Impact of vitamin A supplementation on diarrhea and acute respiratory infection among children

Clinical manifested vitamin A deficiency predisposes to increased diarrhea and respiratory morbidity. To study impact of vitamin A supplementation on acute respiratory tract infection and diarrhea of children. A clinical trial study was carried out in Azazi village- Sharkia governorate, Egypt- through the year of 2009. Of 430 children aged 12-60 months attending the local health centre to get medical care for diarrhea. 300 children were included in this study. Those children with history of acute diarrhea of less than seven days' duration were divided into two groups. vitamin A group children [150] who received vitamin A 200000 IU and the other 150 [control group] were not given vitamin A. Incidence and prevalence of acute lower respiratory tract infections and diarrhea during the 90 days after termination of diarrheal episode were measured by twice weekly home visits. The incidence [relative risk 1.07; 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 1.26] and average number of days spent with acute lower respiratory tract infections were similar in the vitamin A supplemented and control groups. The incidence of diarrhea was also similar [relative risk 0.95; 95% confidence interval 0.86 to 1.05] in the two groups. There was a reduction in the mean daily prevalence of diarrhea associated with fever in the vitamin A supplemented children older than 23 months. Results showed a lack of impact of vitamin A supplementat ion on acute respiratory tract infection, but there was a reduction in the severity of diarrhea in older children. Parents are advised to give their Children vitamin A during the obligatory program of immunization and during diarrheal attacks because this may lower incidence and severity of diarrhea especially in older children

School achievement of physically handicapped children in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

Physical handicapping becomes one of the priorities of all governments due to its hazardous effect on physical, mental and social health. To determine rate of physical handicapping in a rural area and to study its effect on school achievement of children. This cross-sectional study included 750 students of 15 primary schools of Sharkia Governorate. Those schools were selected randomly for this study during the period from October-to- December, 2009. The students answered a carefully designed questionnaire during the interview of clinical examination. Watch test for testing hearing and Snellen test for measuring the acuity of vision were applied for all school children. The prevalence rate of physical handicapping in this study group is 20.8%. Handicapping had occurred in males more than females [p<0.05]. Visual, auditory and orthopedic disorders decreased the score of school achievement of the students [p<0.05]. Speech, heart and respiratory problems had insignificant effect on school achievement of the children [p>0.05]. Prevalence of physical handicapping was 20.8% among the study group. Visual, auditory and orthopedic disorders had a significantly negative effect on the score of school achievement of the students. Physically handicapped children need special educational programs. A technology-based program should induce the in-apparent skills of those children to benefit them and their community. A next research study is recommended to measure the prevalence of handicapping at the same age group in households