Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and serum ferritin level in primary school children in Tehran-Iran

Iron deficiency can cause cognitive and functional learning disorders in children. Some studies have reported a relationship between low serum ferritin levels in patients with anemia and Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] infection. Therefore, we aimed to determine the relationship between these two common diseases. This descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was performed to assess serum ferritin levels and H. pylori antibody titers [IgG] among 6-12 year old healthy primary school children in Tehran during the academic year 2005-2006. Specimen collection was done by cluster and randomization methods [multistage sampling]. Personal information and laboratory results were compiled in questionnaires and data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics via SPSS software. 165 primary school children [43% boys, 57% girls] with mean age 9.2 +/- 1.5 years were enrolled in the study. H. pylori IgG antibody titer was positive in 26% of cases with mean values of 0.79 +/- 0.42 units in boys and 0.75 +/- 0.39 units in girls, which showed a significant statistical difference [P=0.004]. H. pylori infection was more common among children of large families or those with low economic status [P=0.002]. 29% of children had low serum ferritin levels. Out of the children with low serum ferritin levels, 71% and 28% had negative and positive anti H. pylori antibody titers [IgG levels], respectively. Also, 296 children [25%] with normal ferritin levels had H. pylori infection. We did not find a significant relationship between H. pylori infection and low serum ferritin levels or iron deficiency anemia

Epidemiological and clinical features of Brucella arthritis in 24 children

Brucellosis is considered the leading zoonotic disease of the Middle East. The disease has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and can result in complications with severe morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency, distribution and characteristics of arthritis in Iranian children with brucellosis. A retrospective descriptive study conducted in a referral children center in Tehran from 1997 to 2005. Arthritis in children with brucellosis who were admitted to a specialized hospital was detected by clinical signs of the involved joint [s] and characteristics of joint fluid aspiration. Socio-demographic information was recorded. Of 96 patients diagnosed with brucellosis, 24 [25%] had Brucella arthritis 14 [58.3%] males and 10 [41.7%] females. Most common manifestations were fever in 21 patients [87.5%] and fatigue in 18 patients [75%]. Monoarthritis was recorded in 15 patients [62.5%] of the cases with involvement of the knee in 8 [45%] and hip in 5 [29%], the ankle in 2 [8%] patients while 9 [37.5%] patients suffered from polyarthritis. None of the patients had axial joints involvement. Seventy-five percent of the subjects [18 patients] were from urban areas and 66.7% [16 patients] had consumed un-pasteurized cheese. Recurrence was not seen in any of the 24 patients who received a combination of co-trimoxazole for 6 weeks and gentamicin for 5 days. Childhood brucellosis is a challenging disease in Iran that has serious complications like arthritis. Therefore all physicians who work in endemic areas should be familiar with this disease and consider the possibility of brucellosis in all children who present with arthritis and arthralgia

Prevalence of goiter among children aged 11-16 years in Ahwaz, Iran

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ahwaz, Iran to find out the prevalence of goiter among schoolchildren ages 11-16 years. Multistage sampling methodology was followed for selecting the study population. A total of 1,950 children [1,050 males, 900 females] were clinically assessed for thyroid gland enlargement. Data were collected on age, sex, weight height, iodized salt consumption, family history of goiter, and thyroid size by palpation. One hundred forty-six of the 1,950 children showed various grades of goiter, giving a prevalence of overall goiter of 7.48%. Of the 146 persons with goiter, 46 [31.5%] were male and 100 [68.5%] were female. Prevalence of goiter among male and female students was 4.4 and 11.1%, respectively. Prevalence of grade 1, 2, and 3 goiters was 56.8% [83 cases], 37.7% [55 cases], and 5.5% [8 cases], respectively. A significant difference existed between height of students with grade 1 goiter and those with grade 2 and 3 goiter [p < 0.001]. A significant difference also was found between weight of students with grade 1 goiter and students with grade 2 goiters [p < 0.002]. These results indicate that Ahwaz City is not an endemic area for iodine deficiency, probably because of its geographic location [the low altitude of sea level] or nutritional habits of its population [consumption of fish and iodized salt]

[Clinical and paraclinical findings in shigellosis]

Shigella infections are one of the major causes of diarrhea worldwide and especially in developing countries. This study was conducted to investigate clinical symptoms, predisposing factors and effective antibiotic regimens in children hospitalized for clinical dysentery. Children older than 6 months admitted for gastroentritis in Bahrami hospital in Tehran from September 1998 to September 2001 with a positive fecal culture for Shigella were included in this study. The data was gathered from patients' records. From 173 patients, 46.2% were females mostly aged 2-5 years. More than 50% of patients were admitted in summer. The frequency of anemia was 31.8% and 34.7% were under the median growth curve. Except diarrhea, the most frequent clinical manifestations of shigellosis were fever [98.2%], dehydration [87.2%] and convulsion [68.2%]. 135 [78%] patients received Nalidixic acid and the rest was treated with ceftriaxone as the first choice because of their poor condition on admission. Nine [5.2%] patients died with Ekiri syndrome and sepsis manifestation despite antimicrobial treatment. The mortality rate in this study was higher than in other studies. Fifty-six percent of mortality cases was due to Ekiri syndrome and the remainder was due to sepsis in children less than 1 year old. We found no specific clinical symptom or sign for shiglosis