ABSTRACT
To determine the relationship between bicarbonate concentration and hospitalization among children with gastroenteritis. This study was conducted at Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein Hospital over a period of 6 months between August 2008 and February 2009. A total of 84 children aged 6 months to 5 years were included in the study. All patients included in this study were evaluated in our Pediatric Outpatient Clinic and they had acute gastroenteritis with mild to moderate dehydration, associated with vomiting at least 5 times per day for less than 48 hours duration. Blood gases either arterial or venous and serum electrolytes were measured for all patients as ordered by an attended pediatric physician after initial evaluation. Each patient was given 20-30 ml / kg dextrose 5% saline over a period of two hours, followed by the oral administration of small and frequent amount of clear fluids [about 30-50 ml / 30 minutes for two hours]. Patients who developed vomiting during or after oral rehydration were hospitalized for prolonged intravenous fluid therapy while patients who tolerated oral fluids were discharged and their caregivers were advised to come back to hospital if vomiting persisted, diarrhea increased or any new complaint was noticed by the family. We extend the period of observation for patients with bicarbonate measurements
Subject(s)
Humans , Gastroenteritis/metabolism , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Child, Hospitalized , Gastroenteritis/therapyABSTRACT
To highlight some of the significant applications of flow cytometric immunophenotyping in the diagnosis of Primary Immunodeficiency Disease. We reviewed the medical records of 135 consecutive patients who were referred to the Immunology Clinic at King Hussein Medical Center with a flow cytometry based diagnosis of Primary Immunodeficiency Disease between January 2000 to August 2009. The medical records of fl5 patients with history of recurrent or persistent infections were reviewed. Seventy seven [57%] patients were males and 58[43%] were females. They aged between 2 and 120 months with a mean age of 13 months. Flow cytomerty-based diagnosis was identified in 68 [50.3%] patients. Predominant antibody deficiency was diagnosed in 114 [10.3%] patients. There were 35[26%] patients with T and B cell immunodeficiency. There were 6 patients' satisfied diagnostic criteria of possible HyperlgM lmmunodeficiency syndrome. Diagnosis of severe combined immunodeficiency was retrieved in 22[16.2%] patients. Primary phagocytic disorder was the diagnosis in 34 [25%] patients. Dihydrorhodamine flow cytomerty-based burst test was confirmatory for Chronic Granulomatous Diseases in one patient while in the other 14 patients diagnosis was based on nitroblue tetrazoleoum test and genetic mutation study. There were 8 [6%] patients with other well defined immunodeficiency syndromes; one patient with Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome, 5 patients with Ataxia Telangectasia, one with Bloom syndrome, and one with DiGeorge anomaly. Eight [6%] patients were found to have an immunedysregulation syndrome. There were 8[6%] patients with an undefined primary immunodeficiency. Post Bone marrow transplantation Immunereconstitution of T-, B-cells and Leukocyte adhesion molecules were identified in 14 patients with appropriate Flow cytomerty immunophenotyping assay. Flow cytometric immunophenotyping of leucocytes appears to be an efficient and rapid tool in the diagnosis and follow-up of immunodeficient patients, supporting early recognition, which is reflected on reduced morbidity and improved survival
ABSTRACT
To study the demographic characteristics of patients attending the emergency department and study the factors associated with inappropriate use of emergency department. A total of 4,950 patients' charts who attended the accident and emergency department of Prince Ali Military Hospital in the 1[st] [8 am- 4pm] and 2[nd] shifts [4 pm-10 pm] from the 1[st] to 31[st] of March 2008 were reviewed. A sample of 495 patients was randomly selected through systemic sampling method. A specially designed medical record abstract form was used to collect data related to inappropriate use and misuse of the emergency medical services in the hospital. Simple descriptive statistics were used to describe the relevant study variables. Out 495 patients 38 [7.7%] were admitted to different hospital wards. Of these patients 309 were males and 186 were females. Eleven [2.2%] cases were classified as life threatening cases, 58 [32%] as urgent cases and 326 [65.8%] were non urgent cases. Only 99 [20%] cases were having their complaints 24 hours prior to presentation. Large numbers of attendees were non urgent cases. To overcome this managerial problem, there is a need to utilize the primary health care/walk-in clinics served by family or general practitioners who provide primary health care services. In addition there is a need to promote public health education through community involvement