Assessment of mass level public awareness campaigns regarding dengue among parents visiting tertiary care children hospital Karachi, Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of mass level public awareness campaigns regarding dengue fever among parents visiting tertiary care children hospital Karachi

METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted among parents visiting medical outpatient department at National Institute of Child Health, Karachi from 1st January to 31[st] December, 2014. Total of 400 respondents were interviewed using simple random sampling technique. Pre coded semi structured proforma consisting of dengue specific symptoms and safety measures were used. After interview, every individual was educated regarding preventive and safety measures against dengue fever

RESULTS: Out of 400 respondent, 68% [n=272] were males and 32% [n=128] females. Almost 98% [n=392] knew that dengue fever is caused by mosquito bite. More than two-third of study participants were not aware about dengue specific symptoms. Awareness regarding retroorbital pain was reported by 1% only. Use of anti mosquito mats, coil and other repellants was reported by 88%. Use of mosquito nets was only 3.5%. Electronic media was the major [89%] source of information regarding preventive measures of dengue in our study population

CONCLUSION: It is concluded that awareness of target population about dengue specific symptoms and effective preventive measures remains very low. It suggests to revisit the existing awareness related interventional strategies at public level with contextual relevance to enhance overall impact from preventive aspect

experience of oral acyclovir in treating children with varicella infection

To study the morbidity and complications of varicella infection in patients treated with acyclovir. It is a descriptive observational study conducted at Paediatric out patient department of Civil Hospital Karachi during September 1997 to March 1998. Alt children between the ages of 2-15 years presenting with clinical features of varicella but healthy otherwise and of average weight, and presenting within 72 hours of the onset of rash were treated with oral acyclovir in a dose of 80 mg/ kg/ day for five days. At the end of five days the patients were evaluated for the duration of illness, severity of rash and itch and development of complications. The patients were also assessed for the side effects of the drug. Cost of the treatment was also calculated. A total of 31 children, 15 mate and 16 females were studied. After the treatment the fever remained for 1- 8 days [mean 3.12 days]. Eighteen [58%] patients had a moderate rash. Six [19.3%] had a severe rash while in seven [22%] the rash was of mild nature. Twenty [64.5%] of the patients had a moderate itch while five patients each [16.1%] had mild and severe itch. New rash continued to appear for three to nine days [mean 3.3 days]. Complications were noted in three [6.9%] patients' only and included otitis media, pneumonia and secondary bacterial infection of vesicular lesions in one patient each. None of the patients developed any side effects to the drug. The average cost of treatment was Rs.3269/=. Use of oral acyclovir in varicella infection [chicken pox] seems to limit new rash formation and total duration of illness to an average of

association of Plasmodium vivax malaria with thrombocytopenia in febrile children

Plasmodium vivax infection has always been considered much less severe than Plasmodium falciparum and usually not associated with complications. Recently it was observed that many patients with malaria due to Plasmodium vivax also develop thrombocytopenia and other complications, once considered to be the exclusively due to Plasmodium falciparum. We carried out this study in order to find out the association of Plasmodium vivax with thrombocytopenia and to determine the presence of malaria in admitted cases of thrombocytopenia with febrile illness. This study was carried out at the pediatric ward of the Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital Karachi from Aug 2006 to Dec 2006. All patients in the age group of 1 month - 15 years and admitted in the pediatric ward with febrile illness were checked for thrombocytopenia. All study cases were also screened for the presence of malarial parasites in the thick and thin blood films and by immunochromatography [ICT]. Patients with malarial parasitemia and thrombocytopenia were included in the study. The data was then analyzed and conclusions drawn. 18/36 study cases [50%] were found to have malarial parasites in blood. 13/18 cases [72%] of malaria had thrombocytopenia and were infected with P.vivax while 2/18 cases [11%] were infected with Pl. falciparum. Six patients with malarial parasitemia showed normal platelet counts, 4 cases were due to Pl. falciparum. Platelet count was

comparative study of red cell folate and serum folate levels in patients on regular Hemodialysis

Sixty subjects were selected and were divided into two groups. Group A included 30 patients of end stage renal disease on regular dialysis and group B included 30 normal healthy subjects as control. Absolute values and Hb were done by hematology auto analyzer and serum and red cell folate were done by commercially available kits. Results were analyzed by using Student`s `t` test and level of significance was done. A significant decreased in serum and red cell folate in end stage renal disease patients with regular dialysis as compared to control