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UNLABELLED The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictors of subjective daytime sleepiness (SDS) and its chronicity in adolescents. Two groups of adolescents (107 with SDS and 107 without SDS) from our first questionnaire study were invited to an interview after 3 y. A follow-up questionnaire had been sent to them one year earlier. The interview included questions about sleep, daytime sleepiness, living habits, physical and mental health, and progress at school. The adolescents were also examined clinically. Interviews were conducted with 66 out of 107 subjects with SDS and 64 out of 107 without SDS (age range 12 to 19 y). In this interview 42 out of the 130 adolescents had SDS. A total of 20 adolescents reported SDS in both questionnaire studies and in the interview (chronic SDS). In a multivariate analysis (logistic regression) sleep disorders, frequent medication and depressive emotions were significantly associated with SDS. Chronic SDS was connected in a bivariate analysis (Pearson's chi-square) with excessive night waking, difficulty in falling asleep, dreaming, frequent medication, frequent alcohol drinking, and irregular breakfast eating, and in our previous studies also with delayed sleep rhythm. CONCLUSION Sleep disorders and health problems were more common causes of SDS than undesirable living habits. However, alcohol drinking and delayed sleep rhythm were associated with chronic SDS in addition to sleep disorders and medication.

The occurrence of dog hypersensitivity in 203 unselected asthmatic children was investigated by means of the skin prick test, the provocation test and RAST. The history of past and present exposure to dogs, symptoms in contact with dogs, and the effects of pet avoidance were examined. The amount of dog dander antigens was analyzed by counter-immunoelectrophoresis from dust samples from 67 homes. A history of past or present dog hypersensitivity was obtained from 120 subjects (59%). A positive (≧++) prick test reaction was observed in 113 (56%), a positive provocation test result in 84 (41%) and a RAST class ≧ 1 in 140 (69%). The serum levels of IgE antibodies to dog dander correlated significantly with serum total IgE and the frequency of asthmatic attacks. The occurrence of dog allergy was not significantly associated with past or present exposure to dogs at home. However, the children who were exposed to dogs during the first year of life had dog allergy more often than those with late or without exposure. Significant amounts of dog dander antigen were also found in dust samples from homes where dogs have never been kept. Serum samples from previous years were available from 24 patients. Rising or steadily high levels of IgE antibodies to dog dander were observed even in subjects who strictly avoided dogs. The results show that dog hypersensitivity is an important cause of allergic disorders in asthmatic children, and that the common presence of dog dander antigens in our environment may induce dog allergy even without direct exposure to dogs.

A case of hepatotoxicity and encephalopathy (Reye's syndrome?) associated with salicylate therapy is presented and the aetiology of this syndrome is discussed. Hepatotoxicity developed with salicylate serum concentrations not exceeding therapeutic serum levels. The importance of controlling serum salicylate concentration and transaminase activity particularly during the first fourteen days of therapy is emphasized.