0000000000599053
AUTHOR
Mauro Bozzola
Mandatory vaccinations in European countries, undocumented information, false news and the impact on vaccination uptake: the position of the Italian pediatric society
Abstract Background High rates of vaccination coverage are important in preventing infectious diseases. Enforcing mandatory vaccinations is one of the strategies that some Countries adopted to protect the community when vaccination coverage is not satisfactory. In Italy, in 2017 vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, poliovirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella became compulsory in childhood. In order to contrast vaccination policies, anti-vaccination campaigns contribute to the spread of fake news. Among them, there is the false information that Italy is the only one country with mandatory vaccination policy. Aim of our study is…
Media use during adolescence: the recommendations of the Italian Pediatric Society
Abstract Background The use of media device, such as smartphone and tablet, is currently increasing, especially among the youngest. Adolescents spend more and more time with their smartphones consulting social media, mainly Facebook, Instagram and Twitter because. Adolescents often feel the necessity to use a media device as a means to construct a social identity and express themselves. For some children, smartphone ownership starts even sooner as young as 7 yrs, according to internet safety experts. Material and methods We analyzed the evidence on media use and its consequences in adolescence. Results In literature, smartphones and tablets use may negatively influences the psychophysical d…
Media devices in pre-school children: the recommendations of the Italian pediatric society
Abstract Background Young children are too often exposed to mobile devices (MD) and most of them had their own device. The adverse effects of a early and prolonged exposure to digital technology on pre-school children has been described by several studies. Aim of the study is to analyze the consequences of MD exposure in pre-school children. Methods We analyzed the documented effects of media exposure on children’s mental and physical health. Results According to recent studies, MD may interfere with learning, children development, well being, sleep, sight, listening, caregiver-child relationship. Discussion Pediatricians should be aware of both the beneficial and side effects of MD and giv…
Isolated childhood growth hormone deficiency: a 30-year experience on final height and a new prediction model
Purpose We aimed to evaluate the near-final height (nFHt) in a large cohort of pediatricpatients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and to elaborate a new predictive method of nFHt. Methods We recruited GHD patients diagnosed between 1987 and 2014 and followed-up until nFHt. To predict the values of nFHt, each predictor was run in a univariable spline. Results We enrolled 1051 patients. Pre-treatment height was -2.43 SDS, lower than parental height (THt) (-1.09 SDS, p < 0.001). The dose of recombinant human GH (rhGH) was 0.21mg/kg/week at start of treatment. nFHt was -1.08 SDS (height gain 1.27 SDS), higher than pre-treatment height (p < 0.001) and comparable to THt. 1.6% of the pat…
MODELLO DI PREVISIONE DELLA STATURA FINALE IN PAZIENTI PEDIATRICI ITALIANI AFFETTI DA DEFICIT DI GH TRATTATI CON SOMATROPINA
Obiettivi: elaborare un modello di previsione della statura finale in pazienti pediatrici con deficit di GH trattati con somatropina ricombinante, valutando quali siano le variabili più importanti nel determinismo della statura finale. Metodi: 1043 pazienti trattati per deficit di GH (picco di GH <10 ng/dl a 2 test di stimolo) giunti ad altezza finale. Mediana età a inizio trattamento 11 (IQR 8.7/12.8) anni; mediana altezza a inizio trattamento -2.43 (IQR -2.80/-2.01) SDS; mediana altezza bersaglio -1.09 (IQR -1.63/-0.48) SDS; dose iniziale di somatropina mediana altezza finale -1.08 SDS (IQR -1.64/-0.50 SDS, vs altezza a inizio trattamento p <0.001, vs altezza bersaglio p=ns). Analis…