Late diagnosis and vulnerabilities of the elderly living with HIV/AIDS

Objective: To identify vulnerabilities of elderly people with HIV/AIDS and the trajectory that they follow until reaching the diagnosis of the disease. Method: Qualitative research conducted in specialized clinics in the state of Sao Paulo, from January to June 2011. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 elderly people who were found to be infected with the virus at the age of 60 years or older. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Results: In this process four categories emerged, then analyzed with reference to the theoretical framework of vulnerability. Conclusion: Late diagnosis of HIV infection or AIDS among the elderly happens in the secondary or tertiary service. Issues related to sexual life of the elderly are only questioned by health professionals after the diagnosis, also the time that condom use becomes absolute. It is believed that the investigation of the vulnerability of the elderly to HIV/AIDS allows for carrying out appropriate interventions for this population.

Disturbios neuropsicológicos e síndrome da apneia do sono em crianças

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by snoring and / or repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep associated with hypoxemia and hypercapnia. Affects approximately 1-3% of children, especially preschoolers. There is an association of OSAS with negative impact on neurocognitive development. However, there are few studies using protocols to assess cognition and behavioral disorders in children with OSAS. The objective of this study was to analyze the major studies related to the topic within the last two decades. The main studies published between 1995 to 2011 were identified through MEDLINE and LILACS databases. We selected the most relevant for OSAS in children, neurocognitive effects and association between obstructive disorders / OSAS in the target population (children). It was concluded that the studies analyzed showed that there is strong evidence regarding the overlapping of OSAS in children with neurocognitive disorders and that treatment of OSAS has positive impact on neurocognitive development.

Diagnósticos de enfermagem prevalentes em geriatria segundo o grau de dependência

This is a quantitative study conducted at the Outpatient Clinic of the Geriatrics and Gerontology Academic League of Botucatu School of Medicine. It aimed at learning about the profile of elderly patients and their level of disability in relation to basic activities of daily living. Based on this information, nursing diagnoses for the population under study were made, and the most frequent diagnosed were selected with the purpose of composing a stage of the instrument for nursing consultation in geriatric. It was found that the disabled elderly patients were predominantly females and widowed. They had a mean age of 81 years and had completed the first 4 grades of elementary school. Chronic pain related to physical disability and impaired ambulation related to the presence of osteoarticular diseases are examples of the most common diagnoses in the studied population. It is important that geriatric nurses implement Nursing Care Systematization based on the knowledge of the population to which they attend by considering the level of disability of elderly patients with respect to basic activities of daily living, so that full and individualized care can be provided and the patients’ remaining autonomy can be preserved.