A Study of Early Neonatal Deaths at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital.

Introduction: Over 9 million deaths occur each year in the perinatal and neonatal periods globally. 98% of these deaths take place in the developing world. Nepal has a high neonatal mortality rate (NMR) of 38.6 per 1000 live births (2001). Two thirds of the newborn deaths usually occur in the first week of life (early neonatal death). Newborn survival has become an important issue to improve the overall health status and for achieving the millennium developmental goals of a developing country like Nepal. Aims and Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the causes of early neonatal deaths (ENND) at KMCTH in the two-year period from November 2003 to October2005 (Kartik 2060 B.S. to Ashoj 2062). Methodology: This is a prospective study of all the early neonatal deaths in KMCTH during the two-year study period. Details of each early neonatal death were filled in the standard perinatal death audit forms of the Department. Results: Out of the 1517 total births in the two-year period, there were 10 early neonatal deaths (ENND). Early neonatal death rate during the study period was 6.7 per 1000 live births and early neonatal death rate (excluding less than 1 kg) was 6.1 per 1000 live births The important causes of early neonatal deaths were extreme prematurity, birth asphyxia, congenital anomalies and septicaemia. During the study period, there was no survival of babies with a birth weight of less than 1 kg. Among the maternal characteristics, 80% of the mothers of early neonatal deaths were aged between 20-35 years. 50% of the mothers were primigravida. 50% of the mothers of ENNDs had delivered their babies by caesarean section. Discussion: Most of the early neonatal deaths were due to extreme prematurity. Birth asphyxia was the second most important cause of early neonatal deaths. 70% of ENNDs were among LBW babies. Prevention of premature delivery, proper management of very low birth weight babies and early detection and appropriate management of perinatal hypoxia have become important interventional strategies in reducing early neonatal deaths in KMCTH. Conclusion: Early neonatal mortality at KMCTH is fairly low. Good care during pregnancy, labour and after the birth of the baby has helped to achieve these results. Low cost locally made equipments were used to manage the sick newborns. Reduction of early neonatal deaths require more intensive care including use of ventilators, surfactant and parenteral nutrition and prevention of preterm births.

Hemoglobin status in children in the age group 6 to 60 months.

Objective of this study was to see the prevalence rate of anemia in children among the age of 6-60 months who attended paediatric out patient department of Kathmandu Medical College. 100 children aged 6-60 months were randomly selected for hemoglobin measurement and anthropometry. Detailed clinical examination including anthropometry was done. Hemoglobin was checked by Hemocue machine with prior consent from the attendant. Mean height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Forty six percent of the study group population had hemoglobin <11 gm/dl, similar numbers of the children were in the various state of malnutrition. Twenty eight percent of the children came from outside of the valley residing in Kathmandu. Fifty percent were illiterate or had primary level education only. Poverty, high rate of illiteracy and lack of awareness on taking appropriate food were important factors related to such a high childhood anemia. Iron supplementation should be given to the children particularly in the age group of 6 months to 3 years.

A study of therapeutic effect of the growth of children with hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVES: This study was done to see the therapeutic effect of the growth of children who was diagnosed as hypothyroidism. METHODS: Thirty-four children with primary hypothyroidism were included in this study. Height, weight and head circumference were measured at initial diagnosis and at every follow up visit. Thyroid function was done. The value was interpreted as abnormal if the range was above or below the normal (T3=70-200 u/L, T4=4-13 u/L, TSH=0.3-6 u/L). X-ray to see the bone age for the chronological age was performed. The value was interpreted as abnormal if the ossification center for the chronological age in inappropriate. Treatment was started with Eltroxine from the day of diagnosis. Dose was adjusted according to the response to the medicine. T3, T4 and TSH level was taken as the guideline to adjust the dose of the drug. X-ray was considered in the follow up where it was indicated. RESULT: Marked improvement in the anthropometry was seen in comparison to the initial assessment which was well correlated with the normalization of the TSH level and the x-ray of the bone. CONCLUSION: Serial follow up of these patients was necessary in order to assess the growth in height, weight and head circumference along with the repeated thyroid function to correlate the response of the drug.

