Sudden death in infantile eczema

SELECTED

637

ABSTRACTS

be placed. Thirty-six asthmatic children from 8 to 14 years old were tested intrnfeathers, molds, human dander, cutaneously with extracts of house dust, mites, bacteria, horse hair, dog hair, cat hair, cattle hair, and various foods. Twentyfour control children were similarly tested and were entirely negative to house To rule out a greater reactivity of the allergic dust and almost all other antigens. children, 1 :lO,OOO histamine was also used for tests in both groups, and no esscntial difference in response was found. The reactions to house dust were so much more numerous and marked than the other reactions that effort was directed toward that. Investigation of homes revealed a situation of such crolvding that (lust control at home seemed out of the question. Therefore, a former schoolhouse was converted into a home for asthmatic children and they were quartered there in as dust-free an environment as possible. Visiting their homes in the afternoon, after attending a near-by school, was permitted the children. The improvement in attendance at school and the freedom from asthma were remarkable in the twenty-two children who were taken into the home. The result was that the home, first started as an independent project, was taken over as a civic project by the city of Stockholm.

Sudden Death in Infantile 52:

182,

Eczema.

Davies,

J. H.

‘T.:

Brit.

J. Dermat.

& Syph.

1940.

Having seen sudden death occur in hospitalized infants with eczema several years ago, the author was opposed to hospitalization of such cases. He was persuaded, however, on three occasions and for various reasons to deviate from this rule. All three of these consecutive cases terminated fatally with what was thought to be insufficient cause. It is pointed out that such an occurrence is likely to take place in the spring in overnourished infants under 1 year of age. It may be heralded by sudden improvement in the eczema. X0 satisfactory explanation for such deaths is at hand.

Body Build R. M.:

in Infants. Human

Biol.

IX. Body Build 11:

269,

in Eczema.

Bakwin,

H.,

and

Bakwin,

1939.

Amplifying a previous study, the authors find again that infants with eczema have, on the average, a wider head, broader face, more widely separated eyes, and larger shoulder, hip, and chest circumferences than arc found in a control group. They are slightly taller and considerably heavier as well. Males outnumber females in the eczema group about two to one.

Significance of Inhalant Allergens in the Treatment of Bronchial the Child. Stoesser, A. V.: Minnesota Med. 23: 413, 1940.

Asthma

of

In a group of 329 children with asthma, inhalants other than pollens were found to be the chief oEenders; pollens were the next most common cause, and foods the least frequent. Among the inhalants, house dust, feathers, and cottonseed mere the most common offenders. Hyposensitization in this group was disappointing, but environmental control gave satisfactory results. Sudden changes in the weather precipitated asthma in a considerable number of persons, most of whom were in the house-dust-sensitive group.

The Use of a Soybean Treatment of Infantile A simplified (Xrief factor

in

plan the

Emulsion in a Simplified Eczema. Levin, 8. J.:

for the study and plan is a commercial

treatment soybean

Regime J. Pediat.

of infantile emulsion,

for 17:

the Study 79,

and

1940.

eczema is presented. kreme o ‘soy, which is