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Copyright of Medicina (Buenos Aires) is the property of Medicina (Buenos Aires) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Medicina (Buenos Aires) is the property of Medicina (Buenos Aires) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Medicina (Buenos Aires) is the property of Medicina (Buenos Aires) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Latex allergy, or natural rubber latex allergy (NRLA), is a global health concern, even among the pediatric population, with symptoms varying in severity from mild to potentially life-threatening. Latex is derived from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree, producing twelve million tons annually for use in various everyday and medical products. Despite efforts to mitigate NRLA, its prevalence remains high, especially in at- risk groups such as children with spina bifida. Clinical manifestations include immediate and delayed symptoms, even anaphylactic reactions. Diagnosis involves a detailed medical history and specific tests. Prevention focuses on avoiding exposure, especially in medical and educational settings. Treatment, including immunotherapy, exhibits variable efficacy. NRLA has a strong negative impact on children's quality of life. The objective of this publication is to provide updated information and practical tools for the pediatrician's and allergist's practice., (Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.)

The respiratory tract, from the nose to the lung, behaves as an anatomical and pathophysiological unit under a holistic model. Lower airway abnormalities, such as bronchial hyperresponsiveness, reduced lung function and inflammation of the bronchial mucosa without clinical expression, have been observed in patients with rhinitis without asthma. These would be the consequence of a common systemic inflammatory phenomenon with simultaneous impact on the nose and lung. For unknown reasons, these patients do not exhibit a full clinical expression, which could mean an increased risk of developing asthma. In this review we address the frequency and characteristics of existing pulmonary abnormalities in children and adolescents with chronic rhinitis that derive from our previous research and, more recently, within the project "Allergic Respiratory Disease: The United Airway Concept" supported by the Universidad Católica de Córdoba, and a comparative analysis with the evidence provided by other authors in the medical literature.

Introduction: Nasal obstruction (NO) is the most irritating symptom of chronic rhinitis (CR). The results of studies that correlated subjective and objective methods of NO in children and adults were contradictory., Objectives: To analyze the correlation between subjective NO scales and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) measurements and compare the subjective NO assessment and PNIF in children by age., Population and Methods: Participants were patients with CR. The correlation between the subjective NO assessment using a visual analog scale (NO-VAS) and the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) and nasal airflow measurement pre- and post-vasoconstrictor administration using the PNIF was estimated. The differences in the subjective NO assessment and PNIF between children aged 8-11 years and 12-15 years were analyzed., Results: A total of 79 patients aged 8-15 years were included. No correlation was established between the NO-VAS and the PNIF before and after vasoconstrictor administration (r = -0.19; p = 0.11 and r = -0.18; p = 0.15 respectively) or between the NOSE and the baseline PNIF (r = -0.23; p = 0.07). Differences were observed in the PNIF between children aged 8-11 years and 12-15 years (p =<0.0001), but there were no differences in the subjective perception assessed with the NO-VAS (p = 0.7591)., Conclusion: No correlation was demonstrated between the subjective NO score and the PNIF in children and adolescents with CR. Older children have a lower perception of NO than younger ones. Subjective NO scales cannot replace the PNIF measurement in patients with rhinitis., Competing Interests: None, (Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.)

In recent years there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases despite advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis, the dissemination of guidelines for its management and the emergence of new drugs. The reasons for this increase are not fully established, but it is suggested that multiple environmental factors may be involved. Inhaled air contains numerous harmful agents in addition to environmental allergens. The main immediate respiratory clinical expression after inhaling this contaminated air is asthma and rhinitis. The activity of human beings has altered the outdoor environment by the emission of multiple pollutants and has produced an increasing climate change. It also has a notable impact on the development of respiratory pathology and the modification of air quality. The bibliography on the subject of environmental control is very broad and sometimes difficult to interpret. In order to be able to make precise, valid and simple indications for patients to accomplish with, four scientific societies of the Argentine Republic that deal with this type of diseases, have elaborated a document that contains information of easy access to all medical personal involved in the treatment of patients with asthma and / or rhinitis, that provides practical measures for the patients and the different public health systems about unmet needs in this complex issue.

Background: Nasal cytology in a easy-to apply method to differentiate rhinitis phenotypes from a physiopathogenic and diagnostic perspective. There are controversies about the relationship between clinical severity of rhinitis and inflammatory patterns expressed in the nasal cytology., Objectives: To study the characteristic of the eosinophil and neutrophil patterns in the nasal scraping for Allergic Rhinitis (AR) and Non Allergic Rhinitis (NAR) and its relationship with the clinical grades of rhinitis established by the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthama Guideline (ARIA) Methods: In a observational, cross-sectional study we included patients aged 5 to 18 years presenting symptoms of either allergic (AR) or non- allergic rinitis (NAR) without asthma. Cytology was performed by analyzing nasal scraping obtained from the mucosal surface of the inferior turbinate and samples were stained using thr hematoxylin and eosin stain procedure. Inflammatory patterns between AR and NAR and between clinical grades of rhinitis classified by ARIA guide were compared., Results: A total of 231 patients were included. Patients with AR exhibited higher percentage of eosinophils in nasal cytology than those with NAR (p = 0.0012) but no differences were observed in neutrophil count (p = 0.4011). No differences in the percentage of eosinophils and neutrophils between different grades of AR (p = 0.7342 and p = 0.0797 respectively) and NAR (p = 0.1010 and p = 0.1422 respectively) were observed., Conclusion: Eosinophil count in the nasal cytology was useful to differentiate rhinitis with a positive allergen skin test from rhinitis with negative skin test, but as neutrophils count, does not help to distinguish clinical grades of AR and NAR as classified by ARIA.

