Prevalence, risk factors and impacts of schistosomal and intestinal parasitic infections among rural school children in Sohag governorate

Parasitic diseases represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood in most parts of the world. Hygiene and play habits make children especially vulnerable to schistosomal and parasitic infections. The aim of this study is to define the prevalence of different types of parasitic infections, to define their risk factors and to determine their impacts on health and scholastic absenteeism and achievement of rural school students in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. A cross-section, analytical study design was chosen to perform this research on 960 rural school students. All the students were interviewed and examined clinically and laboratory. The study showed that 38.5% of the students were infected by parasites. Entaemoeba histolytica, Enterobius vermicularis and Giardia lamblia had the highest percentages, 20.4%, 16.6% and 15.2%, respectively. Male sex, last birth order, poor personal hygiene, low socioeconomic level, >/=3 infected siblings, previous parasitic infections and no early consultation for therapy were important risk factors [ORs=1.41, 2.32, 2.63, 2.86, 4.17, 9.80 and 10.83, respectively]. Also, 29.2% and 31.6% of infected students were below the 5th percentiles as regard weight-for-age and height-for-age, respectively. Anemia was present among 52.4% of infected students. Further, 3.2% of them had hepatomegaly. Also, 37.8% and 41.1% of infected students had 0-3 and 4-6 days/month absent, respectively, while, 34.3% of infected students had a scholastic achievement <50.0%. Improving personal and environmental hygiene and regular screening, treatment and health education for students as regard parasitic infections in Egypt is recommended

Psychosocial impacts and quality of life of children with atopic dermatitis

This study was conducted on 100 children with atopic dermatitis [AD] attending Dermatology Clinic, Al-Hussein University Hospital and an equal number of children as controls. The aim of the study was to determine the psychosocial impacts of AD on children and their families, to define quality of life [QOL] of children and their families and to determine the relationship between these items and AD severity. A cross-section, analytical, clinic based study design was chosen to perform this research. Criteria for diagnosis of depression and anxiety were according to DSM IV. Also, we used The Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index and The Dermatitis Family Impact questionnaire to assess the impact of AD on the children's quality of life and to assess the impact of AD on the quality of family life, respectively. The most common behavioural and psychiatric impacts in children were dependence [33.0%] and anger [26.0%]. Also, AD interfered with children's' social life and recreation in 73.0% and 29.0% of them, respectively. While, mothers' psychiatric impacts and family disturbances were more in AD families; 43.0% and 70.0%, respectively. The impacts of AD were more in children and families with severe AD with statistically significant differences. Also, 86.0% of children with AD and 62.0% of their mothers had poor QOL

Health profile of school children in an Egyptian village

This study was carried out in Senhera village, Kaluobia Governorate. The total population sample was 105 pupils from primary and preparatory schools. The pupils were chosen by systematic random sample. Aim of this work is to give some informations about health profile of school children in this rural area. The results of the study revealed that most of studied sample were from moderate socioeconomic standard [65.71%], general condition were good [35.24%] and poor [17.14%] among studied sample. Mean height of studied sample in cm. was 137 +/- 10.5 and mean weight in kg was 40.2 +/- 17. The good educational ability was 19.05% among studied sample. The percentage of Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma mansoni, pinworm infection and Giardia lamblia among studied sample were 4.76%, 6.67%, 11.43% and 12.38% respectively. The researchers recommended that upgrade the quality of health of school children and rising the level of their health education

epidemiological study of dermatosis among school children in Qualioubia Governorate

This study was done in Qalyoubia governoment on a total of 1500 pupils, half of them were affected by a kind of skin disease. Six schools [four primary, one preparatory and one secondary] were chosen for this study. Dermatosis affected 48.69% of the studied boys and 51.97% of the girls. About half of the cases were infective skin diseases, while non-infective skin diseases represented 38.97% and only 9.51% were of double nature. Pediculosis capitis was the most common infective skin disease affecting school pupils. Fungal infections were represented by 9.79%, then viral infections and lastly bacterial infections. On the other hand, pityriasis alba was the most common non-infective skin disease, followed by Acne vulgaris. The study revealed that skin diseases were more common among pupils whose parents were illiterate or educated