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Caustic ingestion represents a serious social-medical problem due to the devastating and irreversible consequences it can produce in the upper digestive tract. In Ibero-America, there are no published reliable data on the incidence or prevalence of caustic-induced injuries, and most of the available information on clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis is based on retrospective clinical series and, indeed, its clinical management is often based primarily on expert opinion. Re cently as an initiative of the Latin American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (LASPGHAN) and with the cooperation of the Spanish Society for Pediatric Gastroente rology, Hepatology and Nutrition (SEGHNP), we have designed a Clinical Practice Guideline that include a series of statements and recommendations aimed at optimizing patient medical care which is based on the systematic review of evidence. Two (2) successive papers focused on the evaluation of physiopathological and clinical-endoscopic diagnostic features of caustic esophagitis in children (1st. Paper) and, on the other hand, the most relevant therapeutic considerations (2nd. Paper). We expect this guideline to become a useful tool for the physician in the difficult decision-making process when assessing patients after caustic ingestion.

Caustic ingestion represents a serious social-medical problem due to the devastating and irreversible consequences it can produce in the upper digestive tract. In Ibero-America, there are no published reliable data on the incidence or prevalence of caustic-induced injuries, and most of the available information on clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis is based on retrospective clinical series and, indeed, its clinical management is often based primarily on expert opinion. Re cently as an initiative of the Latin American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (LASPGHAN) and with the cooperation of the Spanish Society for Pediatric Gastroente rology, Hepatology and Nutrition (SEGHNP), we have designed a Clinical Practice Guideline that include a series of statements and recommendations aimed at optimizing patient medical care which is based on the systematic review of evidence. Two (2) separate papers focused on the evaluation of physiopathological and clinical-endoscopic diagnostic features of caustic esophagitis in children (1st. Paper) and, on the other hand, the most relevant therapeutic considerations (2nd. Paper). We expect this guideline to become a useful tool for the physician in the difficult decision-making process when assessing patients after caustic ingestion.

The diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is difficult to determine, and could be associated with severe complications, especially in the neonatal period. The stimulation test of growth hormone (GH) secretion is considered the gold standard for diagnosis, but it has methodological complications and is associated with adverse effects. Neonates present physiological increased secretion of GH, representing a diagnostic window.To evaluate if the dried blood spot on filter paper obtained in the neonatal period, as part of a neonatal screening for con genital hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria, allows differentiating patients with GHD from those who do not have it.Study of cases and controls by measuring the GH concen tration in dried blood spot on filter paper obtained in the neonatal period, comparing controls with GHD with cases with discarded deficiency. The sample was extracted from the filter paper, obtaining two 0.125 inch discs per each patient from the center of the blood spot on the paper, for a highly sen sitive ELISA assay for human GH based on the use of polyclonal antibodies against 22 kDa recom binant human GH.Seven cases of GHD and ten controls were obtained. The median GH concentration of the dried blood spot in the cases is 2.0 ng/ml (Interquartile range 3.6 ng/ml) and 2.05 ng/ml (Interquartile range 2.0 ng/ml) in the controls, Mann-Whitney U test 30.5 (p = 0.68). The two cases with multiple pituitary-hormone deficiency (MPHD) present concentrations lower than 1 ng/ml.The dried blood spot sample did not differentiate GHD patients from control cases, although MPHD cases present much lower concentrations compared to isolated growth hor mone deficiency (IGHD).

Tinea capitis (TC) is a dermatophyte infection with a high prevalence in the pediatric population. Its epidemiology has changed in recent decades due to increasing population migration worldwide. Environmental and host-specific risk factors have been identified which are with the development of this infection. The clinical manifestations are variable and depend on the causal agent. Dermatosco- py and Wood's lamp are useful tools for the diagnostic approach; however, the confirmation of in fection is based on mycological tests. The identification of the causal agent allows guiding the appro priate antifungal treatment, which is specific and safe in the pediatric population. Treatment focuses on systemic antifungal therapy combined with local measures. The objective of this paper is to carry out an updated review of the clinical and therapeutic approach to TC in the pediatric population.

