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Purpose Westernized eating habits have been associated with early-age menstruation, which increases the incidence of dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome among adolescent girls. We therefore surveyed changes in menarche timing and the general menstrual characteristics of adolescent girls in Seoul, Korea. Methods We surveyed 538 teenage girls who visited our hospital between July and November 2007. Items explored included age at menarche, general menstrual characteristics, occurrence of premenstrual syndrome and treatment thereof, and an association between present dysmenorrhea and a family history of the condition. Results Average age at menarche was 12.6 years, with 29% (n=156) subjects beginning menstruation at age 12 years. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 82% (n=435). The main symptoms were abdominal (53.2%) and lower back pain (34.2%), and 15.2% of girls who experienced such symptoms required medication. Present dysmenorrhea, and a family history thereof, were statistically correlated (P

Purpose: Adolescence is a period of growth and development in body structure and physiologic, psychologic, and social functioning. Smoking and drinking in this period are very harmful and may lead to other forms of substance abuse. We surveyed the actual aspects of smoking and drinking among Korean adolescents and analyzed associated factors. Methods: A survey was performed among adolescents using a questionnaire about smoking and drinking. Data were collected from students who visited pediatric clinics for routine school examinations from July to November 2007. Results: A total of 2,546 adolescents (smoking 1,512; drinking 1,034) participated in the study. The overall smoking and drinking rates were 29.2% and 48.2%, respectively, and the mean age at the first instance of smoking and drinking was 13.8 and 14.1 years, respectively. Among drinking adolescents, 30.1% were offered a drink by their parents, although most adolescents were encouraged to smoke or drink by their friends. Dissatisfaction with family and school life, economic status, and school performance was associated with a higher smoking and drinking rate (P

= Abstract = Drug-induced toxic hepatitis is a relatively common hepatic disease in children and it is usually self-limiting upon cessation of the offending drugs. Antituberculous drugs are well known for inducing hepatitis. Some cases of drug-induced hepatitis with autoimmune features have been reported; in these cases the offending drugs were usually methyldopa nitrofurantoin minocycline and interferon. The authors report the first case in Korea of drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis associated with thyroiditis and multiple autoantibodies that was induced by the antituberculous drugs isoniazid and rifampin. (Korean J Pediatr 2008;51:528-532

Purpose : Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood disease. Education of asthmatic children and their families about asthma and its management may improve disease control, reduce symptoms, and improve school performance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of an intensive asthma education program in asthmatic children and their families on outcome measure of asthma management behavior scale, knowledge about asthma, self efficacy scale and quality of life. Methods : Fifteen asthmatic children and their families were invited the intensive asthma education program which including allergen avoidance, management of asthma, correct use of the inhalation devices and control of exercise-induced asthma (study group). Fifteen asthmatic children and their families those who did not participate this program were served as control group. Participants were asked to complete a written questionnaire before and 3-month after the program. Results : After completing the intensive education program, significant improvement of the childrens asthma management behavior scale (27.1 vs. 32.2, P=0.011), belief and knowledge about asthma (14.2 vs. 17.9, P

Purpose : Although Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) infection can cause wheezing in non-asthmatic children, the mechanisms of this symptom remain unclear. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major mediator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability, and is also known to be elevated in cases of chronic pulmonary disease such as asthma. We hypothesized that VEGF may increase in children with acute M. pneumoniae pneumonia and wheezing. Methods : Nine patients with clinical and laboratory evidence of acute M. pneumoniae pneumonia were enlisted from children admitted to Korea University Hospital. They had had more than one episode of wheezing during the illness, which was confirmed by a physician; they comprised the wheezer group.■The individuals with M. pneumoniae pneumonia without wheezing were 63 in number, and they comprised the non-wheezer group.■Patients with a history of asthma or who had received asthma medications were excluded. Serum concentrations of VEGF, total IgE, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were measured. Results : The serum VEGF concentrations were higher in the wheezer group (mean±SD; 650.2±417.9 pg/mL) than in the non-wheezer group (376.5±356.2 pg/mL, P=0.049). M. pneumoniae antibody (1:1,380 vs. 1:596, P=0.048) and serum total IgE (591.8 IU/mL vs. 162.2 IU/mL, P=0.032) were higher in the wheezer group than in the non-wheezer group. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of serum ECP concentration or blood eosinophil count. Conclusion : In the presence of wheezing, serum VEGF concentrations were higher in the children with M. pneumoniae pneumonia. This finding suggests that VEGF may associate with wheeze-related symptoms in children with acute M. pneumoniae pneumonia.