ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis persists as a problem among Afghan Refugee children. The correct diagnosis requires a high index of clinical suspicion because bacteriological confirmation is often difficult. This prospective study, conducted from 1986-1991 in the AHSAO TB Center on 174 sick children aged between one to fifteen years of age aims at assessing the efficiency of ICD's regimens [short course therapy of eight months for smear positive and standard regimens of twelve months for smear negative pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis]. The results showed an outcome rate of 118 cases [67.8%] cured, 38 [21.8%] lost to follow-up, of which 71% were lost after six months of therapy, nine cases [5.2%] transferred, one case taken re treatment regimen and three cases showed sequelae [2.3%], and five patients [2.9%] died. Because of the large number of patients who were lost to follow-up, we recommended that the short course therapy regime of six months can now probably be used, safely and effectively, in children to enhance compliance without markedly increasing costs
Subject(s)
Child , Social Class , RifampinABSTRACT
This study was conducted in Peshawar District of North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The objective was to identify the relative incidence of dysentery caused by Shigella species and amoebiasis and to assess the sensitivity of Shigella organisms to the commonly used antibiotics. Shigella was cultured in 28% of the dysentery stools examined while pathogenic entamoeba histolytica was found in 10% of the stools. A disturbingly high resistance was found for WHO and Pakistan CDD Programme recommended antibiotics namely Cotrimoxazole [83% resistance] and Ampicillin [91% resistance]. However Nalidixic Acid showed 100% sensitivity. 25% of all the cases had already received antibiotics before attending the health facility. The results of this study argue very strongly for a more comprehensive survey of antibiotics resistance in Shigella dysentery in all the eleven districts of NWFP