SummaryBackground It seems plausible that children with atopy and persistent asthma symptoms will, like their adult counterparts, have chronic airways inflammation. However, many young children with no other atopic features have episodic wheezing that is triggered solely by viral respiratory infections. Little is known as to whether airways inflammation occurs in these two asthma patterns during relatively asymptomatic periods. Methods Using a non-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) procedure on children presenting for an elective surgical procedure, this study has investigated the cellular constituents of BAL fluid in children with a history of atopic asthma (AA) non-asthmatic atopic children (NAA) or viral associated wheeze (VAW). Results A total of 95 children was studied: 52 with atopic asthma (8.0 years, range 1.1-15.3, 36 male), 23 with non-asthmatic atopy (median age 8.3 years, range 1.7-13.6, 11 male) and 20 with VAW (3.1 years, range 1.0-8.2, 13 male). No complications were observed during the lavage procedure and no adverse events were noted post-operatively. Total lavage fluid recovered was similar in all groups and the total cell numbers were higher in the VAW group. Eosinophil (P< 0.005) and mast cell (/'<0.05) numbers were significantly elevated in the group with atopic asthma. Conclusions During relatively asymptomatic periods there is on-going airways inflammation, as demonstrated by eosinophil and mast cell recruitment, in children with asthma and atopy but not in children with viral associated wheeze or atopy alone. This strongly suggests that there are different underlying pathophysiologicai mechanisms in these two groups of children who wheeze.

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Less than 100 chondrosarcomas originating in the facial skeleton have been reported. Information regarding chondrosarcomas in the facial region is fragmentary. The largest series collected transcend a long period of time containing changes in surgical technique and philosophy. Precedence for therapy and prognostic information is not readily available. Three patients with facial chondrosarcomas are reported. All were diagnosed within a four‐year time span. The aforementioned adequately depict the protean manifestations of this tumor and the aggressive therapy required. Correlation is made with the existing body of information regarding this entity.

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SummaryBoth caudal anaesthesia and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been used in the management of postoperative pain in children. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the combination of caudal analgesia and rectally administered diclofenac in the treatment of pain following minor surgery in children. Thirty-nine, ASA grade 1 or 2, children undergoing inguinal or penoscrotal surgery were randomly assigned to receive either a caudal block using 0.125% bupivacaine with adrenaline or a similar caudal block in combination with rectally administered diclofenac 1 mg.kg-'. Children given a caudal block alone were more likely to need analgesia in thejirst 24 h postoperatively. It would appear that the combination of a caudal block and rectal diclofenac in children undergoing minor lower abdominal surgery reduces the need for subsequent analgesia.