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae. All patients responded satisfactorily except one, treated with cefaclor, whose compliance with the regimen was very doubtful. One instance of mild elevation of SGOT and one case of mild erythematous rash occurred in each treatment group. In this limited study, cefaclor appeared comparable to amoxycillin in the treatment of acute otitis media.

Acute Disease↗