Incidence of intussusception in children less than 2 years

Surveillance of baseline incidence of intussusception [IS] in children less than 2 years of age is important for the safety monitoring of second-generation rotavirus vaccines. To estimate the incidence of IS in children aged less than two years, before the implementation of rotavirus vaccination as part of the routine immunization program in Bahrain. Salmaniya Medical Complex [SMC], Kingdom of Bahrain. Retrospective Study. Children aged <2 years with definite IS were identified by daily reviews of the medical records at Salmaniya Medical Complex. The annual incidence of IS was calculated for children aged <1 year and 1-2 years, using the number of subjects with definite IS residing in the study area as numerator and the study area population aged <1 year and 1-2 years, respectively, as the denominator. Twenty-one children, 10 males and 11 females, were diagnosed with definite IS [2004-2006]. The incidence of IS ranged from 35.4-56.3 per 100,000 children aged <1 year and from 6.7-21.7 per 100,000 in children aged 1-2 years [overall 23.4-39.2 per 100,000 children aged <2 years]. Sixteen [76.2%] IS cases occurred in children aged <1 year; incidence peaked between 5-8 months of age. IS cases demonstrated no seasonality. Twenty [95.2%] children had abdominal pain and 17 [81%] had vomiting. No deaths were reported. Incidence of IS in Bahrain reveals a decreasing trend from 2004 to 2006. The incidence was high in the first year of life. These baseline data on IS incidence will facilitate the risk/benefit assessment of rotavirus vaccination once it is routinely used for immunizing infants in Bahrain

Incidence of intussusceptions: five-year hospital-based retrospective review

The aim of this study was to survey the baseline occurrence of intussusceptions [IS] among children less than five years of age who were hospitalized prior to the introduction of the new rotavirus vaccines. Retrospective cohort study. Salmaniya Meical Compelx, Ministry of Health. Intussusception cases in children less than five years, who were admitted to hospital from January 1999 to December 2003 were reviewed. The intussusceptions definition of Brighton Collaboration Working Group was adopted. The incidence of definite Intussusceptions per year was computed. Sixty-six cases were identified, 12 cases were excluded because the date of hospital admission was before the study period. Fifty-four cases fit the criteria and the period of the study. The mean age of the subjects was 9.4 months. Thirty-four [63%] of the subjects were males. The incidence of definite intussusceptions was 17.8 per 100,00 per year in children less than five years of age, and was 72.4 per 100,00 per year in children less than one year of age. Intussusception was high, forty-four [81.5%], in the 211-monhts age group. Intussusception occurred all year round, with no clear seasonal variation. There were no deaths and all subjects who participated in this study had recovered. This study provides, for the first time, a baseline estimate for the incidence rate of intussusceptions in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Tobacco training and educating primary care professionals in Bahrain

Tobacco use has been well identified as the primary preventable cause of premature deaths and disability, yet results from previous surveys shows that educational curriculum of health professionals don't address this topic adequately. To assess primary care professionals knowledge, perception and attitude related to selected tobacco use and effect items. Responses to self administered questionnaire by primary care professionals. Hundred fifty primary care professionals participated in the study, 24.7% of them are current smokers and 10% ex-smokers. Inadequacy in tobacco education curriculum was noted. In particular for nature of tobacco use addiction and management of tobacco dependence. Only 12% of local graduate and 16% of overseas graduate professionals had received formal training on smoking cessation interventions

Epidemics in Bahrain from 1893 to 1924 an historical perspective part I of 3 parts

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands located mid-way in the Arabian Gulf. The Gulf Region, including Bahrain, has suffered several epidemics. The earliest recorded was a severe epidemic of cholera in 1 893. In the period between 1893 and 1924, epidemics took a heavy toll of 24205 lives. The authors chronicled the various epidemics recorded in Bahrain from 1893 to 1924. These include outbreaks of cholera, gastroenteritis, influenza, malaria, meningococcal meningitis, mumps, plague, poliomyelitis, smallpox, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever and viral meningitis. The authors also trace the development of public health services in Bahrain, during the period 1893 - 1924

Epidemics in Bahrain from 1925 to 1965 an historical perspective part 11 of 3 parts

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands located in the Arabian Gulf. In the second in a three part series, the authors describe the epidemics that occurred in Bahrain between 1925-1965, as well as the changing role of health care services on the islands. Medical services in Bahrain began in 1900 with two non-governmental hospitals viz the American Mission Hospital and Victoria Memorial Hospital. The latter was run by a Government of India doctor, who was also the Quarantine Medical Officer. The Awali Hospital who built in 1935. The first Government of Bahrain doctor [Dr. A. Bhandarkar] was appointed in 1925 and served at the Muharraq Dispensary. The Public Health Department was started in 1951 with Dr. Grant as Quarantine Medical Officer. During this period, epidemics of mumps, smallpox, typhoid fever, influenza, and gastroenteritis were recorded. The two leading diseases that were rampant in this period were malaria and trachoma

Epidemics in Bahrain from 1966 to 2003. an historical perspective [part III]

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands located in the Arabian Gulf. In the final article in a three part series, the authors enumerate epidemics between 1966 and 2003. During this period, the Public Health Department continued to expand and refine its various sections. Immunization programmes have been a major part of the preventive health services. Epidemics of poliomyelitis, cholera, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, meningococcal meningitis, measles, and aseptic meningitis were reported. The rapid influx of workers into Bahrain in the mid 1970s caused a massive transfer of enteropathogens and resulted in an upsurge of enteric diseases in 1978

Measles immunization: two-doses policy experience

Measles vaccine was first used in the Kingdom of Bahrain in 1974 for 9-month-old infants. In 1985, a second dose of measles vaccine combined with Mumps and Rubella [MMR] at the age of 15 months was added and the two-dose policy was adopted, the first dose given at 9 months and the second dose at 15 months [MMR]. In 1998 the two dose-schedule was evaluated and a new policy was adopted, the 1 dose MMR at 12 months of age and the 2nd dose MMR at 5 years of age. To review the process of developing an immunization strategy for measles in the Kingdom of Bahrain and to examine the impact of two doses of measles immunization policy on measles disease incidence in the Kingdom of Bahrain A descriptive study that analyses the data available at the Immunization Unit in the Public Health at the Ministry of Health was undertaken to reduce the incidence rate and eliminate measles in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Measles vaccination one-dose coverage for infants increased from 45 percent in 1980 to more than 87 per cent in 1990 and reached 98 percent by 2000 and 100 percent in 2003. Coverage for a second dose of measles vaccine given as MMR was 82% per cent in 1985 and reached 99.5% in 2003. Since 1993 the first and second dose coverage has been maintained above 90 percent. The adoption of 2nd dose policy together with the high coverage attained leads to the drop in the measles disease incidence rate from 838/100,000 population in 1970 to 1.7/100.000 population in 2003