Screening of renal and urinary tract problems in pre-school children and their relationship with parasitic infection

This cross sectional study was done for pre-school children households of an Egyptian village with evaluation of possible relationship between urinary tract problems detected and parasitic agents especially those causing diarrhea. A systematic random sample of houses was selected. Urine was examined using microscopic examination and dipstick techniques Stool was examined by direct smear and standard Kato-Katz techniques. The history taking included family history of congenital anomalies and relative parents; clinical and ultrasonographic examinations were performed in presence of mothers. Results showed that, a high percentage of children had positive urinary findings [pyuria and haematuria were found in 40% of children while 80% had crystaluria]; females had more problems than males. Microscopic examination was more superior to dipstick testing in detecting urinary problems except protein in urine. Pin worm infection showed positive relationship with urinary findings especially with males [O.R. 1.7 for pynria and 2.1 for haematuria]. Children having parasites causing diarrhea had higher percentage of pyuria than free children. Ultrasonographic examination showed four positive cases including congenital anomalies. Screening programs for preschool children should be adopted for early detection of urinary tract problems as urinary tract infection [UTI] and congenital anomalies especially in villages. Microscopic examination is the technique of choice for screening programs. Selected dipstick testing for proteinuria could be used. Screening for UTI in diarrheic children and those having pin worms or other parasites should be considered by health care personnel

cross sectional study of hepatitis B, C, some trace elements, heavy metals, aflatoxin B1 and schistosomiasis in a rural population, Egypt

Chronic liver diseases are disastrous to health. Many factors are associated with their prevalence, hence endemicity. These are mainly infectious, parasitic and toxic. A survey was conducted in a village south to Cairo. Large industries concerned with iron and steel industry, metals smelting, cement manufacturing and electric station were located north to the village. A systematic random sample of houses was selected. All individuals inside the houses were invited to share in the study. Sample size was 84 individuals. Hepatitis markers were done [HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies]. The levels of some heavy metals were assessed; which were lead, mercury, arsenic, aluminum, manganese, nickel, chromium and cadmium. Levels of some trace elements were assessed. These were copper, iron, selenium and zinc. Aflatoxin B1 was assessed in serum. Assessment of schistosomal circulating antigen and antibodies was carried out. Abdominal ultrasonograghy was done to assess liver condition. Univariate logistic regression analysis was done to assess the association between studied variables and HBsAg or anti-HCV sero-positive subjects. The association between studied variables and bilharzial or fatty liver, diagnosed by ultrasonography, were also assessed. The univariate logistic regression analysis revealed odds ratios at the following results. For HBsAg sero positive subjects, aflatoxin B1, lead, chromium and schistosomal antigen and antibodies were higher than negative ones where odds ratios were; 6.2, 1.6, 1.6, 1.6 and 1.7, respectively. None of the variables showed statistically significant difference. For anti-HCV antibodies sero-positive subjects, aflatoxin Bi and chromium had the highest odds ratios among the studied variables, [odds ratios were 2.5 and 2.4, respectively]. Bilharzial liver showed higher significant positivity of anti-HCV antibodies and insignificant decreased level of zinc than negative ones [odds ratios were 7.2 and 4.5, respectively]. Fatty liver cases showed higher statistically significant positivity of anti-HCV antibodies and chromium than negative ones. Odds ratios were 8.0 and 7.1, respectively. Statistically significant lower level of aflatoxin B1 was shown in fatty liver than normal liver subjects. Multivariate logistic regression analysis for fatty liver showed that only anti-HCV antibodies sero-positivity had statistically significant odds ratio in comparison to chromium level and aflatoxin B1. It is concluded that some heavy metals, and Aflatoxin B1 had a definite association with liver diseases in the area under study. Having anti-HCV antibodies had a relation with fatty liver and with bilharzial liver more than having HBsAg. It is recommended that environmental management to factories nearby the village is urgently needed to decrease exposure to heavy metals. Prevention of hepatitis infection and aflatoxin exposure through different means is also recommended, other wise health care authorities would be confronted with unusual cases of HCC in the nearby future

KAP study among staff and student nurses about infection control in Theodor Bilharz Hospital

The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of staff and student nurses in Theodore Bilharz Research Institute Hospital towards simple protective measures such as: Hand washing practices, recapping of syringe needles after use, and their awareness of Hepatitis B and C viruses prevention and control. A questionnaire is designed and distributed to all student nurses in the school [4l students out of 45], and to all staff nurses working in the hospital [39 nurses out of 50], with a total of 80 out of 95. Scoring system is used for data analysis. The overall scoring of KAP for the three items studied is below 80%, which means that they really need health education about these items. Thus, it is very important to create public awareness in the hospital community and among nurses about the concept of infection control. This could be done through formal and informal instructions and by organizing regular courses and posters. It is very essential to provide safe disposal of syringe needles in special containers, have facilities for hand washing during work and apply HB vaccine for nurses working in the hospital. Meanwhile, a highly motivated behavior should be enabled and reinforced through realization of the regulatory and organizational factors for better implementation arrangement, which all supplement the educational intervention directed to change rather than just planning