Isolated extraordinary daytime urinary frequency of childhood: a case series of 26 children in Switzerland

BACKGROUND: The term 'isolated extraordinary daytime urinary frequency' designates an abnormally increased diurnal frequency of painless urination in a completely toilet-trained child with normal urinalysis. METHODS: We report the history of 26 children (16 boys and 10 girls; aged between 4.1 and 10 years) who were referred to us between 2002 and 2006 and subsequently diagnosed with this condition. RESULTS: Possible psychosocial problems, or recent emotional stressors, were disclosed in the majority of the children: recent (36 months or less) asylum seekers (n = 9), school-related problems (n = 4), parental divorce (n = 2) or death of the mother (n = 1). Possible dietary causes were observed in 9 patients: oxalate-rich beverages (n = 5) and liberal ingestion of 'acidic' juices (n = 4). A diet low in oxalates was recommended when children were consuming large quantities of oxalate-rich beverages; and a diet low in acidic juice was recommended in those liberally ingesting acidic juices. Reassurance and observation were the approach in the remaining cases. The median duration of the symptoms was 5 months. A longer (p < 0.05) duration was noted in children of asylum seekers. CONCLUSIONS: This functional condition is easily identifiable, but often under- or misdiagnosed. Confounding the condition might result in redundant investigation.

[Rare cause of right heart failure: two cases]

Two asylum seekers (patient A, 30 year old man from Mongolia; patient B, 18 year old woman from the Sudan) were referred to our outpatient clinic because of acute and chronic deterioration of their general condition and shortness of breath. Both patients presented with a clear clinical picture of systemic venous hypertension and moderate pulmonary congestion. Patient B had a paradoxical pulse compatible to cardiac tamponade.

Contested Control: Irregular Transit Migrants in Europe

This presentation is about young migrants’ journeys with low chances of receiving asylum or any other type of residence in Europe. These migrants exhibit a highly complex migration pattern. First, these migrants are frequently in durable “transit” across Europe, moving back and forth between different states. Second, transit migrants must exhibit a high degree of flexibility, as they have to respond to suddenly changing conditions, such as work opportunities, rejection of asylum claims, detention or deportation. Third, transit migrants often switch between different legal statuses, such as asylum seeker, rejected asylum seeker, illegal worker or detainee. This throws them into a general state of uncertainty and psychological distress. The experience of these young adults shows a deep ambivalence between a sense of autonomy, on the one hand, and of profound hope- and powerlessness, on the other. This presentation explores the “fragmented journeys” of these migrants, by way of a multi-sited ethnographic approach and biographical interviews. It focuses on the lived experiences and the strategies of irregular migrants to find a way to reside in Europe in the context of an increasingly restrictive migration management.

Stuck in Mobility? Fragmented Journeys of Migrants without Chances of Admission in Europe

This paper is about young migrants without chance of being granted legal residence status in the Schengen zone. Previous observations suggest that some migrants, whose country of origin leaves them with low chances of receiving asylum or in fact any type of residence permit, exhibit a highly complex migration pattern that is characterised by 1) durable “transit” across Europe, which is a multi-linear movement according to opportunities that open up along the journey; 2) a high degree of flexibility, as they have to respond to suddenly changing conditions, such as work opportunities, rejection of asylum claims, detention or deportation, and 3) switching between different legal statuses, such as asylum seeker, sans papiers or detainee. The experiences of these young adults thus show a deep ambivalence between a sense of autonomy, on the one hand, and of profound hope and powerlessness, on the other. The Dublin Convention intends to limit such a hypermobility of migrants but seems to fail in many cases. Simultaneously it provokes some of the movements by sending asylum seekers and irregular migrants back to their first country of arrivals. Given the fact that little is known about these fragmented journeys inside of the Schengen area, this ethnographic study produces novel data on a highly pertinent migration pattern, the impact of the European migration management on individual migrants as well as the inter-relatedness of the asylum regime and irregular migration in Europe. At the same time these fragmented journeys are an excellent example to discuss mobility as a resource on the one hand (since it enables this specific migrant group to extend their presence in Europe) and as a handicap on the other (since it impedes the building of stable social networks, the planning of the future, etc.).