Problemas de saúde na infância: desafios do tratamento à prevenção

Abstract

Health problems in childhood: challenges from treatment to prevention This thematic publication "Health problems in childhood: challenges from treatment to prevention" contains important information on a new pediatrics which now has its place within extended health care from embryos to adults. Here diverse themes are addressed: Study related to effectiveness of neonatal programs, mouth health in childhood, analysis of prevalence of worsening of children's health, determinants of children mortality, accident prevention, breastfeeding of premature babies, school health, humanization in neonatal ICU, care of children with chronic diseases, eating disorders in children, notification of maltreatment, palliative child care, among others. This collection of articles needs to be placed within context. In the past four decades, there were significant changes in the Brazilian demographical and epidemiological scenario amongst which the following are highlighted: accelerated urbanization process, decrease of fertility, infantile birth and death rates, and increase in life expectancy. Despite this demographic transition, the population contingent of children and adolescents in Brazil is still high, what justifies a careful look into these age ranges. There is a new reality related to the child health around the world: rates for maternal breast feeding and access to prenatal treatment have increased. However, the number of premature births has also increased as well as obesity incidence and children with chronic diseases. The access to modern and sophisticated technologies has allowed the increase in the survival of children who would not have survived before-extreme premature babies, bearers of congenital malformation and chronic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and imperfect osteogeneses. Thus, a new clientele was created which requires peculiar level of care: children depend on technology. The influence of the new population and epidemiological reality in short and long term for the health sector and the costs for the society still isn't well determined, mainly because many infantile health aspects are not aligned to adults' health. For example, assistance to children dependant on technology has led parents to a peregrination seeking integral assistance. The health system is not ready for such type of care. And if children are not immediately treated, their performance in adult life and society will be affected. In this number, a cohort study about the periodontal problems in childhood that we point out as responsible for increasing two to seven times the risk of cardiovascular disease is highlighted. And another study which warns us about the fact that prevention of chronic and degenerative diseases in adults, such as eating habits and lifestyle, needs to be approached still during childhood. Everything that has been pointed out here requires a new paradigm for the formation of pediatrists and other professionals who treat children. If access to modern technologies and practices based on evidences improve the capacity fo...

Condições crônicas complexas e desfechos hospitalares em uma unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica

“…(5,6) Maior disponibilidade de leitos de terapia intensiva, avanço tecnológico e aprimoramento de recursos humanos, principalmente em unidades neonatais, vêm permitindo sobrevida de crianças graves, com diagnósticos de malformações e extremamente prematuras, sobrecarregando sistemas de saúde com reinternações e reabilitações. (7) Pesquisa realizada em hospital público federal especializado em assistência pediátrica, no município do Rio de Janeiro, comparou pacientes com e sem CCC. O objetivo foi identificar a utilização de tecnologias, e mensurar custo da assistência hospitalar dessas crianças e adolescentes.…”