In this multicenter study, rotavirus consistently caused a sizable proportion of cases of acute gastroenteritis seen in pediatric outpatient practices in the United States during the winter and spring. Rotavirus gastroenteritis was more frequently associated with vomiting, combined diarrhea and vomiting, fever and lost time from work and day care than nonrotavirus gastroenteritis.

From 1978 to 1988, microbiologically proven Pseudomonas osteochondritis and septic arthritis following nail puncture wound to the foot was diagnosed in 77 children aged 18 mo-19 y (77 and 17 cases, respectively). The syndromes were found in children with a history of wearing tennis shoes (70 cases), other shoes (5), and no shoes (2). All cases had surgical debridement of the infected cartilage or bone and drainage of infected joints. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in 38 cases and in conjunction with Staphylococcus aureus in 18. Anti-Pseudomonas antibiotics were initiated in all cases before surgical exploration; the average duration of treatment was 7.5 +/- 1.2 d postoperatively. Patient follow-up was 5.2 +/- 3.4 y (median, 4.8 y; range, 3 mo-10 y). Two relapses occurred; both patients had a previously undetected septic arthritis. These data suggest that with aggressive surgical management, Pseudomonas osteochondritis and septic arthritis can be treated effectively with postoperative antibiotics for 7 d.

Migraine is a common clinical diagnosis, occurring in 4-10% of school age children. Migraine in the infant and preschool child has been infrequently described in retrospective studies. We report the prospective evaluation and therapy of six children (5-42 months) with migraine. In four of the children, Prensky's criteria were used for diagnosis, while the two youngest children presented with ophthalmoplegic migraine. All children had a strong family history of migraine and presented with headache and prominent features including facial pallor, irritability, sleep disturbance or mood changes. The oldest four children were successfully treated with either amitriptyline or imipramine in low doses. The infants with ophthalmoplegic migraine failed to completely respond to any therapy. At followup 2 to 18 months later, all children were well and without toxicity. The pediatrician should be aware that migraine may begin in infancy and can be effectively and safely treated.

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