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Resumen:Objetivo: evaluar el impacto de los contaminantes atmosféricos y el clima en el número de consultas al departamento de emergencias de un hospital pediátrico en Buenos Aires, Argentina. Material y métodos: estudio ecológico utilizando análisis de series temporales con modelos aditivos generalizados (GAM) para el período 2012-2014, analizando cantidad diaria de consultas en función de tres contaminantes del aire: monóxido de carbono (CO), dióxido de nitrógeno (NO 2 ) y material particulado de diámetro menor a 10 micrones (PM 10 ), temperatura diaria, humedad relativa, dirección y velocidad del viento y lluvia, controlando por día de la semana y tendencia de largo plazo. Resultados: las consultas en invierno (286 diarias) fueron significativamente mayores que en las demás estaciones (p<0.0001). La variación en el nivel de contaminación del aire no mostró correlación significativa y consistente con las consultas. La temperatura, humedad relativa, lluvia y viento no resultaron significativas en ninguno de los rezagos analizados. Conclusiones: en esta población y considerando las consultas de emergencia, la contaminación del aire no afecta significativamente el resultado en salud, pero sí lo hacen las epidemias estacionales. Estudios sobre otras variables de salud son necesarios para establecer el impacto de la contaminación del aire sobre la salud infantil en Buenos Aires. Palabras clave: Contaminación del aire; Clima; Medioambiente y salud pública Abstract:Objective: to evaluate the impact of air pollution and weather changes on the number of visits to a pediatric emergency department in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Materials and methods: we designed an ecological time-series study using generalized additive models (GAM) for the period 2012-2014. The outcome variable was the number of daily visits to a pediatric emergency department taking into account daily consultations. The potential predictors were the average daily air pollution levels (carbon monoxide -CO-, nitrogen dioxide -NO 2 -, particulate matter 10 microns or less in diameter -PM 10 -) and weather variables (temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and rainfall) and we controlled by weekday and longtime trend. Results: the number of visits during the winter months (286 daily) was significantly higher than those in the other seasons (p <0.0001). The change in air pollution levels did not show a significant and consistent correlation with the visits. Temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, and wind speed and direction were not significant variables for any of the examined lags. Conclusions: Considering the population and variables of our study, air pollution does not affect the health outcomes, as does seasonal epidemics. Studies that examine other health variables are necessary to establish the impact of air pollution on children's health in Buenos Aires.

The use of the BPS allowed to reduce antibiotic use in the initial management of patients with pneumonia vaccinated against pneumococcal disease, without increasing the probability of an unfavorable course of the disease.

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Introduction.Global climate change circulation pattern respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We assessed whether RSV season has changed over the past 20 years and its correlation with mean annual temperature. Methods. Cross-sectional study that included records of RSV and temperatures from Buenos Aires (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014). RSV season onset, offset and duration, and its correlation with mean annual temperature were described for each year.

Introduction: Pollution and climate have an impact on pediatric respiratory diseases; few studies have assessed this in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Objective: To assess the impact of the interaction between air pollutants and climate on the Emergency Department visits for acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in a children's hospital. Methods: Ecological, time-series study with generalized additive models that included total visits and visits for ALRTI to the Emergency Department between 2012 and 2016. A series with 7-day moving averages for ALRTI visits was founded as a bias control measure. Predictors were daily levels of air pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrous dioxide, particulate matter < 10 μ) and meteorological variables (temperature, humidity). Pollutants were measured at three monitoring stations. Temporal variables (day of the week, warm/cold semester) were controlled. Results: There were 455 256 total visits; 17 298 accounted for visits for ALRTI. A correlation was established only between total visits and day of the week (Mondays and Saturdays, more visits; Thursdays, less visits). Less visits for ALRTI were recorded in the warm semester compared to the cold semester (relative risk = 0.23; 95 % confidence interval: 0.29-0.18; p < 0.001). One monitoring station did not show any correlation; the other two stations showed a weak correlation between carbon monoxide and particulate matter < 10 μ and visits for ALRTI. Conclusion: The season accurately accounts for the increased number of total visits and visits for ALRTI. Although there was a correlation between the level of certain pollutants and the number of visits, its impact was irrelevant.

It was recently reported that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the European winter 2020-2021, bronchiolitis had practically disappeared. But early reports from the southern hemisphere (Australia) raised concerns about a late spring / summer peak. After a full winter season and now ending the summer, we report that there was no peak of common respiratory viruses in late spring / summer in South America.

La infección por Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mypn) podría estar ocurriendo a edades más tempranas, debido a fenómenos sociales como concurrencia a centros de cuidado diurno en forma más frecuente y precoz.Objetivo: estimar la prevalencia de anticuerpos anti-Mypn en niños de 0-12 años, y explorar si la edad, asistencia a centro de cuidados diurnos/escuela, hacinamiento o convivencia con niños incrementan el riesgo de seropositividad.Pacientes y Método: Estudio transversal incluyendo niños de 0-12 años de edad que requirieron extracciones de sangre para control, por lo demás sanos. En todos los casos se consignaron las variables mencionadas y se determinó IgG anti-Mypn mediante enzimoinmunoanálisis. Se evaluó la asociación entre predictores y seropositividad en un modelo de regresión logística.Resultados: Se incluyeron 232 pacientes (edad promedio 56,4 ± 40,0 meses). El 56,9% concurría a centro de cuidado diurno/escuela, 63,8% convivían con menores de 12 años y 15,9% presentaban hacinamiento. El 14,6% presentaba anticuerpos anti-Mypn. Los niños seropositivos no mostraron diferencias significativas con aquellos seronegativos en relación a edad (63,1 ± 40,7 vs. 55,4 ± 41,3 meses), escolaridad (64,7% vs 55,5%), hacinamiento (14,7% vs 14,9%), ni convivencia con menores (64,7% vs 63,6%). La edad tampoco se mostró como predictor independiente de seropositividad en el modelo multivariado.Conclusión: La prevalencia de anticuerpos anti-Mypn fue 14,6%. La edad no fue predictor de seropositividad.