Search

INTRODUCTION: Parents' compliance with asthma treatment is one of the main factors determining the success of treatment. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of asthma symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of mothers of asthmatic children. METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 42 questions was used in the study. The survey was composed of questions prepared by us and adapted from a validated asthma knowledge level questionnaire named The Newcastle Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire (NAKQ).Each correct answer was considered 2.38 points. Those with 67.7 points and above were considered sufficient. RESULTS: The mothers of 323 children with asthma were included in the study. There was no one who answered all the questions correctly among the mothers. The total mean score of the mothers was 57.8+-11.9 (median: 58.5, minimum: 26.8, maximum: 87.8). The median scores of the mothers who graduated from university (median: 65.9, minimum: 36.6, maximum: 85.4) was higher than those who graduated from primary school (median: 53.7, minimum: 29.3, maximum: 87.8), middle school (median: 58.5, minimum: 29.3, maximum: 78) and high school (median: 61, minimum: 26.8, maximum: 80.5) (p

Allergen specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only treatment that can provide a cure for allergic disorders. This treatment is based on development of immune tolerance by exposure to allergen in repetitive and increasing doses. It is tertiary to avoidance of allergen and pharmacotherapy. Allergens used for immunotherapy, must be confirmed by skin prick test or specific IgE and must be applied in supervision of allergy specialists. Studies show that immunotherapy, improve asthma symptoms, decreases drug consumption, prevent development of asthma in rhinitis patients and reduce new sensitizations. Common side effects diminished with the usage of standardized allergen solutions. It is contraindicated in severe asthma. Though it is recommended to avoid immunotherapy in patients using beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, immunotherapy can be considered in mandatory situations regarding possible benefits and harms. Most common ways of administration are subcutaneous and sublingual; new methods such as epicutaneous and intralymphatic injections are currently being studied.

Hyperimmunoglobulin M syndrome is a primary immune deficiency characterized by increased or normal levels of serum IgM with clearly decreased serum IgG, IgA and IgE levels. Patients affected with hiper IgM syndrome are susceptible to recurrent pyogenic infections, to autoimmune diseases induced by IgM antibodies and to malignant lymphoproliferative disease IgM producing B cells. Intravenous immunoglobulin replacement for therapy every 3-4 weeks is effective. Prophylactic treatment for P. jirovecii on trimethoprim-sulfhamethoxazole, in selected neutropenic patients granulocyte colony stimulated factor (G-CSF) treatment is suggested. Bone marrow or cord blood transplantation may provide cure for this syndrome.

Right lung agenesis is a rare anomaly that can be isolated or accompanied by system anomalies such as cardiac, skeletal or urinary systems. Case 1, a four-month-old girl, was brought because of respiratory distress. Patient had polydactyly, syndactyly of right thumb, right mandibular hypoplasia and low-set dysmorphic ears. Lung x-ray and thorax computerized tomography (CT) were consistent with right pulmonary agenesis and butterfly vertebra was evident in the 7th thoracic level. Thoracic CT angiography revealed narrowing of the left main bronchus and esophagus due to compression of aorta, left pulmonary artery and right atrium. In bronchoscopy, narrowing due to compression at the carina level was seen and right main bronchus was not seen. In abdominal ultrasonography, right kidney placement anomaly (pelvic ectopia) was present and renal scintigraphy revealed fusion in both kidneys. With these findings, it was found that right pulmonary agenesis was accompanied by ipsilateral radial ray anomaly, renal anomaly, vertebral anomaly and hemifacial microsomia. Case 2, a fifteen-year-old male patient, was diagnosed as pulmonary agenesis via chest x-ray, pulmonary CT and bronchoscopy after a wheezing episode when he was 2 months old. Patient had no complaint except for exhaustion that is aggravated by exercise during last year. In physical examination, he had a mild scoliosis toward right, respiratory sounds were diminished on right hemithorax and heart sounds were heard on right side. Chest x-ray and thoracic CT were consistent with right lung agenesis. No abnormality was found in echocardiography and abdominal ultrasonography was normal. Accompanied cardiovascular anomalies, distortions of intrathoracic structures and recurrent infections are main factors that affect mortality and morbidity. Here, two cases with right lung agenesis, isolated and accompanied by multiple anomalies, were presented. (Jo­ur­nal of Cur­rent Pe­di­at­rics 2013; 11: 134-7)