Morbidity pattern of children with asthma: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the morbidity pattern of asthma in children attending the paediatric asthma follow-up clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Longitudinal prospective follow up of hundred and four patients, diagnosed as asthma, over a period of 2 years was done. Regular follow up by the same person during each visit and proper supervision of standard treatment along with parental education regarding the asthma, was done. RESULTS: The mean age of children presenting with asthma was 6.7 years. Majority of children 49 (47.5%) were graded as mild persistent asthma. Fifty nine (56.7%) children were missing school more than 7 days per month. Family history was present in forty one percent of the children. Fifty seven (54.8%) children were taking significant amount of junk food and were undernourished. Significant reduction in school-missing days and Emergency Room visits was noted in these children during the follow up period. CONCLUSION: Awareness of disease is an important aspect of asthma management. Proper treatment and follow up with emotional support and education of the care taker, about the asthma, can reduce the morbidity pattern of asthma in children.

Kala-azar (visceral Leishmaniasis) from Khotang.

Kala-azar is a chronic infection of reticuloendothelial system caused by flagellated protozoan, leishmania donovani injected into human host by the bite of the sand fly (phlebotomous) previously infected by biting and sucking the blood of a patient of leishmaniasis. It is characterized by irregular fever of long duration, large spleen and liver, anaemia, leucopenia and progressive emaciation. This article reports a case of a 10 year old girl from Khotang, a nonendemic zone for Kala-azar, who presented with long history of abdominal distension for 11 months, fever for 9 months, cough for a week and weight loss. Clinical examination revealed pallor, enlarged liver and huge splenomegaly. Investigations confirmed the diagnosis of kala-azar by the presence of L.D bodies in bone marrow smear. The patient is being treated with i.v Amphotericin B in Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku.

Clinical profile and antibiotics response in typhoid fever.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical profile and drug response in typhoid fever. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of paediatric patients suffering from typhoid fever who were admitted at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Sinamangal during the period of two years and nine months. RESULTS: Total numbers of 100 cases of typhoid were studied. Diagnosis of Typhoid fever was based on clinical features, Widal test and blood culture. The sensitivity pattern of drugs in blood culture was recorded. The mode of presentation, treatment history, laboratory investigations reports, antibiotics administered and response to therapy were recorded. CONCLUSION: Quinolone is still the highly sensitive drug and most widely used for Salmonella typhi. Because of the indiscriminate use of these drugs, resistant to ciprofloxacin has been quite high and the duration of the defeverscence period has also been prolonged. But Ofloxacin is still showed highly effective and widely used with good response.

Hereditary spherocytosis.

Hereditary spherocytosis is a congenital haemolytic anaemia due to defect in spectrin-a RBC membrane protein and is transmitted as autosomal dominant. Due to this defect there is presence of characteristic spherical cell in peripheral blood smear and osmotic fragility is increased. Haemolytic anaemia, reticulocytosis, jaundice and splenomegaly are present. This article reports a case of a 9 year old boy who presented with a history of prolonged jaundice since the age of 4 years and recurrent pain in the right upper quadrant of abdomen. Clinical examination revealed jaundice, enlarged liver and marked splenomegaly. Investigations confirmed the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis by the presence of spherocytes in blood smear, raised reticulocytes and increased osmotic fragility. The patient was subjected to splenectomy after vaccination against coccobacillus and was discharged after proper advice and on post splenectomy antibiotic prophylaxis.

Reye's syndrome.

Five and half years male child with one day history of pain abdomen and vomiting who was on aspirin for suspected rheumatoid arthritis presented initially with acute gastritis. Next day, however he developed the signs of encephalopathy with altered liver function.