Delayed vaccination and related predictors among infants

Vaccination status is more often evaluated by up-to-date vaccination coverage rather than timeliness of immunization. This study was conducted to evaluate delayed vaccination during infancy period and to determine the predictors effecting on vaccination delay. This cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2011 in Hamadan Province, the west of Iran, recruiting 2460 children from 12 to 24 months of age via stratified cluster random sampling with 123 clusters of 20 persons. Data on vaccination were extracted from children's vaccination card. Additional data were collected through interview. Vaccination coverage of infants was >99.4% for all vaccines. However, 42% to 67.6% of infants received vaccine with delay. The delay time was longer in urban areas [P<0.001], among children with high educated mothers [P<0.001] and for the vaccines delivered at the end of infancy period. Delay time had a direct correlation with vacci-nators education level [P<0.001] and an inverse correlation with the number of periodical visits of health centers [P<0.001]. No correlation was detected between delay time and gender [P=0.507] and distance from health centers [P=0.627]. Considerable number of the infants received delayed vaccine, although, vaccination coverage was nearly completes. This issue indicates that delay time is very problematic to be resolved in any given situation even in areas with nearly full vaccination coverage and may require a major effort to be corrected. Furthermore, this study assessed the effect of some factors on delayed vaccination which may help policy makers who plan immunization programs

[Evaluation of parasitic and fungal contamination and physicochemical parameters of indoor public swimming pools in Kashan during 2008-9]

Swimming in indoor public pools may lead to transmission of contagious diseases such as ear problems, foot tinea, conjunctivitis and amoebic meningoencephalitis in swimmers. The aim of this study was to determine the types of fungal and parasitic contamination and physicochemical parameters of indoor public swimming pools in Kashan. In this cross-sectional study, 200 water samples were collected from surface and depth of four swimming pools of Kashan during 2008-9. Physicochemical parameters such as, temperature, pH, residual chlorine and turbidity of the pools were studied. Samples were tested for the presence of parasitic and fungal contamination by specific mediums. The residual chlorine in 71% of samples was standard. The average pH level was 7.7 and 88% of samples were standard. No parasite and free living amoebae were observed. The prevalence of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi was 42% in surface and 12% in depth, which was not significant in different swimming pools [P=0.95]. Twelve species of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi were isolated; the highest and the lowest number of species were aspergillus [50%] and fusarium [3.7%], respectively. The residual chlorine in fungal contamination between swimming pools was less than standard [P=0.014]. Although no parasites and free living amoebae were observed in Kashan's swimming pools, the prevalence of saprophytic and opportunistic fungi was relatively high. Such condition may be attributed to low concentration of residual chlorine, inadequate water treatment and water high temperature

rare presentation of rosai-dorfman syndrome: first reported case in Iran

A case of intracranial Rosai-Dorfman syndrome is presented that was initially diagnosed and treated as meningioma, and was complicated due to a wrong diagnosis of coexistent lung sarcoidosis. Intracranial lesions appeared as dura-based parasellar and anterior fossa enhanc-ing lesions on magnetic resonance images. Excellent result was obtained from whole brain radiotherapy, which can be used as a guideline for treating similar cases