M.I. Hidalgo Vicario’s scientific contributions

Adolescence is the period of time between the onset of puberty and the end of growth and physical and psychosocial development. Puberty is a period of exclusively biological changes, whereas adolescence is a broader process of social adaptation that mainly occurs in developed countries. Although this process has been defined as a turbulent and unstable stage, most young people overcome this phase smoothly. This is the healthiest time of life from the physical point of view, however the teen is exposed to many risks and various health problems. Currenly in Spain, adolescent care is not properly organized. The role of health professionals is important as these must understand the normal development as well as variations within normality, promote resilience and protective factors so as to avoid risk factors, know the health needs and pathologies of the adolescent.

Drug consumption by adolescents constitutes at the present time a problem of public health, due to: the elevated intake of some substances, the, the extremely low starting age and the physical, psychological and social consequences for the present and future life of young people. During adolescence it must be taken into account the risk-taking behaviors to which the adolescents expose themselves, as well as the factors of risk and protection, because drug consumption is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon. Different clinical signs may warn us of the presence of drug abuse. The best method to identify and diagnose a substance use disorder is to make a suitable clinical history during routine health controls in a confident atmosphere and assuring confidentiality. It is also important to make a detailed exploration, and to use sometimes complementary tests. The treatment is multidisciplinar and will vary according to the stage of consumption, the familiar support and the experience of the professionals and will be managed in primary care or specialized service or impatient with a specific program. The pediatricien of primary care has an extremely important role; prevention is the most important task.

Menarquia, or the beginning of the menstruations, is a characteristic of the women pubertal development and it means the successful progression of the sexual maturation and the start of the reproductive capacity. Adolescents and young women experience frequently a set of problems related to the menstruation. These disorders require a careful evaluation; they can reflect normal ovulatory menstrual symptoms or to be an indication of pathology that may have an important impact on future reproductive capability and on general health. This is the case of the disorder of the nourishing habits of the feminine athlete, increasing the risk of osteoporosis, or the poliquístic ovary syndrome, that is associated with future cardiovascular risks, among others. The diagnosis and treatment of these problems not only will improve the present health of the young woman, their feelings of well-being and the quality of global life, but also is going to decrease the future risks of diseases and poor health. Pediatricians or primary physicians have an important role for approaching these problems, keeping in mind the characteristics of the adolescence, and relieving stresses to the adolescent and their relatives.