[Current views on bed rest in pediatrics].

The author reviews the method of laying and bed rest that has been used for several centuries, describes the aim and assumed advantages of this therapeutic precautions. The criticism concerning the inflexible prescriptions are dealt with. Some disease groups where concerning laying and bed rest new viewpoints were brought up and discussed in the literature are dealt with in details. Studying the literature the author advises to weight the assumed positive effect of bed rest against the not always favourable effect that a "confinement to bed" means for a child. The author is of the opinion that the sometimes inflexible principles learned and applied in connection with laying and bed rest should be reconsidered and reassessed and if necessary changed.