Clinical and laboratory aspects of kerosene poisoning

Twenty seven patients intoxicated with kerosene and received in the Foison Control Centre, Ain Shams University, were studied. They were 16 males and 11 females. Their ages ranged between, 1-3 years, except one case was 17 years old. The mode of intoxication was accidental in most of the eases. The majority of the intoxicated patients were of the low social class and they consulted the Poison Control Centre mostly in the evening after 1-2 hours of intoxication Kerosene intoxicated children had significantly lower hemoglobin values than controls. The anemia was microcytic hypochromic. Leucocytosis was observed with significant elevation of the absolute numbers of all granular and mono-nuclear white cells and bands. Three patients presented with respiratory acidosis. All urine samples were negative for urobilinogen. Radiological evidence of pneumonia varied with the severity of the clinical manifestation and were limited to the dependent portions of the lungs

Vitamin D metabolism among Egyptian infants and children affected with beta thalassemia

Sixty-five patients suffering from beta-thalassemia major were studied [46 males and 19 females]. Their ages ranged between 6/12-12 years [mean 5.8 +/- 2.2 years]. Twenty-five children of comparable age, sex, and socioeconomic status were studied as controls. Patients were classified into newly diagnosed and long-standing, who were furtherly classified into cases without hyperspienism, cases with hypersplenism and splenectonized cases. Each patient was subjected to full history taking thorough clinical examination and determination of serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase both total and fractional isoenzymes [liver and bone], 25 [OH] vitamin D3 1, 25 [OH]2 vitamin D3 parathyroid hormone and urinary calcium excretion. Serum ca1cium was significantly decreased after splencctomy. Serum phosphorus was significantly decreased except in patients with hypersplenism who showed normal values. Parathyroid hormone was decreased after splenectomy. 25 [OH]2 VD3 showed high significant decrease except in patients with hypersplenism. 1, 25 [OH]2 VD, showed very high significant decrease in all patients. Calcium/creatinine ratio in urine showed a very high significant increase in all cases. It might be con eluded that follow up of the levels of serum Ca, P, 25 [OH] VD3 1, 25 [OH]2 VD3, and alkaline phosphatase should be carried out in all thalassemic patients for early supplementation with vitamin D to avoid any bone mineralization defect together with the regular follow up of parathyroid hormone level especially after splenectomy

Intestinal and urinary parasitosis in children with acute leukemia and lymphoma

The present study was conducted on 50 patients [37 with acute leukemia, 13 with lymphomas] attending the Hematology/Oncology Clinic, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University. Fifty normal children were studied as controls. Patients and controls were subjected to laboratory investigations including a complete hemogram, red cell indices, urine and stool analysis for parasites. The results of this study revealed that, 13 out of 50 [26%] patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma were positive for parasitic infection, while 15 out of 50 [30%] of the control subjects were positive. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Giardiasis was the commonest infection. It has been found in 16% of patients' group and 20% of controls. Among the patients' group, there was no correlation between the prevalence of parasitosis and the duration of therapy. As regards the hematological data, it has been found that, there was a statistically significant increase in RBCs count, Hb and Hct values in patients with acute leukemia and positive parasitosis than in those with negative parasitosis. Although there was a statistically significant increase in the absolute eosinophil count in controls with positive parasitosis than those with negative results, this finding was not observed in the patients group