Pattern and outcome of neonatal admissions due to respiratory distress in the neonatal unit of Suez canal university hospital

To determine the prevalence, disease pattern and outcome of admitted newborns presented with respiratory distress to Neonatal unit of Suez Canal University Hospital [SCUH], Ismailia, Egypt. This descriptive study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] of Suez Canal University Hospital. Data of all neonatal admissions during the period from January 2007 to December 2007 was recorded and analyzed for age, weight at the time of admission, sex, and reason for admission [diagnosis], duration of hospital stay, course during stay and final outcome of these patients. This study included 330 Neonates admitted to the Neonatal unit of S.C.U.H because of respiratory distress during a period of one year [2007]. One hundred thirty five patients were preterm [40.9%] and 195 patients [59.1%] were full term. The male to female ratio was 1.3:1. The mean postnatal age of the patients on admission was 3.2 days and their body weights ranged from 950 grams to 4560 grains with mean of 2880 grams. The most common diagnosis was respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] [40.9%] then Transient tachypnea of newborn [TTN] [24.5%]. The majority of them had mild respiratory distress [66.7%] while 17.3% had severe RD. Sixty three patients [19%] needed ventilatory support. Most of them required both of synchronized intermittent mechanical ventilation [SIMV] and continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP] [66.6%]. Regarding the outcome of these patients, it was found that 75.5% of them were discharged well while death occurred in 20.9%. The most common cause of death was RDS [30.3%]. Respiratory distress is a very common problem in the neonatal intensive care units and it is a serious condition needs efficient intervention at a proper time, Respiratory distress can be prevented by better antenatal care to reduce the incidence of prematurity, which causes respiratory distress syndrome that is the commonest cause of respiratory distress in the newborns

Impact of obesity on asthmatic children

Bronchial asthma and obesity are prevalent disorders in children and adolescents. The association between asthma and obesity was elucidated in many studies with possible effect of obesity on asthmatic children. The aim of the present study was: Assessment of the effect of obesity on the quality of life and pulmonary function of asthmatic children. This study included 100 asthmatic children and adolescents, 52 of them were obese and 48 were non obese asthmatics. Peak expiratory flow Rate [PEFR] was measured for every participants in the study. All children were exposed to pediatrics asthma quality of life questionnaire [PAQLQ] which included 23 items and divided into 3 domains. The results of the present study showed that the mean score of total PAQLQ in obese group was 5.15 +/- 0.47 and in non obese group it was 5.81 +/- 0.42, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups, When comparing the three domains of PAQLQ between the two groups it was found that the mean of symptoms domain in the obese group was 5.03 +/- 0.48 and in non obese group it was 5.74 +/- 0.50. The mean of physical activity domain in the obese group was 5.34 +/- 0.67 and in non obese group it was 5.88 +/- 0.43. In addition the mean oh emotions domain in obese group was 5.08 +/- 0.86 and in non obese group it was 5.81 +/- 0.60. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in three domains of PAQLQ. There was no statistically significant difference between the obese and non obese asthmatic children regarding PEFR. Obesity affects asthmatic children by decreasing their quality of life, therefore it is recommended to fight obesity as one of the strategies to treat asthma