Upper limit of anti-streptolysin O level in normal children in behera area

Antistreptolysin O [ASO] levels vary with age group of the study population and geographical location. The aim of the present work was to measure the upper limit of normal [ASO] titer as a referent value among healthy children of age up to 12 years living in El-Behera governorate and near areas. It was undertaken to 300 normal children of age 0-12 years, with no history of recent sore throat infection, they were attending the pediatric and ENT outpatient clinics of Damanhour Medical National Institute [DMNI] during the period from February 2004 to January 2005. The modified Randall method was used for estimating ASO titers. The results showed that the upper limit of normal [ULN] ASO level for the children of age 0 - < 2 years was 147 IU. The ULN, ASO level for the children of age 2- < 6 years was 336.8 IU and that for children of age 6-12 years was 353.2 IU. There were statistically significant difference among the three groups [ANOVA, F=160, P = 0.00]. By multiple comparison, the least significant difference [LSD] showed that the mean difference between children of age group 2 to < 6 years and those of 2 months to < 2 years was 138.6 IU [p= 0.000 and 95% confidence interval was ranging from 120.4 IU to 156.8 IU], and the mean difference between children of age group 6 to 12 years and those of 2 months to < 2 years was 148.2 IU [p= 0.000 and 95% confidence interval was ranging from 129.9 IU to 166.4 IU]. On the other hand the mean difference between children of age group 6 to 12 years and those of 2 to < 6 years was 9.6 IU [p = 0.301 and 95% confidence interval was ranging from] -8.6 [0] IU to 27.8 IU]

Prevalence of nasal and sinus diseases in atopic asthmatic children in Behera

Most patients with asthma also have rhinitis, and the same inflammatory cells and mechanisms are present in bronchial and nasal mucosa, thus leading to the concept of "one airway, one disease". The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of rhinitis and sinusitis in children with varying severities of bronchial asthma and its relation to the degree of asthma severity among children residing in semi urban semi rural areas in Behira, Egypt. Our study was a matched case control cross sectional study. It included one hundred asthmatic children whose ages ranged from 5-12 years, attendants of the allergy and chest diseases, pediatric outpatient clinic, and 100 matched controls, attending pediatric outpatient clinic in Damanhour Medical National Institute during the period from the first of February 2004 to 31[st]of August 2004. Asthmatic children were judged atopic or non atopic on the basis of skin tests to common allergens and were graded as having mild, moderate and severe asthma. All children were subjected to complete physical and medical examinations, radiography of chest and paranasal sinuses, pulmonary function test. Laboratory investigations included complete blood picture and examination of nasal secretions for eosinophils. In the present study, there was significantly higher prevalence of both allergic rhinitis [63%] and sinusitis [19%] among allergic asthmatic children than controls [9% and 6% respectively] with a statistically significant difference at p< 0.01. Other nasal diseases among asthmatics were insignificantly different from controls. The chronic severe asthmatics had higher rate of sinusitis [62.5%] than other asthmatic children [12%] in children with frequent moderate and 8.8% in those with mild asthma with a statistically significant difference at p< 0.01. Proper examination of the upper airways including nose and paranasal sinus should be an essential and routine part when evaluating a child with bronchial asthma, even if symptoms of the upper respiratory tract diseases are not present

Prevalence and possible risk factors of helicobacter pylori infection among children attending Damanhour teaching hospital

Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] is a major cause of gastrointestinal disease in children. The factors influencing the acquisition and prevalence of H. pylori infection remain incompletely understood. In the present study, the prevalence and possible risk factors of H. pylori infection were studied among children aged 1.5-16 years who were attending the pediatric outpatient clinic of Damanhour Teaching Hospital. Blood samples were drawn and IgG seroprevalence of H. pylori among the studied children was determined using ELISA kits. A specially designed questionnaire inquired about personal, socioeconomic, household characteristics, feeding history during infancy and the child's health data was completed for every child. Results revealed that the overall seroprevalence of H. pylori infection was 50.5%. The prevalence was widely age dependent: it was 60.6% among those age >/= 5 years and only 25.9% among those <5 years [OR=4.4; 95% C1=1.6-11.9]. Increased crowding in bed was also an associated factor; the prevalence among children where >/= 3 share a bed was 59.7% compared to only 26.9% among those where /= 1 year [OR=2.5; 95% CI=1.1-5.9]. After controlling for possible confounding in a Stepwise Multiple Logistic Regression model, independent predictors for H. pylori infection were: increasing age [>/= 5 years], overcrowding in bed [>/= 3/ bed] and shorter duration of breast-feeding [<1 year] during infancy. It could be concluded that, H. pylori was highly prevalent among the sampled children and the possible risk factors are related to the community. So, there is a need to early diagnose, treat and eradicate infection during childhood to prevent its complications during adulthood