Children’s viral upper respiratory tract infections cause anxiety among parents and it is useful to know how long they usually last. In a multiple general practice study in south Wales involving children not given antibiotics (

) children had had symptoms for an average of 3 days before seeing their general practitioner. The rates of recovery (from the time of first consultation) were 25% at 2–3 days, 50% at 4–5 days, 75% at 7 days and 95% at 14 days.

After catheterisation of the femoral artery in neonates around 30–45% of arteries become occluded. A 4 French catheter has an external diameter of 2 mm but the diameter of neonatal femoral vessels is usually not more than 1.5 mm so the vessel is completely occluded by the catheter. Paediatric cardiologists in Paris (

) have used 3 French sheaths and catheters for diagnostic or interventional procedures in 15 infants (age 7 (1–180) days, weight 2.8 (2.0–4.0) kg). Diagnostic catheterisation provided the required information in all of 11 cases and interventional procedures were carried out successfully. There were no complications and follow up ultrasound scans showed no damage to the vessels. Using 3 French sheaths and catheters added about £16 to the cost …