End stage renal disease in Kalyoubia governorate, an epidemiological study

This work was designed to study the epidemiological aspects of end stage renal disease [ESRD] in Kalyoubja Governorate. All attendants of the four dialysis centers providing the service in the locality, during the period from November 1994 till February 1996, were the target group for this study [210 patients]. The results of this study revealed that the majority of patients [81.9%] were males and 73.8% were rural residents A higher percentage of the studied cases [62.4%] aged 45 years or more. However, females were found to have the disease more frequently at a younger age [< 45 years]. About two thirds of males [63.4%] were manual and skilled workers while 79.0% of females were housewives Disease duration was found to be significantly higher among males than females [4.1 +/- 2.4 and 2.9 +/- 1.9 years respectively] Subsequently haemodialysis duration was significantly higher among males [P < 0.05]. Tubulo-interstitial and metabolic diseases [D.M., obstructive uropathy, mediteranean fever gout and iatrogenic nephropathies] were the etiological factor in 31.0% of the studied patients. Vascular diseases [hypertension and collagen diseases] caused 16.2%, of cases, 9lomerulopathy [glomerulonephritis and bilharziasis] was responsible for 29.0%, congenital diseases 4.3% while 19.5%of cases resulted from unknown etiology. Hypertension was found to be significantly related to the etiology of ESRD while socio-demographic factors were not significantly related, Hence. Early detection, control of infections and chronic conditions predisposing to renal diseases together with regulation of drug use are recommended

Acute ophthalmological problems among patients attending Benha University Hospital

Two hundred and sixty four patients having acute ophthalmological problems who attended outpatient clinic of Ophthalmology Department or emergency room in Benha University Hospital during the last three months of the year 1994 were studied. Acute ocular inflammations, ocular trauma and miscellaneous causes represented 36.7%, 36% and 27.3% of cases respectively. Acute conjunctivitis, corneal abrasions and acute allergic conjunctivitis were the commonest in the previous three categories [40.2%. 35.8% and 48.6% respectively]. Acute ocular inflammations were common in preschool children [76.7%], rural residents [42.5%] and non-educated patients [42.0%]. Ocular trauma affected males more than females with a ratio of [1.6: 1]. It occurred mainly in childhood [48.4%] and in manual and skilled workers [48.6%]. Blunt trauma was the commonest cause of ocular trauma in childhood [52.2%] while foreign bodies were the commonest in adults [42.9%]. Self referral accounted for 80.7% of cases while referral by private or general health services accounted for the remainder [11.7% and 7.6% respectively]. Among the studied cases, 73.8% attended the out-patient clinic and 26.2% attended the emergency room. Most of acute ocular Inflammations [81.5%] received out-patient medical treatment, while cases of ocular trauma were mainly surgically managed either in outpatient [45.3%] or inpatient [28.4%]. Miscellaneous cases were either medically treated in outpatient [63.9%] or were admitted to hospital for surgical or medical management [29.2% and 6.9% respectively]. Residents managed most cases of acute inflammations and ocular trauma alone [87.6% and 85.2% respectively], while staff interfered more in management of miscellaneous cases [31.9%].Preventive measures for ocular infection and trauma are recommended. Supply of needed equipments and continuous training of residents is essential to maintain effective services

Some health aspects in instituted primary school children

This study was conducted on 193 children aged 6-12 years. They were 93 children [65 boys and 28 girls] living in two residential institutions in Cairo and 100 non-instituted children [65 boys and 35 girls] who are their matched school peers. Anthropometric measurements complete physical examination and laboratory investigations including haemoglobin concentration, complete urine and stool analysis were performed to all children. Results showed that 25.81% of instituted children have body weights below the 10[th] percentile and 60.22% have heights below the 10[th] percentile compared to 14% and 37% of non-instituted children respectively. The differences were statistically significant. The prevalence of vitamin deficiency manifestations, and skin diseases was significantly higher in the instituted group. The mean haemoglobin concentration was lower in the instituted children, with a significant difference in all males and in females aged 9-12 years. Intestinal parasitic infections were more prevalent in the instituted children. It was found that among instituted children weight and height were most affected by cause of institution and number of children cared for by a substitute mother while hemoglobin concentration was most affected by age at institution and the level of education of the substitute mother