Serum vitamin D level as a predictor of bronchial asthma in Egyptian children

This study was designed to assess the relationship between the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the clinical, functional severity and the level of asthma control among Egyptian asthmatic children. This case-control cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 asthmatic patients from those regularly attending the Pediatric Chest Clinic, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University. Twenty healthy children of matched age and sex were recruited as the control group. Pulmonary function tests were significantly decreased in the asthmatic cases compared with the control [P < 0.01]. The serum vitamin D level was found to be significantly decreased in asthmatic children compared with the control group [P < 0.001]. Out of the 50 asthmatic children, 20 had a serum vitamin D level of less than 25 ng/ml, and were considered to be 'vitamin D deficient', whereas the remaining 30 children had a level ranging between >25 ng/ml and

Metabolic syndrome: a reality in obese children and adolescents

The aim of the present study is to contribute to the understanding of metabolic syndrome [MS] risk factors during childhood by examining the diagnostic patterns of MS in obese children. Thirty one obese children and adolescents with BMI >/= 95th percentile were recruited and investigated as group I, in addition to 22 matched age and sex children and adolescents were served as control [group II]. Anthropometric measurements as well as blood pressure were measured. Plasma cortisol, ACTH and suppression test were assessed in all patients. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, C peptide and lipids profile in addition to glucose tolerance test were analyzed. The metabolic syndrome in children was classified according to modified version of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III [NCEP-ATP III]. The degree of insulin resistance was determined with the use of a homeostatic model assessment: insulin resistance. Out of the 31 patients assessed, 25.8% of the patients met the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome. Forty percent of the females and 6.25% of the males had 3 or more risk factors. No one of the non-obese control subject met the criteria for the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is already a reality for many obese children. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for a clinically useful consensus definition of pediatric metabolic syndrome and national guidelines for proper screening, evaluation and treatment of children at risk for metabolic syndrome

Socioeconomic factors affecting the nutritional status of children in Egypt

A cross sectional study was carried out on 175 and 125 children diagnosed clinically as having mild/moderate and severely undernutrtion respectively. The incidence and severity of undernutrtion were found to be higher among urban than rural children. Severe undernutrtion increases with the increase of birth order. There is a high prevalence of undernutrition in children whose mothers are below 25 or above 35 years of age. Mother's education seems to be more important than that of father's. occupation of the parents is another facto that may influence the nutritional status of children. The prevalence of undernutrition in children increases with low family income. Improper pregnancy spacing and overpopulation reduces the mother's capacity for giving care for the new child and in turn affects its health. Availability of electricity bottled gases and safe water supply reflects the socioeconomic status of the family which in turn affects the nutritional status on the child. Exposure to learning or educational facilities increases the exposure to health and nutritional information with results less severity or low prevalence of undernutrition. Some hygienic personal habits were found to be more practiced among families of mild moderate undernutrition children than among families of severe ones. Ignorance of mothers about supplementary feeding and weaning practices proved also to have its effect on the nutritional status of the child