Allergic diseases cause great impact on the health related quality of life in children and adolescents, resulting in increased school absenteeism and deficiencies in school performance. Although the bibliographic framework on allergic diseases is wide, in our country, there are no guidelines for proper management of the allergic child at school. It is necessary to establish guidelines for coordinated action among the educational community, the families, the pediatrician, the health team and governmental and non-governmental authorities. This position paper aims to provide information about the impact of allergic diseases on school activities, establish standards of competence of the various stakeholders at school and consider the legal framework for the intervention of the school staff about the child with allergies at school.

Primary immunodeficiencies (PID) are low-prevalence diseases. There are warning signs that may raise clinical suspicion. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical characteristics and warning signs of patients with PID and to compare the clinical differences between selective immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency and other PIDs. Eighty-nine patients were studied; their median age at the time of diagnosis was 6 years old (4.08-11.67). Fifty-three (59.5%) patients were male. Fifty-four (60.7%) patients had selective IgA deficiency, and 35 (39.3%) had other PIDs. The main clinical manifestations were rhinopharyngitis in 65 (73.03%) patients and atopy in 39 (43.82%). Twenty- four (26.97%) patients showed warning signs, and none had selective IgA deficiency. Patients with other PIDs had a higher incidence of lower respiratory tract infection, sepsis, skin infections, mucocutaneous candidiasis, dental alterations, cardiovascular malformations, angioedema, hospitalizations and death. Ten (28.57%) patients received intravenous gammaglobulin, 15 (42.85%) antibiotic prophylaxis, and 2 (2.24%) antifungal prophylaxis.

In 1998, the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría issued the recommendation of the treatment of anaphylactic shock. While this recommendation suggested the use of subcutaneous epinephrine, currently the intramuscular via is considered the most appropriate one. Pharmacological aspects determine this preference. For outpatient treatment, the correct use of autoinjectors can control anaphylaxis quickly and effectively. The use of other medications in the proposed 1998 recommendation remains unchanged.

The link between upper and lower airways has been observed in the past, but only carefully investigated during the last years. Allergic rhinitis and asthma are often comorbid conditions. Its relationship is supported by epidemiological, anatomical and physiological, immunopathological, clinical and therapeutic studies, mostly related to allergic rhinitis. Rhinitis and asthma occur together at rates that greatly exceed what would be expected from the baseline prevalence of each disorder alone. Many researchers have considered rhinitis as a risk factor for developing asthma. Also, the severity of rhinitis has been directly correlated with the severity of asthma although less evidence supporting the reverse impact. Different clinical and experimental observations suggested the hypothesis of the unity of upper and lower respiratory tract. Evidence suggests that rhinitis and asthma are different facets of a broader systemic inflammatory process involving upper and lower airways. Treatment of rhinitis simultaneously produces a favorable effect on symptoms of asthma and concurrent improvement in lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. In this article, we review the most relevant epidemiological, genetic and clinical evidence linking rhinitis and asthma, the possible mechanisms of the nose-lung interaction and the rational basis of a set treatment that support the hypothesis of "one airway, one disease "considering aspects not yet clarified on the subject.

Introduction: There is epidemiological, functional and pathologic evidence that relates upper and lower airways, clinically known as a single respiratory tract. Patients with allergic rhinitis without asthma may present subclinical abnormal spirometry parameters., Objectives: To describe the results of the flow-volume curve in a group of patients with allergic rhinitis without asthma and analyze the possible associations between anthropometric, clinical and biochemical outcome measures with abnormal spirometry results., Population and Methods: Observational, descriptive study including children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years old with symptoms of allergic rhinitis without asthma. Age, gender, body mass index and duration of rhinitis were determined as per the subject's medical record. Allergen skin tests, flow-volume curve spirometry, determination of eosinophil count in blood and in nasal secretions, and total serum IgE were performed., Results: A total of 84 patients were studied; 21 (25%; 95% CI: 15.1-34.8) presented at least one altered spirometry outcome measure. The FEV1/FVC ratio was the most affected outcome measure (10/84; 12%; 95% CI: 4.3-19.4). The multiple logistic regression analysis determined that spirometry alterations were associated with the number of blood eosinophils (OR: 1.00229; 95% CI: 1.00022-1.00436; p= 0.03) and the body mass index (OR: 1.31282; 95% CI: 1.08611-1.58685; p= 0.0049)., Conclusions: Our results showed spirometry alterations in a considerable percentage of children and adolescents with allergic rhinitis without asthma. The blood eosinophil count and the body mass index could be associated with a sub-clinical alteration of pulmonary function.

Chronic cough is a symptom of various respiratory and non-respiratory conditions with negative impact on quality of life of children and their families. The pediatricians should focus their efforts in search for etiological diagnosis. A careful medical history and physical examination are the mainstays of diagnosis and guidance to further studies that may contribute to detection of final causes. The etiological identification of chronic cough must be followed by specific treatment. The symptomatic approach with antitussives and mucolytic drugs is exceptionally necessary and should be considered for some situations of nonspecific cough without any specific disease association.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in children. While most children with asthma respond to low doses of inhaled corticosteroids and /or leukotriene receptor antagonists, some of them remain symptomatic regardless of any therapeutic effort, showing a high morbidity and even mortality. While most of the patients control symptoms adequately, there is a large group with severe symptoms of the disease and difficult to control. The aim of this review is to discuss the clinical aspects, diagnosis and treatment of poorly controlled asthma in children and adolescents and its implications in daily clinical practice.