Resumen
Introducción: Hemos realizado un estudio sobre 18 niños que estuvieron recibiendo atención temprana en el Colegio de Educación Especial «Baix Maestrat» durante el curso escolar 2003-2004 y fueron revisados en el Servicio de Rehabilitación del Hospital Comarcal de Vinaròs.
Pacientes y métodos: Los lactantes de riesgo, remitidos por el pediatra y evaluados por el médico rehabilitador, quedan incluidos en un programa de atención temprana.
El seguimiento se realiza hasta que el desarrollo psicomotor es adecuado. En la mayorÃa de los casos se da el alta al conseguir la marcha, si no hay otras alteraciones añadidas.
Resultados: De los 18 niños estudiados, 10 eran varones y 8 mujeres. La edad de remisión al servicio de rehabilitación fue, en todos los casos, inferior a 24 meses (1 con sÃndrome de Down, 6 con retraso psicomotor, 2 con hipotonÃa y 9 prematuros). En la actualidad han sido dados de alta 13 de los 18 niños.
Conclusiones: La «situación de riesgo» más prevalente ha sido la prematuridad. Uno de los factores contribuyentes a esta prematuridad ha sido el embarazo gemelar. Las alteraciones de tipo cromosómico y la parálisis cerebral infantil han disminuido considerablemente en nuestra serie. La atención temprana en todos los casos ha beneficiado el proceso madurativo del lactante de riesgo.
Abstract
Introduction: We studied 18 children who were enrolled in the early intervention program at the «Baix Maestrat» Special Education School during the 2003-2004 academic year, and whose cases were reviewed by the Rehabilitation Service at the Regional Hospital of Vinaroz in Castellón, Spain.
Patients and methods: These at-risk infants were referred to the service by their pediatricians for evaluation by the physical therapist, after which they were included in an early intervention program.
Monitoring is continued until they acquire a satisfactory level of psychomotor development. In most cases, the infants are discharged from the program once they are able to walk, if there are no other additional alterations.
Results: The group consisted of ten boys and eight girls. All of the infants were less than 24 months old when they were enrolled in the Rehabilitation Service. One child had Down's syndrome, six had psychomotor deficits, two had hypotonia and nine had been born prematurely. Thirteen of the infants have since been discharged from the program.
Conclusions: The most prevalent "risk situation" has been premature birth. One of the elements that contribute to this prematurity is twin pregnancy. The incidences of chromosomal alterations and cerebral palsy are considerably lower in our series as compared to others. Early intervention has had beneficial effects on the development of the at-risk infant in every case.