Knowledge and practices of mothers regarding acute respiratory infection in children under 5 years of age in Urban Slums of Multan

Acute Respiratory Infection [ARI] is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years of age in developing countries. The knowledge of mothers regarding ARI is inadequate which leads to delayed care seeking and other factors contributing to high mortality. To determine the Knowledge and Practices of mothers regarding Acute Respiratory Infection. Cross-sectional descriptive study. Urban slums of Multan, from April 2010 to March 2011. A semi-structured questionnaire proforma was used to interview 500 mothers selected by stratified random sampling technique from urban slums of Multan. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Mother's description of the causes of ARI in children was mostly exposures to "Thand" [cold], after bathing, sour and cold foods. Mothers also had inadequate knowledge of severity of symptoms of ARI including pneumonia. About 44% showed prompt care seeking response within 24 hours of ARI and rest [55.8%] showed delayed response to health care seeking. Thirty three percent mothers preferred private doctors to get treatment, 27.2% favored to go to the public sector, and the rest did home remedy i.e. Tea, Honey, Vicks rub and Warm wrapping. The reasonable majority of mothers [58%] did self medication in their children suffering from ARI. Mothers living in urban slums in Multan have insufficient knowledge and inappropriate health care seeking practices regarding management of ARI in their children

[Effect of zinc and selenium supplementation on serum testosterone and plasma lactate in cyclists after one bout of exhaustive exercise]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate how exhaustion exercise affects testosterone levels and plasma lactates in road cyclists supplemented with oral zinc and selenium for 4 weeks

Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male road cyclists volunteers, were selected from the Tehran Traffic team, and based on BMI were divided into three groups; the selenium, zinc, and controls. The status of zinc and selenium in subjects was assessed at baseline. After 4 weeks of supplementation free, total testosterone, and lactate levels of all subjects were determined before and after exercise. Data was analyzed according to repeated measures ANOVA, and the Bonfferoni post hoc test, with a significance level of P<0.05

Results: Resting total, free testosterone, and lactate levels did not differ significantly between groups, and were increased by exercise [P>0.05]. Total testosterone levels in the Zn group were higher than in the Se group after exercise [P<0.05]. Free testosterone levels in the Zn group were higher than the other groups [P<0.05]. There was an insignificant difference between levels of lactate in the three groups after exercise [P>0.05]

Conclusion: According to this study, 4-week selenium and zinc supplementation had no significant effect on testosterone or lactate levels of subjects who had a zinc and selenium sufficient diet. Zinc supplementation increased levels of total testosterone in contrast with selenium group, and also increased free testosterone versus the other groups, whereas there was no change in the levels of lactate in the three groups post-test

Knowledge, attitude and practice - regarding EPI among parents attending paediatric outdoor, Nishtar hospital Multan

To assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice regarding Expanded Programme of Immunization [EPI] among parents attending Paediatric Department, Nishtar Hospital, Multan. Cross sectional descriptive study. This study was carried out among the parents attending Paediatric medicine and Paediatric Surgery out patients Departments, Nishtar Hospital, Multan for the treatment of their children during the month of September 2011. Two hundred and sixty parents were selected by convenient sampling and surveyed with a self reported questionnaire comprising of questions regarding knowledge attitude and practice about EPI. Data gathered was analyzed and results were obtained to make table. Among 260 parents interviewed, 40 [15.4%] were male and 220 [84.6%] were female. 258 [99.2%] had knowledge about EPI and only 2 [0.8%] had not. According to 242 [93.1%] EPI was beneficial, while 18 [6.9%] thought it to be non beneficial. Children of 197 [75%] parents were fully immunized. 40 [15.38%] were partially immunized and 25 [9.62%] were not immunized at all. 158 [60.8%] parents were educated and 102 [39.2%] were illiterate. Out of 260 parents 214 [82.3%] reported fever/ rash/ itching as a result of vaccination, while 46 [17.7%] were not. Majority of the parents belong to middle class i.e. 137 [52.7%] while 46 [17.7%] rich class and 77 [29.6%] of the lower class. We conclude that there is a significant difference in the knowledge of the parents. Majority of the parents had awareness about EPI. Middle class has greater attitude to get immunized their children as compared to poor and rich class. Our study demonstrates the importance of education in the practice of vaccination of the children

Etiology and outcome of thrombocytopenia in sick neonates

Enlist risk factors of thrombocytopenia in sick neonates and determine the outcome in sick neonates with thrombocytopenia in relation to risks factors. This descriptive case series study was conducted for a period of 6 months from 2007 to August 2007 in Pediatric Unit-TI, Nishtar Hospital, Multan. A total of 100 sick neonates with thrombocytopenia were included in the study. Neonates with different risks factors were evaluated which were of neonatal infection, birth asphyxia, prematurity, RDS, NEC and others [jaundice, infant of diabetic mother]. Among 100 cases with thrombocytopenia [platelets count< 150,000/ul] were included in this study, Out of 100 cases 35 [35%] were found to have early onset thrombocytopenia and 65cases [65%] were found to have late onset thrombocytopenia. Out of 100 cases, 43 cases were neonatal infection with thrombocytopenia, 23 [67.4%] were with early onset sepsis and 20 cases [46.5%] were late onset sepsis. Out of 100 cases, 17 [17%] cases were of birth asphyxia,11 cases were prematurity with birth weight <2.5 kg and gestational age <37 weeks, 6 cases of prematurity [54.5%] were with hemorrhage skin manifestation and remaining were occult mild thrombocytopenia, 20 cases of RDS with thrombocytopenia, 5 cases with NEC with thrombocytopenia and 4 cases with mild thrombocytopenia. The common manifestations in thrombocytopenic cases were petechiae and bruises followed by gastrointestinal hemorrhages. The leading causes of thrombocytopenia in sick neonates are infections, asphyxia, prematurity, RDS, NEC. Apart from the platelets counts the bleeding manifestations also depend upon underlying ailments