Hypertension (HTN) in children and adolescents is an important pathology, of, guarded prognosis, associated with modifiable and non-modifiable factors. The estimated prevalence is around 3.5% which increases progressively with age. The ideal method for its diagnosis is the measurement of blood pressure (BP) with auscultatory instruments. According to the American Academy of Pedia trics (AAP), BP should be measured in children older than three years of age once a year, and in children younger than three years of age if they present risk factors. Once the HTN is confirmed, the evaluation should be directed towards the detection of a causative disease and/or the search for risk factors associated with a primary HTN. The objective of treating primary and secondary HTN in pediatrics is to achieve a BP level that decreases the risk of target organ damage. Therapeutic op tions include treatment according to specific etiology, non-pharmacological and pharmacological one. This paper presents the position of the Chilean Society of Pediatrics Nephrology Branch with the aim of guiding pediatricians and pediatric nephrologists in the correct management of HTN in childhood. In this second part, recommendations on antihypertensive treatment are presented with an emphasis on lifestyle changes.

Becoming a first-time father is an important change in the life of men and families. Studies on the subject show that these kinds of changes have the power to put life into perspective. Being an involved father has a deep meaning for the child and the family.To explore the experience of becoming a first-time father during the child first year of the life.A qualitative systematic review was conducted in 2014 in three stages, based on the Joanna Briggs Institute Method for Qualitative Systematic Reviews (QSR). The stages used in this QSR were: establishing the question, determining the type of studies to be included, defining the evaluation criteria, and synthesizing the data. Papers that assessed clinical prognoses were considered such as first-time parenting experience and child care during the first year of life. Only primary qualitative studies including ethnography, phenomenology, narrative analysis, and action research were con sidered.Three meta-syntheses were obtained from the analysis: 1) fatherhood adjustment process, 2) paternal role development, and 3) being an active father. The path towards adoption and the fulfillment of the paternal role is mediated by different processes that are consolidated during the child first year of life.The results support the idea that fathers want to be active parti cipants in the care of their children, that public policies should consider both parents equal in terms of their parenting responsibilities, and that the protection of the family and the family environment is a priority as a health promotion intervention.

The thyroid function of the pretern infant is altered by the relative immaturity of the hypothalamus-pituitary thyroid gland axis, along with other factors such as the incidence of diseases or the use of some drugs. Currently, there is controversy over normal levels of free thyroxine (FT4) in preterm infants. Our objective was to determine the distribution of FT4 and TSH values in newborn younger than 32 weeks or 1500 g of birth weight at 15 days of chronological age, in the neonatology service at Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena Hospital, Temuco.Cross-sectional study; the results of FT4 and TSH from a database of 308 newborns, were analyzed, which were categorized into three gestational age ranges, 31-34, 28-30 and 23-27 weeks. It was used Pearson Chi-square for comparisons between categorical variables, and T-Test or ANOVA for categorical-variable ratios.Significant differences were observed between the average values of FT4 by gestatio nal age ranges (p = 0.000), these were 1.13 ng/dl for the range of 31 to 34 weeks, 1.03 ng/dl for the range of 28 to 30 weeks and 0.92 ng/dl for the range of 23 to 27 weeks; we did not observe significant differences in TSH levels by gestational age categories (p = 0.663).We established the distribution of FT4 and TSH levels in our population of very preterm and extremely preterm infants, finding differences with previous papers.

The trisomy 18 syndrome occurs due to the presence of an extra chromosome 18 in most cases. The prevalence in infants is estimated at 1:6000 to 1:8000. Those affected have a high mortality rate, only 4% may survive their first year of life. There are few reported cases exceeding five years of age.The aim of this paper is to report a case of trisomy 18 of long survival with oral cavity features not described in the literature, and to provide information to physicians and paediatricians about aetiology, phenotype, survival and genetic counselling.A 7 year-old female patient with 2 karyotypes performed by lymphocyte culture showing 47XX+18 in all metaphases. She presented with growth deficiency, dysmorphic facies, severe psychomotor retardation and cognitive disability, inability to feed, lack of verbal language, sensorineural hearing loss, ataxia, cerebellar hypoplasia, and genitals with hypoplastic labia majora and minora. In the oral cavity: dome shaped palate, macroglossia, absence of upper central incisors and first upper and lower molars in mouth. X-ray findings showed formation of missing teeth, with late eruption being concluded.In cases of trisomy 18 syndrome there is an increased risk of neonatal and infant mortality. The clinical characteristics in utero and in neonates have been well described. Since few cases exceeding five years of age have been reported, the phenotype is yet to be established. In the case being reported we describe oral cavity findings not documented in the literature.

