Give Aciclovir for herpetic gingivostomatisis
22 Dec, 08 | by Bob Phillips
Does oral aciclovir improve clinical outcome in immunocompetent children with primary herpes simplex gingivostomatitis?
A 3 year old previously well boy presents with a fever of 38.6ºc and several ulcers and erosions extending from his lips, along the tongue and cheek, to the back of the throat. The lesions have all appeared within the last 2 days. He has been crying inconsolably over the past 24 hours and is refusing food and drink. Is the use of oral aciclovir is indicated for primary herpes gingivostomatitis in children?
A 13 year old boy with a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) comes to the clinic with his mother for a review. He was started on atomoxetine 6 weeks prior to this visit for hyperactive/impulsive symptoms and poor concentration. The boy was admitted in the hospital one week ago for changed behaviour, disorientation, irrelevant speech and self-harming behaviour. He was reported as very aggressive and hostile towards other children and adults. In past use of stimulant medication was not considered because of the risk of abuse and drug diversion. Mother correlates this hospitalization due to side effect of atomoxetine. She asks your opinion about increased aggression and hostility related to atomoxetine .
A 7-year-old boy was referred for medical assessment as part of the process of producing a statement of special educational needs. There had been no medical concerns in the past and there was no family history of note. On examination, the boy was noted to be micro cephalic with head circumference on the 0.4th centile, while his height and weight were on the 50th centile. Neurological examination was normal. Should this boy be referred for an MRI scan of the brain? 
A 5 year old boy was admitted to a rural New Zealand hospital with 10 day history of abdominal pain. The pain was localised to the RIF with guarding and examination revealed a palpable mass in the RIF. He had previously presented with a 1 day history of severe abdominal pain and fever and had been discharged the following day with a diagnosis of gastroenteritis. He was transferred to the tertiary hospital and a diagnosis was made on ultrasound scan of appendiceal mass with abscess. His condition was stable. He was commenced on conservative management and supportive care with intravenous (iv) antibiotics followed by a 2 week course of oral antibiotics. He responded well to conservative management and was scheduled for appendectomy after an interval of 6-8 weeks. You wonder whether it is necessary, now he is well, for him to have an appendectomy.
During a routine clinic follow-up, a patient with an indwelling ventriculo-peritoneal shunt enquires whether prophylactic antibiotics are necessary prior to routine dental hygiene work. He produces a letter from his dentist enquiring the same.
A 3 year old boy presents to the Emergency Department with a limp. He has been reluctant to weight bear on his right leg during the day and has a temperature of 37.9°C. Hip examination is painful. What clinical or laboratory tests could help discriminate between septic arthritis and transient synovitis?
Length of stay for ‘well’ near term (30-36 week gestation) babies varies between units and between countries, with the UK average being discharge at 36+2 weeks corrected. What strategies are in place in your unit to help these ’small but well’ babies get out of precious neonatal cots into their own lovingly decorated cribs at home? And more to the Archimedes point - is there any evidence these interventions work?
pneumonia affecting the right lower lobe. It is suggested on the ward round that we arrange chest physiotherapy to try and reduce the length of his hospital stay. We wonder if there is evidence to support the use of physiotherapy in this case.