ABSTRACT
Objective: To find out frequency of various complications in children admitted with Enteric Fever at a tertiary care hospital
Methods: This was prospective cross sectional study, carried out in the Pediatric Medicine department of The Children's Hospital Lahore from Dec 2014 to March 2017. Children of both genders with age range of 6 months to 16 years diagnosed as enteric fever on the basis of clinical features and positive Typhidot, or blood culture were included in the study. All 180 patients were scrutinized for all possible complications. Where ever required and feasible appropriate and relevant investigations were done to document complications. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 20
Results: Mean age of children was 7.2+/-3.38, majority 94 [52.2 percent] were 5-10 years old. Out of 180 patients, complications were noted in 58 [32.2 percent]. Neurological complications 30.7 percent encompassed maximum complications followed by hepatobiliary 24.61 percent, abdominal 16.92 percent hematological 9.23 percent, bone and joints 7.69 percent, respiratory system 6.1 percent and cardiovascular system 4.41 percent. Mortality rate was 1.6 percent. Thrombocytopenia and leucopenia were significantly associated with complications with p value of 0.002 and 0.003 respectively
Conclusion: Enteric fever is causing our children to suffer by its numerous perplexing and fatal complications. The most vulnerable age for enteric fever and its complication is 5-10 years. To combat these issues large scale vaccination remains promising option at least in most susceptible age group
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the impact of maternal education, employment, and family size on nutritional status of children
Methods: It was case control study conducted at OPD of children Hospital Lahore, from September 2015 to April 2017. Total 340 children [170 cases and 170 controls] with age range of six months to five years along with their mothers were included. Anthropometric measurements were plotted against WHO growth Charts. 170 wasted [<-2 SD] were matched with 170 controls [>/= -2 SD]. Maternal education, employment and family size were compared between the cases and control. Confounding variables noted and dichotomized. Univariate analysis was carried out for factors under consideration i.e.; Maternal Education, employment and family size to study the association of each factor. Logistic regression analysis was applied to study the independent association
Results: Maternal education had significant association with growth parameters; OR of 1.32 with confidence interval of [CI= 1.1 to 1.623]. Employment status of mothers had OR of 1.132 with insignificant confidence interval of [CI=0.725 to 1.768]. Family size had OR of one with insignificant confidence interval [CI=0.8 -1.21]. Association remained same after applying bivariate logistic regression analysis
Conclusion: Maternal education has definite and significant effect on nutritional status of children. This is the key factor to be addressed for prevention or improvement of childhood malnutrition. For this it is imperative to launch sustainable programs at national and regional level to uplift women educational status to combat this ever increasing burden of malnutrition
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the disease pattern, etiological agents and outcome of childhood acute bacterial meningitis. Study Design: A descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatric Medicine. The Children's Hospital. Lahore, from January to December 2012
Methodology: A total of 199 children between the ages of 1 month and 5 years, admitted with the diagnosis of meningitis on the basis of clinical findings and positive cerebrospinal fluid [CSF], were included. In all patients, complete blood count [CBC], CSF culture sensitivity, and blood culture sensitivity were performed. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20
Results: Out of 199 children. 127 [63.8%] were males with M:F ratio of 1.7:1. Mean age was 11.33 +/-12 months. Maximum numbers of children were < 1 year of age, 136 [68.3%]. Only 90 [45.2%] children were fully vaccinated according to Expanded Program of Immunisation [EPI] schedule. Presentations with refusal to take feed [p=0.008] and with impaired conscious state were independent predictors of death [p=0002]. Complications were noted in 34 [17%] and were significantly associated with severe malnutrition [p=0.006] and altered conscious level at presentation [p<0.001]. The common pathogens identified on CSF culture were coagulase negative staphylococci [CoNS] in 11 [5.5%] and streptococcus pneumoniae in 5 [2 5%]. Overall mortality was 10.1%. The commonest pathogen isolated from children who died was streptococcus pneumoniae [p=0.039]
Conclusion: Acute bacterial meningitis mostly affected children under the age of 1 year. CSF culture revealed both Gram- positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The most common pathogen in children who died was streptococcus pneumoniae