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is the most common glomerular disease in childhood, affecting 1 to 3 per 100,000 children under the age of 16. It most commonly occurs in ages between 2 and 10. Its cause is unknown, and its histology corresponds to minimal change disease in 90% of cases, or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome represents 10-20% of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in pediatrics. It has a poor prognosis, and its management is a significant therapeutic challenge. Half of patients evolve to end-stage renal disease within 5 years, and are additionally exposed to complications secondary to persistent NS and to the adverse effects of immunosuppressive therapy. The primary goal of treatment is to achieve complete remission, but even a partial remission is associated with a better renal survival than the lack of response. This paper is the result of the collaborative effort of the Nephrology Branch of the Chilean Society of Pediatrics with aims at helping pediatricians and pediatric nephrologists to treat pediatric idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. In this second part, handling of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome as well as nonspecific therapies are discussed.

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is the most common glomerular disease in childhood, affecting 1 to 3 per 100,000 children under the age of 16. It most commonly occurs in ages between 2 and 10. Its cause is unknown and its histology corresponds to minimal change disease in 90% of cases, or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. 80 to 90% of cases respond to steroids (steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome) with good prognosis and long-term preservation of renal function over time. 70% of patients with SSNS have one or more relapses in their evolution, and of these, 50% behave as frequent relapsing or steroid-dependent, a group that concentrate the risk of steroid toxicity. Patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome have a poor prognosis and 50% of them evolve to end-stage renal disease. The goal of therapy is to induce and maintain remission of the disease, reducing the risk secondary to proteinuria while minimizing the adverse effects of treatments, especially with prolonged use of corticosteroids. This paper is the result of the collaborative effort of the Nephrology Branch of the Chilean Society of Pediatrics with aims at helping pediatricians and pediatric nephrologists to treat pediatric SNI. In this first part, recommendations of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome are discussed.

Essential therapeutic principles in children with septic shock persist over time, although some new concepts have been recently incorporated, and fully awareness of pediatricians and intensivists is essential. Fluid resuscitation is a fundamental intervention, but the kind of ideal fluid has not been established yet, as each of these interventions has specific limitations and there is no evidence supportive of the superiority of one type of fluid. Should septic shock persists despite adequate fluid resuscitation, the use of inotropic medication and/or vasopressors is indicated. New vasoactive drugs can be used in refractory septic shock caused by vasopressors, and the use of hydrocortisone should be considered in children with suspected adrenal insufficiency, as it reduces the need for vasopressors. The indications for red blood cells transfusion or the optimal level of glycemia are still controversial, with no consensus on the threshold value for the use of these blood products or the initiation of insulin administration, respectively. Likewise, the use of high-volume hemofiltration is a controversial issue and further study is needed on the routine recommendation in the course of septic shock. Nutritional support is crucial, as malnutrition is a serious complication that should be properly prevented and treated. The aim of this paper is to provide update on the most recent advances as concerns the treatment of septic shock in the pediatric population.

It has been reported that 80% of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) are receiving packed red blood cell transfusions (PRBCtr), and in 90% of cases, the indication is the replacement of the blood collected. The existence of guidelines for transfusion practices has had a great impact on the decline in the number of transfusions. The aim of this paper is to describe the characteristics of VLBW infants who are packed red blood cell transfusion receptors.This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, which included the medical records of all VLBW newborns older than 72 hours, released from the Neonatology department of the Hospital Valdivia Base, between 2005 and 2006. Birth weight, gestational age, pulmonary surfactant, hyaline membrane, mechanical ventilation, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis and packed red blood cell transfusions were evaluated. Guidelines for packed red cell transfusions were used at the Hospital.93 newborns were evaluated and 62 of them were transfused (66.7%); they received 2.1 ± 0.9 PRBC transfusion and the exposure to different donors was 2.1 ± 0.9. The VLBW infants susceptible to be PRBCtr receptor were those younger than 30 weeks' gestational age, weighing less than 1,250 g and with respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation and sepsis.The observed percentages of transfused infants with very low birth weight, median PRBCtr and exposure to different donors can be attributed to the existence of guidelines for neonatal transfusion practices and a team of highly experienced neonatologists.