Short term reactogenicity of a triple diphtheria-tetanus-whole cell pertussis vaccine in Iranian infants

Immunization against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis [DTP] has long been applied in Iran using whole cell vaccine. Despite the role of whole cell DTP [DTwP] vaccine in reduction of mortality as a result of disastrous diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, serious local and systemic complications have been attributed to these vaccines. This study was performed to determine the complications of DTwP vaccine in infants attending some of the health centers of Tehran in 2006-2007. In this prospective study, 330 infants were injected with DTwP vaccine manufactured by Razi Institute of Iran. All subjects received DTwP vaccine at 2, 4, and 6 months of age following the national vaccination schedule of Iran. Reactogenicity was assessed by the parents for 7 days post-vaccination using diary cards. Of the 279 infants who completed the vaccination study, pain was the most frequent local reaction after the primary vaccination [68.1-75.3%]. The mean diameters of the redness and swelling at first day post-vaccination were 2.81 +/- 6.91 and 2.60 +/- 7.93 mm in the first dose, 2.40 +/- 6.25 and 1.94 +/- 5.74 mm in the second dose and 2.24 +/- 5.66 and 2.16 +/- 6.03 in the third dose, respectively. Fever [axillary temperature > 37.5°C] was the most frequently reported systemic reaction during the primary vaccination [53.8-58.8%]. All systemic reactions observed after each dose were either reduced or completely disappeared during a week. The high incident of complications observed following vaccination with this cellular triple vaccine may be related to the formulation or the bacterial cell fragments used in vaccine production

[Prevalence of tobacco use and its association with perception of health among secondary and high school students in Damavand and Pakdasht districts]

Tobacco use mainly begins since adolescence. According to susceptibility of adolescents to high risk behavior such as tobacco use, this study designed to evaluate prevalence and some determinants of tobacco use among secondary and high school students in Pakdasht and Damavand cities. We carried out an analytic cross-sectional study among secondary and high school students by using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed by 2618 eligible students aged 13 and 15 years. History and current use of tobacco and also their feeling about their health in a spectrum from excellent to bad were evaluated. 26.1% of boys and 21.1% of girls had history of tobacco use [p=0.003]. Mean age [ +/- standard deviation] at which smoking started was 12.3 +/- 2.69 and 12.7 +/- 2.01 for boys and girls, respectively. 13.3% of secondary school and 13.7% of high school students were tobacco users at the time of study. Mean daily consumption of tobacco was 3.4 and 2.2 percent among secondary and high school students, respectively. No-users of tobacco had the better feeling of health than tobacco users [p=0.0005]. This study showed higher prevalence of tobacco use among secondary school than high school students. According to beginning of tobacco use before high school in majority of students, early prevention programs should be performed in secondary school students

Association between computer use and feeling of students about their school and school exercises

Spread of computer use and various ability of it can affect the life style of people, especially students. The present study was conducted to determine the patterns of computer use among students and their feeling about school and exercises. An analytic cross-sectional study was carried out on 1872 primary, middle and high school students by cluster sampling method in Damavand city. The number of hours that spend for computer in weekdays and weekends and feeling about school and exercises were answered by students in a standard questionnaire. Computer use by boys were significantly more than girls [P=0.0005]. In weekdays, with increasing the educational stage, computer use was increased [p=0.03]. Bad feeling about school and exercises was associated with more computer use in our subjects [p<0.01]. Pediatricians should carry out health education on the number of hours students should spend in front of the computer

study on association between watching television and videos with violent behaviors in male secondary and high school students of Pakdasht district

Research shows that watching scenes of violence can increase incidence of high violent behavior in youth. Expansion of television networks and higher accessibility to video films in Iran was a motivation for studying the association between behavior of television and video watching and some violent behaviors is adolescents. This cross-sectional study investigated the pattern of television and video film watching in weekdays and weekend separately in middle and high school boy students in Pakdasht district. After cluster sampling, 604 eligible students answered to a standard questionnaire about the number of hours they spend to watch television and video films and their practice regarding some violent behaviors in the past 12 months. High school students spent more times in weekdays and weekend to watch television and video. We found a positive and significant correlation between watching TV and video films and target violent behaviors. Meanwhile, students that reported to carry some kind of weapon such as knife and chain, had significantly more violence behavior than the other peers [p<0/01]. Parents and school authorities should be more sensitive to what adolescent students watch. Cultural authorities should consider the negative effects of these products on committing violent behavior among children and adolescents. Also health educational programs for increasing the information of students about the concepts of violence in television and video films is the suggestion of this research