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Two hundred and sixty-eight children with pedieculosis capitis took part in a comparative study 10 test the efficacy of five different pediculocides commonly used in Israel. The preparations used were pyrethrin shampoo, pyrethroid spray, malathion solution, carbaryl shampoo and carbaryl lotion. Carbaryl lotion and malathion solution were much more efficient when compared to the shampoo and spray preparations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TRUE test® is a widespread diagnostic tool for initial patch testing of patients with contact dermatitis (CD). From 2002 to 2005, 864 patients with eczema were patch-tested using TRUE test® in one Israeli allergology clinic. 547 (63.3%) patients were female and 317 (36.7%) were male. 346 (40%) patients had ≥1 positive patch test reactions. The most common allergens were nickel sulfate for 114 (13.2%) patients, potassium dichromate 111 (12.8%), fragrance mix 59 (6.8%), cobalt chloride 12 (1.4%), ethylenediamine dihydrochloride 11 (1.3%), epoxy resin 11 (1.3%), balsam of Peru 9 (1.0%), carba mix 7 (0.8%), thiomersal 6 (0.7%), wool alcohol 5 (0.6%), black rubber (PPD) mix 5 (0.6%), neomycin 4 (0.5%); Kathon CG, Colophony and Quaternium 15 – each 2 (0.2%), other allergens – each 1 (0.1%). In male patients, carba mix, black rubber (PPD) mix and epoxy resin sensitivity was more frequent, whereas nickel sulfate, fragrance mix, ethylenediamine dihydrochloride and cobalt chloride sensitivity was significantly more frequent in female patients. Our results are in general agreement with previously published reports, excluding the low sensitivity rates to cobalt, which maybe is missed by TRUE test®. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor on diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis.

Presents a letter to the editor from D.D. Anderson, Associate Director, Professional and Regulatory Support, Paper Products Division, The Proctor & Gamble Company, in response to the letter to the editor from Braiman-Lipson and Lion, which referenced a report of diaper rash in a pediatric nursery and requested readers to send their personal observations of diaper rash.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-infected dyspeptic patients with selective immunoglobulin E deficiency (IgEd)., Methods: All individuals who underwent serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) measurement at the Leumit Healthcare Services (Israel) in 2012 were identified in an electronic database search (n = 18487). From these, selected case group subjects were ≥ 12 years of age and had serum total IgE < 2 kIU/L (n = 158). The control group was selected from a random sampling of the remaining subjects ≥ 12 years of age to obtain a case-control ratio of 1:20 (n = 3160). Dyspeptic diseases, diagnosed no more than 5 years before serum total IgE testing, were identified and retrieved from the electronic database using specific International Classification of Diseases diagnostic codes. Results of C(13)-urea breath tests were used to identify subjects infected with H. pylori. Categorical variables between case and control subjects were analyzed using Fisher's exact tests, whereas continuous variables were analyzed using χ (2) tests., Results: Dyspepsia was present in 27.2% (43/158) of case subjects and 22.7% (718/3160) of controls. Of these, significantly more case subjects (32/43, 74.4%) than controls (223/718, 31.1%) were positive for H. pylori (P < 0.01). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed in 19 case and 94 control subjects, revealing that gastritis was more prevalent in IgEd case subjects than in controls (57.9% vs 29.8%, P < 0.05). Furthermore, a significantly greater proportion of case subjects presented with peptic duodenal ulcers (63.2% vs 15.9%, P < 0.01). Histopathologic examination showed marked chronic inflammation, lymphoid follicle formation and prominent germinal centers, with polymorphonuclear cell infiltration of gastric glands, that was similar in case and control biopsy tissues. Finally, IgEd case subjects that underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy were more likely to exhibit treatment-refractory H. pylori infections that require second-line triple antibiotic therapy (47.4% vs 11.7%, P < 0.01)., Conclusion: IgEd is associated with higher rates of H. pylori-associated gastritis and peptic duodenal ulcers.

Objective: An apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) caused by ingestion of drugs or toxins has been reported rarely among infants. None of these agents was homeopathic medication. We report 11 infants who presented with an ALTE after ingestion of Gali-col Baby, a homeopathic agent indicated for "infantile colic.", Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted. Charts of all infants who were younger than 1 year and were admitted with an ALTE from January 2005 through August 2008 to the pediatric division at the Barzilai Medical Center were reviewed. Age-matched infants who were admitted on the same dates for a reason other than ALTE served as a control group. Information on medications administered before admission was recorded., Results: During the study period, 36 635 children visited the pediatric emergency department of the Barzilai Medical Center. There were 11 057 admissions to the pediatric division during this period, 115 of which were because of an ALTE. Eleven of these infants received Gali-col Baby before the event as opposed to none in the control group (P < .005). Three infants received a significant overdose, compared with the manufacturer's recommended dosage. After a thorough investigation, no other presumptive causes for ALTE were found among the 11 infants., Conclusions: Gali-col Baby is associated with an ALTE in some infants. There are no published controlled trials on the efficacy or safety of its use; therefore, better control and supervision of Gali-col Baby and probably other homeopathic medications are needed to prevent possible serious adverse effects.

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic disease amongst children., Objective: To find the prevalence of positive allergy skin tests amongst children having asthma attending the asthma clinic in Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon Israel., Study Design: Retrospective study. All medical files of the asthmatic children attending the asthma clinic in Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, Israel, were reviewed. Data regarding their clinical status, past medical history, socioeconomic and familial medical history were collected., Results: One thousand three hundred and fifty three medical files including all the information necessary for the study were reviewed. Amongst the children 1,238 lived in urban areas and towns and 115 lived in rural areas. It was found that most of the children have positive allergy skin tests for house dust mite and mold. Among the urban children 86.2% were found to have positive allergy skin tests for house dust mite compared with 48% of the rural children (P < 0.02). Positive allergy skin tests for mold were found among 63.1% of the urban children compared with 44% of the rural children (p < 0.04). Positive allergy skin tests for most allergens were found to be more prevalent amongst the children living in urban areas compared with the children living in rural areas. The positive allergy skin tess are not related to parental smoking habits or house pets amongst these findings., Conclusion: Most of the children living in the Ashkelon region and positive allergy skin tests for house dust mite. This tendency is more common among the children living in urban areas as compared with children living in rural areas. The reason for this difference has to be studied.