Laryngeal cancer: sociodemographic, life style and clinical risk factors among patients underwent total laryngectomy

Laryngeal cancer [LC] is an important health problem. It is one of the most common respiratory cancers. The prevalence of this cancer is increasing all over the world. The aim of the present study is to determine the clinical features of the laryngeal cancer patients underwent total laryngectomty [TL]; to define the characteristic features of surgery in these patients; and to define the life style, health behavioral, sociodemographic and clinical risk factors of the patients. A total of 90 laryngeal cancer patients and a control group of the same number were enrolled in the study. A case-control, hospital based study design was used. The most important clinical features of the studied laryngeal cancer cases underwent TL were; most lesions site was glottis [56.7%], presented with hoarseness of voice [85.6%] and most of the patients were in stage III [63.3%]. Also, the most important characteristics of the surgery in these cases were 64.4% had TL and primary tracheoesophageal puncture, 88.9% underwent thyroidectomy and 25.6% had preoperative tracheostomy. The +ve reflux symptoms index was significant clinical risk factor [OR=6.77]. Factory worker occupation was significant risk factor [OR=4.65]. The most important sociodemographic risk factors for laryngeal cancer were male sex, urban residence, old age, low social level and low occupational level [ORs= 52.59, 2.43, 2.43, 1.99 and 1.97; respectively]. Further, the most important significant health behavioral risk factors were cigarette smoking, goza smoking and no healthy food intake [ORs= 4.44, 4.25 and 2.74; respectively]. Population based studies are needed in different areas in Egypt and on large numbers of patients to understand the full epidemiology of the laryngeal cancer and quality of life of these patients

Laryngeal cancer:quality of life among patients underwent total laryngectomy

Laryngeal cancer is an important health problem causing negative effects on patients' quality of life [QOL]. The aim of this research is to study QOL of the patients with laryngeal cancer who underwent TL, laryngectomees, and to study impact of early speech restoration on QOL of these patients. A case-control, hospital-based study design was used. A total number of 90 laryngectomees and a control group of the same number were enrolled in this research. The laryngectomees had a significantly poorer self-reported health-related QOL domain scores than the controls on all eight Short Form [SF]-36 domains [P=0.000]. Also, the laryngectomees with primary/secondary tracheoesophageal puncture [TEP] had significantly poorer self-reported health-related QOL domain scores than the controls on all eight SF-36 domains [P=0.000]. Further, patients with primary TEP had significantly higher self-reported health-related QOL domain scores than the patients with secondary TEP on the social functioning, emotional limitation and mental health domain scores of SF-36 QOL with statistically significant differences [P=0.003, 0.006 and 0.019; respectively]. Voice restoration is an important essentiality for the laryngectomees. Primary TEP is preferred over secondary TEP. More studies are needed on large number of patients to understand the impact of the laryngeal cancer and consequent of its therapy on QOL of these patients on short and long term

Prevalence, risk factors and impacts of schistosomal and intestinal parasitic infections among rural school children in Sohag governorate

Parasitic diseases represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood in most parts of the world. Hygiene and play habits make children especially vulnerable to schistosomal and parasitic infections. The aim of this study is to define the prevalence of different types of parasitic infections, to define their risk factors and to determine their impacts on health and scholastic absenteeism and achievement of rural school students in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. A cross-section, analytical study design was chosen to perform this research on 960 rural school students. All the students were interviewed and examined clinically and laboratory. The study showed that 38.5% of the students were infected by parasites. Entaemoeba histolytica, Enterobius vermicularis and Giardia lamblia had the highest percentages, 20.4%, 16.6% and 15.2%, respectively. Male sex, last birth order, poor personal hygiene, low socioeconomic level, >/=3 infected siblings, previous parasitic infections and no early consultation for therapy were important risk factors [ORs=1.41, 2.32, 2.63, 2.86, 4.17, 9.80 and 10.83, respectively]. Also, 29.2% and 31.6% of infected students were below the 5th percentiles as regard weight-for-age and height-for-age, respectively. Anemia was present among 52.4% of infected students. Further, 3.2% of them had hepatomegaly. Also, 37.8% and 41.1% of infected students had 0-3 and 4-6 days/month absent, respectively, while, 34.3% of infected students had a scholastic achievement <50.0%. Improving personal and environmental hygiene and regular screening, treatment and health education for students as regard parasitic infections in Egypt is recommended