[Immunity against influenza type a among 4-14-years-old children in Kerman, Iran]

Background and Aims: Influenza viruses are important causes of mortality and morbidity in children. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of antibodies [IgG] against Influenza A in children in Kerman, Iran

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 200 children aged 4-14 years referred to Besaat Clinic and Afzalipour hospital for diseases other than influenza were enrolled. Sera were tested for anti influenza A IgG with NovaLisa ELISA kits [NOVATEC, Germany]

Results: Anti-Influenza virus A IgG was detected in 12% [24/200] of the sera. This group had the highest mean age [9.62 [7-12] years]. Among studied variables, only age was related to seropositivness for anti-Influenza A serotypes

Conclusion: The majority of children aged 4-14 years in Kerman had no immunity to Influenza A. So, they are at risk for influenza and its morbidity during possible epidemics of this infection

[Relative frequency of rotavirus gastroenteritis in children below 3 years old with acute gastroenteritis referred to afzalipour hospital in autumn 2008]

Diarrheal diseases are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in infants and toddlers in developing countries and Rotavirus is the single most important cause of severe infantile gastroenteritis worldwide. This study was conducted to estimate the frequency and clinical manifestations of rotavirus infection in children below 3 years old with acute gastroenteritis referred to Kerman Afzalipour Hospital in autumn 2008 in order to emphasize on infants' vaccination against rotavirus. In this study, 118 stool specimens were examined with Gel Electrophoresis for rotavirus. Children less than 3 years old who had gastroenteritis with duration of less than 2 weeks were included into the study. From 118 stool specimens, 24.6% [n=29] were positive for rotavirus. Mean age of children with rotavirus gastroenteritis was 14.4 months. Fifty percent of rotavirus infected children were male and 50% were female. Clinical manifestations of rotavirus infections were fever [65/5%], vomiting [65.5%], rinorrhea [24.1%], mild dehydration [46.4%], moderate dehydration [35.7%] and serve dehydration [17.9%]. From all, 51.7% of children with rotavirus gastroenteritis were discharged, 17.3% were admitted in the Emergency room and 31% were hospitalized in the pediatric ward. Rotavirus is a major cause of acute dehydrating gastroenteritis in children in our region. A considerable percent of these children need primary care, visit in emergency room and admission in pediatric ward. Therefore, further studies to pursue the cost effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine comparing to direct and indirect expenses caused by rotavirus gastroenteritis seems to be necessary

[Seroepidemiology of human cytomegalovirus in pregnant women and their neonates in kerman city during 2005]

Human Cytomegalovirus [HCMV] or Human Herpes Virus Type-5[HHV-5] is a member of herpesviridae placed in subtype beta herpesvirinae. CMV is a ubiquitous pathogenic virus and can infect humans all through their life. Prevalence of CMV infection in developed countries is about 45% and in developing countries it varies up to 100%. CMV infection during pregnancy is very important, because it can threat life of both mother and her fetus, and it can cause congenital defects. Maternal infection is a determining factor in neonatal infection. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate of CMV infection as well as the relationship between underlying factors of this infection in women and their neonates in Kerman. ELISA technique and Diagnostic Kits [EIA WELL, Rome, Italy] were used to determine the seroprevalence of 794 samples [397 maternal, 397 neonatal] collected from 5 delivery centers in Kerman. The frequency distributions of maternal primary infection, secondary infection, immune mothers and seronegative cases were respectively 0.76% [3 cases], 32.24% [128 cases], 59.7% [237 cases] and 7.3% [29 cases]. Seroprevalence rate for CMV-IgG and CMV-IgM of mothers were respectively, 33.8% [134 cases] and 91.94% [365 cases]. No significant relationship was found between CMV infection and factors of mother's age and occupation, husband's occupation, number of children, parity, family income, previous history of abortion, pervious history of blood transfusion and organ transplant, febrile disease during pregnancy and place of residency; however, mother's educational level showed a significant relation [P=0.38]. Due to high prevalence rate of CMV found in this study, further studies about the diagnosis, epidemiology and detection of CMV primary infections in mothers and their neonates, are highly recommended

[ study on the immunity level of 5-25 years old population of Baft and Kahnooj districts [Kerman, Iran] before and after M.R. vaccination mass campaign in 2003]

Measles Involves 45 millions and Kills 1.1 Millions in the World Annually. In Iran before mass campaign, the incidence rate of measles had increased dramatically. This study was done on 5-25 years old individuals in Baft and Kahnooj districts in order to compare their Immunity level, against measles, after and before the national mass campaign for M.R. vaccination [2003]. In this study, blood sampling was done twice. The first four weeks before and the other four weeks after mass campaign. Total number of cases were 1089, of whom 552 cases before and 537 cases after mass campaign were tested by E.nzygnost-Anti Measles Virus IgG Kit. In addition, demographic data such as sex, age, place of residency and history of vaccination were collected through a questionnaire. According to the results mass campaign vaccination was considerably effective and increased seropositive cases from 42.6 percent to 100%. Before mass campaign, the level of seropositive cases among four age groups of 5-9, 10-14, 15-19 and 20-25 years were 46%,46%,41.7%, and 34.1% respectively. In regard to sex, before mass campaign, 46.4% of males and 34.3% of females had seropositive responses. In Baft district 54.5% and in Kahnooj district 31.3% were seropositive. In urban areas 47.1% and in rural areas 32.6% of cases had seropositive responses. All mentioned rates, increased to 100% after Mass campaign. According to the results, before M.R. mass compaign immunity had reverse relation with age and M.R. mass campaign was significantly effective in rising the immunity to a favorite level [from 42.6% to 100%]