Occupational exposure to toluene inhalant among young car-paint-workers

Forty young car-paint-workers from Mahalla El Kobra, Gharbia Governorate were selected from those who recently joined work [less than one week] at car workshops and were subjected to the following: a] complete personal, family, and medical history taking, b] Complete medical examination, c] Psychological assessment battery of 24 items, d] Complete blood picture, liver function tests, blood urea, serum calcium, potassium, magnesium, and acid phosphatase, and hippuric acid level in urine. Results showed disturbed general behavior. Of the studied cases 89.7% suffered from irritability, 68.9% from talk slow, 34.5% from depressed mood, 65.5% had illusionary misinterpretations, 72.4% had visual hallucinations, 24.2% had distorted body form perception, and 55.2% showed impaired recent memory. Serum magnesium and Hippuric acid level in urine showed significant increase after three-month period of exposure. Attention is drawn to the necessity for educational programs in this area

Feeding practices and behavior of infants and children less than 3 years with protein energy malnutrition

300 infants and young children with age ranging from 6 to 36 months suffering from protein energy malnutrition [PEM] were included in this study. Physical and medical examination, as well as anthropometric measurements, were done. A questionnaire was used collecting personal, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and feeding pattern and behavior. Analysis of data revealed a marked difference in growth pattern between PEM and control groups. Demographic and socioeconomic factors are important determinants of PEM. There were significant differences in PEM group concerning family size, birth order, mother's age and physical status of the mother, household facilities affected feeding pattern of the child. Most PEM cases showed reduced breast feeding, delayed introduction of weaning foods

Goiter among school children in El-Kharga town, new valley governorate, Egypt

In an epidemiological study carried out in El-Kharga Town, New Valley Governorate, 843 randomized school children, aged from 6 to 18 years were examined for goitre by cervical palpation. A detailed questionnaire was fully completed by each child and his parents. An overall prevalence of goitre was 12.34%. A significant relation was noted between the presence of goitre, on one hand, and sex, age, family size, mother's education and occupation [P <0.5]. On the other hand, there was non significant relationship with birth order, father's education and occupation. Also, there was non significant relation between the presence of goitre and the use of iodized food. Whereas, a significant relation was found between the use of iodized food and mother's education

Effect of parasitic infestation and anemia related on educational underachievement in primary school children

Parasitic infestations were found to affect intelligence level, hemoglobin percent and educational achievement in primary school children. 599 children from sindbis primary school in Qalyubia were chosen. Urine, stool analysis, hemoglobin measurement and I.Q. assessment were done. A high coefficient correlation [p-<0.01] was found between low H-% and parasitic infestations. 94.64% of underachievers has low Hb%. The heaviest the parasitic infestation, the lowest Hb%. 94.6% of infested group had I.Q. less than normal