Assessment of individuals having insulin dependent [type 1] diabetes mellitus for more than 5 years

Forty-four diabetic individuals [age ranged between 10-20 years] having type I Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus for more than 5 years [duration of diabetes ranged between 5-10 years] were assessed. Twenty-eight [63.6%] individuals developed the illness before 8 years of age [age at diagnosis 3-8 years], while 16 [36.4%] individuals developed the illness after 9 years of age [age of diagnosis 9-14 years] Family history of diabetes mellitus type I was present in 8 [18%] diabetic individuals. Growth failure was present in 30 [68.1%] diabetic individuals. Retinopathy, back ground retinopathy, was present in 15 [34%] diabetic individuals. Persistent proteinuria was positive in 20 [45.5% diabetic individuals. Polyneuropathy was present in 23 [52.2%] diabetic individuals. A highly statistical significant correlation was found between the presence of retinopathy, proteinuria, polyneuropathy and the presence of family history of diabetes mellitus type I; no statistical significant correlation was found between the presence of retinopathy, proteinuria, polyneuropathy and age at diagnosis of diabetes. Therefore, it is suggested that poor glycaemic control genetic factor are the main risk factors that contribute to the development of diabetic complications in this group of diabetic individuals

Growth of children after treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

The pattern of growth of fifty children with Acute Lymphoblastic with mean age of 5.6 year at the time of diagnosis were assessed. All patients were subjected to combination chemotherapy and cranial irradiation according to UKAL X protocol over 2.5-3 years. Data were obtained from patients reports and during their follow up at the Al-Mansoor Teaching Hospital for children, Saddam Medical city, Baghdad. Height, head circumference, puberty and skeletal Maturity were the four indices used for growth assessment. It was found that there was significant deceleration in growth during and at time of completion of therapy, there was no significant period of catch up growth after the completion of therapy. There was a second period of deceleration of growth started few years after completion of therapy and this period might be coincided with early or premature puberty

Skeletal maturity in children with type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

The skeletal maturity of 56 children with type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus attending the diabetic clinic in Al-Mansoor Children Teaching Hospital, Saddam Medical City Hospital, Baghdad was assessed. Their ages ranged between 2-12 years. 28 [50%] were males. Forty-six [82.1%] children showed retardation in skeletal maturity, delayed bone age in range of 0.5-5.6 years with average duration of illness of 3 years. A statistically significant relationship was found between the duration of diabetes and retardation in growth and skeletal maturity. Normal growth and maturation can be considered as criterion of good metabolic control

Coeliac disease in children

Fifty- four children have proved to have coeliac disease by small bowel biopsy were studied between march 1989 and July 1991 at the children Teaching Hospital, Medical city Teaching Hospital, Baghdad. It was found that the age of presentation ranged between 9 months and 16 years. 18 [33.3%] presented during the first two years of life. The relation between the type of feeding during infancy and the age of presentation was studied. Twenty [38%] were male. The ratio of male to female was 1:1.746 [83.6%] had growth retardation. It is suggested that the decrease prevalence Of breastfeeding in our community may contribute to the rise in the reported cases, as diarrhoeal diseases are common with the common practice of prescribing gluten Free diet for the treatment of recurrent diarrhoea; this may lead to a delay in the diagnosis and a late presentation with severe growth retardation

Childhood enuresis

One thousand children aged 5-14 years at attending Ibn AL-Balady children hospital, Baghdad, between January,1987 and April, 1987 were studied for the presence and frequency of enuresis.218 children [21.8%] had enuresis, a minimum frequency of one wet night per month. Positive family history of enuresis was found in 55.5% of the enuretics. Urinary tract infection was found in 5.9% of the enuretics and the majority were females

Diabetes mellitus in childhood

Between December 1985 and December 1987 [24 months] 80 children, who ranged in age from four months to 15 years, with Diabetes Mellitus were studied at the Children Hospital, Medical City, and at the Ibn El - Balady Children Hospital, Baghdad. All had Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Of these 80 children, there were 44[55%] females and 36[45%] males. Thirty two [40%] were newly diagnosed. Family history was present in 8[10%]. The weights of 25[31.2%] children and the heights of 14[17.5%] were below the third centile [1.9 s.d. below the mean]. Eye complications were present in Six [7.5%]. Fifty nine were of school age 12[20.4%] were not attending any school and 19[32.2%] had poor school performance