The offer of the maternal breast to the baby is an unquestionable right of mothers and their children, and all efforts should be made to promote, follow and maintain exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months and supplement it until the child completes 2 years of age. Many publications are available in the literature about the qualities of breast milk, its benefits and health repercussions, stimulating the practice of breastfeeding and supporting campaigns for its implementation. However, although it is widely known that breastfeeding is an important step in the reproductive process of women and its practice offers benefits to both mother and child, most of the available information highlights the benefits of breast milk for children, while mention of the effects of breastfeeding on the health of the mother is usually neglected. Thus, the objective of the present study is to highlight the multiple benefits of breastfeeding for the physical and emotional health of the nursing mother. The authors consulted articles published in the databases PubMed, Virtual Health Library and Web of Science using the keywords breastfeeding, breast milk, lactation and maternal health. Palavras-Chave► aleitamento materno ► leite materno ► período pós-parto ResumoA oferta do seio materno às crianças é um direito inquestionável das mães e de seus filhos, e todos os esforços devem ser feitos no sentido de promover, acompanhar e manter o aleitamento materno exclusivo até os 6 meses e complementado até que a criança complete 2 anos de idade. A literatura apresenta incontáveis publicações acerca das qualidades do leite materno, seus benefícios e repercussões para a saúde, estimulando a prática do aleitamento materno e embasando campanhas. Porém, mesmo sendo de conhecimento geral que a amamentação é uma importante etapa no processo reprodutivo da mulher e que sua prática oferece benefícios para mãe e filho, a grande maioria das informações destacam os benefícios que o leite materno oferece às crianças, esquecendo-se de mencionar todas as repercussões que o aleitamento materno traz para a saúde da mãe. Assim, o objetivo deste artigo é destacar os inúmeros benefícios que o aleitamento materno proporciona à saúde física e emocional da lactante. Para tanto, os autores consultaram artigos publicados nas bases de dados PubMed, Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde e Web of Science utilizando as palavras-chave aleitamento materno, leite materno, lactação e saúde materna.

Objective To identify factors that contribute to the increased susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 in obese children and adolescents, and its health consequences. Sources Studies published between 2000 and 2020 in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, SciELO, and Cochrane databases. Summary of findings Obesity is a highly prevalent comorbidity in severe cases of COVID-19 in children and adolescents; social isolation may lead to increase fat accumulation. Excessive adipose tissue, deficit in lean mass, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and low intake of essential nutrients are factors that compromise the functioning of organs and systems in obese individuals. These factors are associated with damage to immune, cardiovascular, respiratory, and urinary systems, along with modification of the intestinal microbiota (dysbiosis). In severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, these organic changes from obesity may increase the need for ventilatory assistance, risk of thromboembolism, reduced glomerular filtration rate, changes in the innate and adaptive immune response, and perpetuation of the chronic inflammatory response. Conclusions The need for social isolation can have the effect of causing or worsening obesity and its comorbidities, and pediatricians need to be aware of this issue. Facing children with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, health professionals should 1) diagnose excess weight; 2) advise on health care in times of isolation; 3) screen for comorbidities, ensuring that treatment is not interrupted; 4) measure levels of immunonutrients; 5) guide the family in understanding the specifics of the situation; and 6) refer to units qualified to care for obese children and adolescents when necessary.

This paper suggests a proposal of Child Health Care, to children and adolescents, to be developed in the Family Health Care Programs.

