Frequency of cardiac defects among children at echocardiography centre in a teaching hospital

To assess frequency of cardiac defects among children from birth to 12 years of age on echocardiography basis. A cross sectional study was conducted at echocardiography centre in coronary care unit at Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur for fifteen months from April 2007 to July 2008. A sample of 150 patients [<12 years age] were selected by non-probability convenience sampling technique. The cardiologists performed echocardiography by Paediatric Transthoracic echo probe; 2-D colour Doppler, Acuson CV-70 and Niemo-30 echocardiography machines. Mothers of children with cardiac defects were interviewed at the echocardiography centre. Variables included were A- Muscular plus Vascular defects; B- Valvular defects; C-Pericardial effusion; D- Dextrocardia and E- Congestive cardiac failure. History of children for sore throat followed by joint pains; history of mothers for drug intake [antihypertensive, antipyretic, anti-emetic, hypoglycaemic] as well as chronic diseases [diabetes mellitus, hypertension, anaemia] during pregnancy were surveyed. Parity of mothers, their cousin marriages, and family socio-economic status was also inquired. The results were tabulated, analyzed and finally subjected to suitable test of significant [SR of proportion] to find out statistical significant if any. It was found that out of 150 patients, 76 [50.66%] were suffering from Cardiac muscular and Vascular defects, 61 [40.66%] Valvular defects, 7 [4.66%] Pericardial effusion, 2 [1.33%] Dextrocardia and 4 [2.66%] from Congestive Cardiac Failure. According to age, 54 [36%] were from birth to 3 years of age and 51 [34%] from 10 to 12 years. There was history of Rheumatic fever among 45 [30%] children. There were 106 [70.6%] children from lower socio-economic class and 79 [52.6%] parents had history of cousin marriages. Frequency of cardiac defects was more in children of male sex, lower socio-economic group, from birth to three years age and children from primipara mothers in our specified locality. Rheumatic fever, cousin's marriage, and prescribed drugs intake during pregnancy [for metabolic and hormonal disorders] were other contributors to cardiac defects

Malnutrition; determinants in children between six months to five years of age in Bahawalpur

To find-out the determinants of malnutrition in children between six months to five years age in Bahawalpur. This was an observational descriptive cross - sectional study. At Paediatric Medicine out - patient department in Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. From Feb. 2005 to March 2007. Eleven hundred children with malnutrition having ages six months to five years. Main outcome measures. Determinants of malnutrition in children under - 5 in Bahawalpur. This study consists of 1100 sick children between the ages six months to five years brought by their parents [mother] to the Pediatric Medicine out-patient department in Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. Only the children with malnutrition [undernutrition] were included in the study population. Mothers of these children were interviewed and clinical examination of each child was carried-out to find-out the causes of malnutrition in them. According to Gome's classification, 39.45% of them had first degree malnutrition, 37.10%, second degree and 23.45%, third degree malnutrition. The major causes of malnutrition found in our study population included: Illiteracy; food-fads; poverty; lack of breast-feeding; improper weaning; diarrhea and respiratory diseases. All these factors were statistically significant