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Summary: Backround: Meconium aspiration syndrome is a disease of the newborn mature or post mature. The acute pulmonary consequences can be extremely severe. In the few studies of the long-term pulmonary sequelae, it seems that certain children surviving meconium aspiration syndrome keep an obstructive syndrome. The aim of our study was to assess long term respiratory residual damage from meconium aspiration syndrome. Methods: During a seven-year period going from 1994 to 2000, we reviewed the files of children hospitalized in neonatology departement of Sfax for meconium aspiration syndrome. The children who were convoked (group M: n =27), underwent spirometry, followed by an exercise stress. An age matched control group (group C: n =23) of healthy children was investigated in the same way. Results: The group M comprised 15 boys and 12 girls aged four to 11, an average of 7±1.9 years. With the study of the respiratory function, we did not find an obstructive syndrome. Spirometry revealed a total pulmonary capacity in an average of 133±55.65% of theoretical (group M) versus 105.5±27.96% of theoretical (group C) (P <0,01), testifying to alveolar hyperinflation. Spirometry fulfilled 5, 10 and 15min after exercise showed a FEV1 reduction of respectively 8.5 versus 2 (P <0.05); 9.5 versus 3 (P <0.01) and 10.5 versus 4 (P <0.05). Conclusion: Children surviving meconium aspiration syndrome tend to develop alveolar hyperinflation and airway hyperreactivity to exercise. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Devic neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or Devic''s syndrome is an uncommon clinical syndrome associating unilateral or bilateral optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. Usually reported in adults, childhood cases constitute a distinctive clinical entity. Case report: We report a case of NMO occurring in a 9-year-old girl, admitted for paraplegia, sphincter troubles as acute installation bladder retention and of a sudden decline of the visual acuity. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed abnormalities of spinal cord signal with hypo intensity in T1-weighted images and hyper intensity in T2-weighted images along the spinal cord. However, the cerebral region was normal. Visual evoked potentials were consistent with retrobulbar optic neuropathy. Our patient received corticosteroids (methyl prednisolone) during 5 days followed by oral prednisone. At week three, an immunosuppressant (azathioprine) was added. Clinical outcome was favourable with disappearance of sphincter troubles, a correction of the visual acuity and a progressive disappearance of motor troubles. Conclusion: Pediatric Devic''s NMO is rare. It is a different clinical entity with an excellent visual and neurological prognosis. Review of the literature shows that recurrence is rare in children and seems to be without long-term sequelae with corticosteroids and immunosuppressant therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]