Objetivos: estudar a prevalência de constipação intestinal crô-nica funcional na infância, em uma unidade básica de saúde, e observar as suas principais características clínicas nessa população. Casuística e métodos: 313 crianças, pacientes da unidade básica de saúde Centro de Saúde Escola de Vila Tibério, Ribeirão Preto (SP), com idades entre 1 a 10 anos incompletos, compuseram a amostra. Destas, foram selecionadas 84 constipadas por critérios instituídos pelos autores. O teste do qui-quadrado foi aplicado para a comparação entre os grupos de constipados e não constipados (nível de significância = 0,01).Resultados: a prevalência de constipação intestinal crônica funcional foi de 26,8%. Das crianças constipadas, 85,7% tinham fezes endurecidas, 25% volume fecal diminuído, 17,9% intervalos às evacuações maiores que 2 dias (todas as crianças que apresentavam intervalo maior que 2 dias eram constipadas), 14,3% escape fecal, e 21,4% sangramento às evacuações.Conclusões: a prevalência de constipação intestinal foi elevada, e o intervalo entre as evacuações foi um critério diagnóstico importante para a seleção das crianças constipadas.J Pediatr (Rio J) 2002;78(6):497-502: constipação intestinal, puericultura, hábito intestinal. AbstractObjective: to study the frequency of chronic constipation in childhood at a Primary Health Care Unit and to observe its characteristics in this population.Methods: the sample consisted of 313 children aged between one and 10 years treated at the Centro de Saúde Escola, in the district of Tibério, in the town of Ribeirão Preto. Among these, 84 children with chronic constipation were selected. The chi-squared test was used to compare the groups of constipated and nonconstipated children (p = 0.01).Results: the prevalence of chronic constipation was 26.8%. In the group of chronic constipation, 85.7% of the children had hardened stools, 25% showed reduction in fecal mass, 17.9% had an interval between evacuations longer than 2 days (constipated children), 14.3% revealed fecal soiling and 21.4% presented blood in stools.Conclusion: the prevalence of chronic constipation was high and the interval between evacuations was as an important diagnostic criterion for the selection of constipated children.J Pediatr (Rio J) 2002;78(6) IntroduçãoA constipação intestinal é um problema freqüente na infância, e constitui-se da queixa principal em 3% das consultas pediátricas de rotina 1 . Na infância, a maior causa de constipação é a crônica funcional, compondo 95% de todos os casos 2 , e sua prevalência comunitária tem merecido maior preocupação por parte dos pesquisadores na última década, principalmente no nosso país 3-6 , onde pas-

Objective: To report a case of acrodermatitis enteropathica, a rare disease with autosomal recessive inheritance. Case description: An 11-month-old boy was presenting symmetrical erythematous and yellowish-brownish crusted lesions on his face, feet, hands and knees, intermittent diarrhea, fever, and recurrent infections since the age of six months. He was thin and had scarce hair on the scalp. The serum zinc level was measured and a reduced level of 27.0 mcg/dL (normal range: 50.0-120.0) was identified. Oral supplementation with 2.0 mg/kg/day of zinc sulfate was immediately initiated. A rapid and progressive improvement of symptoms was observed. The symptoms reappeared with an attempt to stop supplementation. Comments: Recognizing and properly treating acrodermatitis enteropathica is important to prevent complications.

The prevalence of chronic constipation was high and the interval between evacuations was as an important diagnostic criterion for the selection of constipated children.

Del Ciampo LA et al. Percepção corporal e atividade física em uma coorte de adultos jovens brasileiros. Rev. Bras. Cresc. e Desenv. Hum. 2010, 20(3)

BackgroundSeveral factors can interfere with the full physical and emotional growth of adolescents, among them chronic diseases. The aim was to determine the nutritional status of adolescents and to associate it with puberty, pancreatic sufficiency, lung function and age range of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) diagnosis.MethodsAn observational, cross-sectional, retrospective and analytical study was conducted using the data of medical records. Setting: Reference center in the northeastern region of the state of São Paulo – Brazil. Patients: All adolescents with CF attended in 2010 were included. Some variables included: pancreatic sufficiency (steatocrit >2 %), pancreatic enzymes replacement (yes/no), pubertal status-Tanner criteria (prepubertal: M1/G1, pubertal: M2/G2 to M4/G4, postpubertal: M5/G5), age at CF diagnosis (<2 and ≥2 years of age), Lung function, measured as a predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Main outcome measures Nutritional indicators: body mass index for age (BMI/A) and height for age (H/A) with z-score calculated with Anthro Plus software. Cut-off reference points: ≥ z-score −3 and < z-score −2 (thinness); z-score −2 and ≤ z-score-z +1 (normal weight); >z-score +1 (overweight or obesity), and z-score <−2 (low or very low H/A). The groups were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Level of significance: p < 0.05.ResultsThirty adolescents. Median (min;max)  age: 14.4 (10.1;19.8) years. BMI/A and H/A z-score, respectively: early diagnosis of CF (−0.8; −1.1) or late diagnosis of CF (−0.5;-0.8); with pancreatic insufficiency (−0.7; −0.8) or without pancreatic insufficiency (−0.8; −0.5) and prepubertal (−0.8; −0.7) pubertal (−0.2; −1.5) or postpubertal (−0.7; -0.5). No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed. Patients with and without pancreatic insufficiency, presented H/A borderline z-score (p = 0.05). Association between H/A and FEV1 was borderline (p = 0.05).ConclusionsAdolescents presented adequate nutritional status, although with slightly lower values than those of developed countries. FEV1 lower levels occurred more frequently in adolescents with low H/A.