Oral prednisone as a risk factor for infections in children with asthma

Article Abstract:

Periodic oral prednisone treatment of asthmatic children does not appear to increase infection rates. Corticosteroids such as prednisone suppress the immune system, and prolonged use is known to increase susceptibility to infection. Seventy-eight children aged 2 to 14 with moderately severe asthma participated in a study of parental administration of prednisone or placebo at the onset of an asthma attack. They were followed up at three month intervals for one year, and the number of infectious episodes was determined. Ninety-four acute infections were diagnosed in 50 children, including middle ear infection, strep throat, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and chicken pox. Overall, 222 episodes of sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea were reported in 62 children. No correlation was found between prednisone administration and the occurrence or severity of infections or infectious symptoms.

Infection, Complications and side effects, Risk factors, Pediatric diseases, Asthma in children, Childhood asthma, Prednisone, Infection in children

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Hospitalization vs outpatient treatment of young febrile infants: 10-year comparison

Article Abstract:

The treatment of young infants presenting with fever did not change during a 10-year-period at The Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Information was gathered from hospital and clinic records on 92 infants younger than 60 days brought to the hospital with fever during 1990 and compared with information from a prior study of 190 similar infants carried out between 1979 and 1982 at the same hospital. About two-thirds of the children were admitted during both time periods. The number and types of diagnostic tests were similar. Complication rates and diagnosis and treatment errors occurred at similar rates, except that infants in the current study were more likely to develop thrush. This increase in yeast infections was probably due to greater use of antibiotics. However, hospital stay was greatly reduced, and outpatients were more likely to have many more diagnostic tests.

Care and treatment, Evaluation, Fever in children, Childhood fever, Ambulatory medical care, Ambulatory care

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The influence of medroxyprogesterone on the duration of breast-feeding in mothers in an urban community

Article Abstract:

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera) injections given immediately after childbirth may not negatively influence a mother's ability to produce breast milk in the first 16 weeks after birth. Researchers evaluated the lactation practices and timing of first formula feeding among 95 mothers of healthy newborns, 43 of whom received medroxyprogesterone injections and 52 of whom received no hormonal contraception (NHC). Both groups breastfed for similar numbers of weeks and for similar frequencies of feedings per day. The timing of first formula feeding was also similar. Women receiving medroxyprogesterone were older and more apt to be married.

Physiological aspects, Breast feeding, Depo-Provera (Contraceptive)

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