Archives de pédiatrie : organe officiel de la Sociéte française de pédiatrie
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Acute asthma attack in children is an attack responsible for life-threatening acute respiratory distress with partial or no response to bronchodilator drugs. The severity of the episode needs to be quickly evaluated. This presupposes a perfect knowledge of the clinical signs of severity. ⋯ Admission into the pediatric intensive care unit when bronchial obstruction continues will permit the association of bronchodilator drugs and the proposal of mechanical ventilation if needed. When the episode is resolved, a prophylactic treatment using inhaled corticosteroids must be prescribed. Clinical and spirometric follow-up has to be organized, and the patient and his/her family have to be educated.
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Forty cases of children with an inhaled foreign body (FB) are reviewed over a three-year period. Clinical data, radiologic findings and complications are detailed. The nature and size of FBs are also reported. ⋯ However, FB could be removed with the flexible bronchoscope in five children in our study. Diagnosis and removal of an inhaled FB are required as quickly as possible in order to prevent respiratory sequelae (bronchiectasis). Prevention is based upon information to be given to families, but to the medical community as well, which often minimizes the seriousness of inhalation hazards.
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Video games and the Internet cause enthusiasm but also worry. Among the possible risks, addiction (dependency), isolation, retiring within oneself, and loss of reality, are often put forward. ⋯ Excessive use and isolation have to be solved on an educational basis. Nevertheless, virtual reality, whose applications for the general public are still considered part of the future, needs particular attention.