ABSTRACT
Perceptions and practices of mothers regarding child feeding vary depending upon their education, socioeconomic and cultural background. The objective of current study was to see the perceptions and practices of nutrition in mothers of malnourished children. It was also aimed to ascertain malnutrition due to poverty versus ignorance. It was a retrospective study. A total 200 malnourished children from children OPD, aged 6 months to 3 years were included in this study. History was taken regarding breast feeding, weaning, ORS preparation and care of children. Physical examination was carried out to assess the nutritional status and grade of malnutrition. Weaning age at enrollment of 18 [9%] children was 4 months, 9 [4.5%] children was 5 months, 105 [52.5%] children was 6 months, 34 [17%] children was 7 months while weaning age of 34 [17%] children was 8 months. Children being inadequately fed on food were 178 [89%]. Hundred percent children had history of an illness in the past. One hundred and sixty three [81.5%] of the mothers had heard about ORS but did not know how to prepare it. Only37 [18.5%] of the mothers had full knowledge about preparation of ORS. It was concluded that poverty alone is not the only factor in causing malnutrition. Ignorance is an important factor in child malnutrition. Nutritional education should be given to the mothers to eradicate malnutrition in the children
ABSTRACT
Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis [PAM] is a rare disorder with only about 200 cases having been BEEN reporting worldwide. No effective treatment has been evolved as yet and the disease is fatal. Allendronate Sodium has been reported to he effective in some cases. However each dosage, duration of treatment and clinical parameters in evaluating the patient response are not specifically given in available literature. Aims and objectives of the current study were to see the effect of allendronate sodium on the treatment of PAM This is a prospective interventional study. Cases reporting to Medical OPD with symptoms of PAM were selected for study. Patients with shortness of breath, blue discoloration of lips and failure to thrive since childhood were included in the study. Twelve cases were initially short-listed with the suspician of PAM based on history, clinical examination and preliminary investigations including X-Ray chest. They were subjected to lung biopsy, CT scan and pulmonary function tests. Cases finally diagnosed as pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis were subjected to one year treatment with Allendronate Sodium. They had significant improvement clinically as well as in pulmonary function tests. However, there is no improvement in X-Ray of the chest