Prevention and control of childhood asthma and allergy in the EU from the public health point of view: Polish Presidency of the European Union

The leading priority for the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union was to reduce health inequalities across European societies, and, within its framework, prevention and control of respiratory diseases in children. This very important paper contain proposal of international cooperation on the prevention, early detection and monitoring of asthma and allergic diseases in childhood which will be undertaken by the EU member countries as a result of EU conclusion developed during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This will result in collaboration in the field of chronic diseases, particularly respiratory diseases, together with the activity of the network of national institutions and NGOs in this area. Paper also contains extensive analysis of the socio-economic, political, epidemiological, technological and medical factors affecting the prevention and control of childhood asthma and allergy presented during Experts presidential conference organized in Warsaw-Ossa 21–22 September 2011.

Clinical-electroencephalographic analysis of brain bioelectrical activity in children with myelomeningocele and internal hydrocephalus

PURPOSE

The aim of the current study was the clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis of the brain bioelectrical activity in patients with myelomeningocele and internal hydrocephalus.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present study included 86 children (44 boys and 42 girls) with myelomeningocele. The children were aged 1-17 years (mean 7 +/- 4.4 years). Thoracic myelomeningocele was identified in 24 children (28%), lumbar in 53 (62%) and sacral in 9 cases (10%).

RESULTS

The standard EEG examination performed in the waking state revealed generalized changes in 53 patients (62%), including 19 (79%) with thoracic, 28 (53%) with lumbar and 6 (66%) with sacral myelomeningocele. Approximately 70% of the patients underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting and epilepsy was found in 27 children (31.4%). The prevalence of changes detected in the left temporal region did not differ between the respective myelomeningocele types. No correlations were noted between the degree of spinal cord injury and the changes observed in the left temporal region in EEG recording. Likewise, changes found in the centroparietal region in EEG did not correlate with the site of myelomeningocele. Focal changes in the frontotemporal (p < 0.0067) and right temporal region (p < 0.0314) showed a positive correlation with the degree of spinal cord injury and were most frequent in patients with thoracic myelomeningocele.

CONCLUSION

The analysis of EEG might facilitate evaluation and prognosis of epileptic seizures in children with myelomeningocele and internal hydrocephalus.