ABSTRACT
Background: Early diagnosis and treatment is most of the time rewarding for short stature [SS] caused by failure of the intricate process of growth. The objectives of the present study was to, a] determine the magnitude of SS among the patients attending a tertiary referral centre, b] ascertain the pattern of SS, and c] find out the aetiological profile of SS. Methods: A descriptive observational study was carried out from August 2006 to December 2009 in endocrine out patient department [OPD] of RGKar Medical College, a tertiary care teaching institution in the eastern part of India involving the children and adolescents referred to the clinic for their growth failure. With informed consent; detailed history, clinical examination and laboratory investigations were carried out and information was gathered by administering predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Diagnosed short statured cases were followed up for one year. Results: Analysis showed 8% participants had SS. Hypothyroidism [29%], chromosomal anomalies [20%], normal variants of growth delay [18%] and growth hormone deficiency [15%] were revealed to be the predominant causes of SS. Growth hormone deficiency was the most common cause among boys [26%] compared to chromosomal anomalies [32%] and hypothyroidism [31%] among their counterpart. Conclusion: The findings can frame our mindset to remain vigilant about the problem fo detection at its earliest stage for getting maximum benefit from available treatment
ABSTRACT
As part of a large-scale sero-epidemiological survey on visceral leishmaniasis [VL] carried out in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh, applicability of DAT was assessed at the level of a rural health setting in Trishal [upazila] subdistrict. Despite the relatively less optimal conditions encountered, 5854 inhabitants from 7 villages appendant to Trishal were assessed for VL. The demographic distribution for sero-positivity obtained at the rural setting was comparable to that found by DAT as executed at the central laboratory [IEDC and R, Dhaka] on 9619 inhabitants from the same upazila. The overall sero-prevalence rate was 4.4% compared to 3.7% obtained in the population assessed at the central laboratory. In either study, similar VL prevalence rates of 2.1% were obtained in the male populations. Irrespective of sex, younger population [< 20 years] in both studies appeared to have higher VL incidence rate [2.3% and 2.6%] than others of 21- >/= 90 years [1.4% and 1.8%]. Local production of DAT antigen employing an authochtonus L. donovani isolate was attempted at the central laboratory [IEDC and R] in Dhaka. By comparison with the reference antigen, titres obtained in all 33 VL sera tested were equally higher [1:6400- >/= : 51200] than in 35 out of 38 negative controls [