Multi-detector computed tomography and virtual bronchoscopy in children: uses and values over fibro-optic bronchoscopy

In the last 30 years, flexible Fibro-optic bronchoscopy has become a major tool for evaluating respiratory disorders in children. Nowadays different imaging modalities for pediatric rachea-bronchial lesions have vastly improved. To identify some potential clinical indications and advantages of Multi-detector Computed Tomography and Virtual Bronchoscopy over Fibro-optic Bronchoscopy in pediatric age group. 25 patients were included in this study 16 males and 9 females, mean age was [25.8 months] suffering from acute or chronic unexplained respiratory symptoms. They subjected to both Multi-detector Computed Tomography and Virtual Bronchoscopy and Fibro-optic Bronchoscopy. This comparative study showed that sensitivity of Multi-detector Computed Tomography and Virtual Bronchoscopy was 63-15% with positive predictive value of 80%, It is sensitive to detect external compression rather than airway malacia. It was sensitive to detect intra luminal obstruction without identifying the pathology which could be more determined by Fibro-optic Bronchoscopy. MDC T- VB may be considered a novel technique for noninvasive evaluation of the tracheobronchial tree in children especially in patients who were not suitable for Fibro-optic Bronchoscopy

Typhoid carriers among children in Sohag

Typhoid fever is still a major public health problem around the world especially in developing countries. In endemic areas, children aged 1-5 years are at the highest risk of infection. Between 1% and 5% of patients with acute typhoid infection have been reported to become chronic carriers, depending on age, sex and treatment regimen. In this work we study the prevalence of chronic typhoid carriers among children in Sohag. Five hundred children between 2-14 years [421 males and 79 females] attending outpatients pediatrics' clinic at Sohag University Hospital were examined for the existence of typhoid bacilli in their urine and stool. This study showed that typhoid bacilli were found in 18.7% stools and 3.1% were urinary carriers. Only 34.7% of the stool carriers had definite history of typhoid and 12.3% in the urinary carriers. The highest percentage of carriers was found at age above 12 years [40.2%]. Chronic stool and urinary carriers were more in rural than in urban areas. This high percentage was associated with bad water supply and poor hygienic measures. Symptoms suggesting typhoid fever were present in 58.6% of stool carriers and 18.2% in urinary carriers. Chronic typhoid carriers are present in considerable percentage of children in Sohag, and this was associated with bad water supply and bad hygiene especially in rural areas

Bronchial asthma among school students of Sohag district

Respiratory system diseases are common among school students but there were no previous community based studies conducted to show the prevalence of bronchial asthma among school students in sohag governorate, also for the assessment of the school classroom environment affecting those diseased students. A cross sectional study was done and randomly chosen classroom from each school from the 50 sampled schools was selected. This study in 2408 students from different grades who completed a prepaired questionnaire and went thorough history taking, physical examination and pulmonary function test for suspicious cases for bronchial asthma with special interest to FEV1 improvement of more than 15% after inhaled sulbutamol. Prevalence of bronchial asthma was [4.81%]; [3.40%] in urban schools and [1.41%] in rural schools with statistically highly significant difference between urban and rural [P<0.001 and 0.002 respectively]. The mean classroom density was [44.6 students per classroom]. About the classroom ventilation, windows area constitutes >/= 1/4-1/5 of the classroom area in [90%] of the schools; [95%] of urban schools and [86.7%] of rural schools. There was significant difference in the prevalence of asthma among urban and rural area school students. Prevalence was high among families with positive history of bronchial asthma. Most of school students who were diagnosed as bronchial asthma had other allergic diseases like eczema and allergic rhinitis and eye allergy