Factors associated with acute diarrhoea in children in Dhahira, Oman: a hospital-based study

To elucidate the bacterial etiology of childhood diarrhoea in Dhahira, 856 children < 12 years admitted for diarrhoea to Ibri Regional Referral Hospital from 2000 to 2002 were studied. The mean age was 2.4 [SD 2.3] years; the majority [92.9%] were < 5 years. Bacterial etiology was found in 15.2% of cases; 10.6% due to Shigella and 2.1% to Salmonella. Sh. sonnei was the commonest Shigella serogroup isolated. Salmonella infection was significantly associated with cramps, while Shigella infection was associated with fever, bloody stools and cramps. Antibiotics were prescribed in 36.2% of cases and the resistance to the common antibiotics tested was low

Community practice of oral liquid mercury to newborn babies in Al Dhahira rEGION

We present two cases of newborn babies who were given liquid mercury orally and detected accidentally. Possible toxic effects of mercury along with its prevention are discussed here