Effect of low-level environmental lead exposure intellectual functions of children of EI-Minia city, EI-Minia Governorate, Egypt

Lead [Pb] is a confirmed neurotoxin. Clear adverse effects of blood Pb level [BLL] >/= 10 microg/dl have been documented in children, but questions remain about Pb-associated intellectual disorders at these BLL and whether lower exposures are associated with greater disorders. To study the intellectual functions associated with environmental low-level Pb exposure in children of the villages of the east coast of the River Nile of EI-Minia city that located nearby EI-Minia industrial area. This study was conducted at Suzan Mubarak Hospital, EI-Minia University during the period from 1[th] August, 2008 to the 31[st] of July, 2010. It included 120 children aged 7-9 from the nearest 2 villages to EI-Minia industrial area [60 children each] namely, EI-Newayrat and AI-Shorafaa, and 60 children from Talla, a village located to the west of EI-Minia city far away from EI-Minia industrial area, as a control group. For all patients, BLL had been estimated, and intellectual functions has been evaluated using Wechsler's Intelligence Scale for Children, 3[rd] ed. BLL of children of EI-Newayrat and AI-Shorafaa were significantly increased when compared to that of Talla children with higher affection reported with EI-Newayrat. The outcome of Wechsler's Intelligence Scale revealed a significant reduction of verbal, performance and full scale IQs in EI-Newayrat and AI-Shorafaa when compared to Talla with higher affection reported with EI-Newayrat, with a strong negative correlation to BLL of 5-10 microg/dl. It could not be estimated that every microg/dl increase in BLL was accompanied by a fixed lowered score. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females regarding the BLL and Wechsler's Intelligence Scale scores. in conclusion, Low-level Pb exposure in children of the villages of the east coast of the River Nile of in EI-Minia city that located nearby EI-Minia industrial area was accompanied with intellectual function impairment which is not associated with sex and reported to be nonlinear relationship. It is advised to perform a national study to evaluate how big the problem is and to put Pb-toxicity in the list of the national health problems

study of the effect of low-level environmental lead exposure on the intellectual functions of children of El Minia city, El Minia governorate, Egypt

Lead [Pb] is a confirmed neurotoxin. Clear adverse effects of blood Pb level [BLL] >/= 10 micro g/dl have been documented in children, but questions remain about Pb-associated intellectual disorders at these BLL and whether lower exposures are associated with great disorders. The study aim to study the intellectual functions associated with environmental low-level Pb exposure in children of the villages of the east coast of the River Nile of El-Minia city that located nearby El-Minia industrial area. This study was conducted at Suzan Mubarak Hospital, El-Minia University during the period from 1st August, 2008 to the 31st of July, 2010. It included 120 children aged 7-9 years from the nearest 2 villages to El-Minia industrial area [60 children each] namely, El-Newayrat and Al-Shorafaa, and 60 children from Talla, a village located to the west of El-Minia city far away from El-Minia industrial area, as a control group. For all patients, BLL had been estimated, and intellectual functions have been evaluated using Wechsler's Intelligence Scale for Children, 3[rd] ed. BLL of children of El-Newayrat and Al-Shorafaa were significantly increased when compared to that of TalIa children with higher affection reported with El-Newayrat. The outcome of Wechsler's Intelligence Scale revealed a significant reduction of verbal, performance and full scale IQs in El-Newayrat and Al-Shorafaa when compared to Talla with higher affection reported with El-Newayrat, with a strong negative correlation to BLL of 5-10 micro g/dl. It could not be estimated that every 1 micro g/dl increase in BLL was accompanied by a fixed lowered score. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females regarding the BLL and Wechsler's Intelligence Scale scores. Low-level Pb exposure in children of the villages of the east coast of the River Nile of El-Minia city that is located nearby El Minia industrial area was accompanied with intellectual function impairment which is reported to be nonlinear relationship between BLL and intellectual functions impairment. It is advised to perform a national study to evaluate how big the problem is and to put Pb-toxicity in the list of the national health problems

Infantile colic and EEG changes

Infantile colic is one of the most common problems in the first few months of life affecting up to 20% of newborns and young infants. It is unclear exactly the aetio-pathogenesis of this condition with unsatisfactory response to different modalities of therapy. We had studied the EEG changes occurring in colicky infants, comparing them with normal healthy non-colicky infants. This study was performed upon 50 infants attending Pediatric department, El-Minia University hospital as a case group according to Wassel's criteria and 25 healthy non colicky infants with normal growth and development who were age and sex matched as a control group. An EEG was done at the onset of presentation and repeated again six months later to all infants. Data were analyzed wit h Pearson Chi-Square and Fisher tests. There was a significant difference between the two groups as regarding EEG changes with significant abnormal EEG changes in colicky infants [p=0.007] before three months of age, but no significant difference between the two groups was present six months later. Significant positive correlations was found between these abnormal EEG changes and shaking baby vigorously during first two weeks of life [p=0.0001, t=9.9]. Most colicky infants were males [56% Vs 44% females],with the first baby was the mostly affected [80% of cases] but no significant statistical difference was present as regarding mode of delivery or maternal age. Infants complaining of infantile colic [according to Wassel's criteria] had abnormal EEG changes as compared to non colicky infants before three months of age. More studies are needed to know if these abnormal changes have a role in aetio-pathogenesis of infantile colic or they occur as consequence of the cause of colic