Frequency of rotavirus infection in children with acute gastroenteritis in jahrom, south of Iran

Rotavirus is a major cause of acute diarrhea in children worldwide. It is an important cause of death among young children in developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of rotavirus infection in children less than five years old hospitalized for gastroenteritis in Jahrom. One hundred and two stool samples were collected from children less than 5 years old hospitalized for acute diarrhea during October 2006-February 2007 in Motahary hospital, Jahrom, south of Iran. All samples were tested for rotavirus antigen by commercial enzyme linked immunoassays [ELISA] and latex agglutination test. Sixty nine stool samples [67.6%] were positive for both ELISA and latex agglutination. The mean age of the patients was 14.38 months [range 2-60 months]. There was no significant difference between the patients with positive and those with negative tests for rotavirus in duration of admission, fever, vomiting, gender, and stool examination. Thirty-three percent of the patients had abnormal increased blood urea nitrogen that was normalized after hydration. Rotavirus was an important cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children less than 5 years old in our hospital. Dehydration, azotemia, and electrolyte disturbances were the major problems in those patients

Evaluation of urinary tract infection in newborns with jaundice in South of Iran

Neonatal jaundice is clinically presented in 60% of full-term newborns. About 8% of newborns with jaundice have urinary tract infection [UTI] without any other clinical signs in favor of UTI. In present study we evaluated clinical and paraclinical data that help to rapid and early diagnosis of UTI in apparently healthy newborns with jaundice. From February to August 2006, 51 apparently healthy full-term newborns with jaundice and UTI who had been admitted for management of jaundice in Motahary hospital, Jahrom [south of Iran], were studied and compared with 56 neonates with jaundice but without UTI. All the neonates had not any other symptoms such as fever or lethargy. At the time of admission, total and direct bilirubin, Coombs' test, mother and neonate blood group, urinalysis and urine culture were requested. There was no significant difference of gestational age, birth weight, age of admission, age at the time of starting jaundice, and total serum bilirubin between the two groups. There was significant difference of direct bilirubin level, mean of decrease serum bilirubin after 24 hours, gender, and blood groups. Male gender with mean decrease of bilirubin less than 2.2 mg/dl after 24 hours phototherapy and direct bilirubin more than 1.6 mg/dl ,during the first two weeks of neonatal period has about 7 times more risk for UTI. The presence of those three above mentioned factors had only 30% sensitivity and more than 94% specificity for suspicious of UTI in asymptomatic neonates with jaundice. Jaundice may be the only presenting sign of UTI in newborns, so according to high specificity for the presence of three below factors simultaneously, it seems better to evaluate newborns for UTI if they have high level of direct bilirubin [more than 1.6 mg/dl], slow decrease in serum bilirubin level with phototherapy [less than 2.2mg/dl/day] especially in male newborn with blood group B

Knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers about neonatal swaddling in Jahrorn

Swaddling as a current custom in our country has many advantages and disadvantages. The mothers' knowledge about them affects the neonatal care. The present study aims to assess the mothers' knowledge, attitude and practice about swaddling. In the present study, 190 mothers in spring 2006 were studied through a questionnaire. Data including age, place of living, parity, job, education, and also the reasons, advantages and disadvantages of swaddling were collected. Moreover, knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers and their correlation with other variables were evaluated. More than 95 percent of the mothers swaddled their babies due to custom or recommendation of their families. Better sleep [36.3%] and strong foot [30%] were the most common reasons for swaddling, as stated by mothers. More than 90 percent of the mothers had no knowledge about the disadvantages of swaddling. There was a statistically significant correlation between the mothers' level of knowledge and their age, parity, place of living and education. In regard to swaddling as a current custom and with respect to many advantages and disadvantages of swaddling in growth, development and better care of infants, it seems that it would be better to provide pamphlets for increasing the mothers' knowledge

[ prevalence of h serogroups of escherichia coli strains giving rise to acute urinary tract infection in children in Jahrom]

Nowadays E. coli as the most common Cause of acute urinary tract infection are generally named based on serotypes of O and H. The aim of this Cross-Sectional study was to determine the prevalence of H serogroups of E. coli strains that cause community acquired UTI in children. In this study 96 children with urinary tract infections [UTI] referred to two teaching hospitals, in Jahrom, Iran during the period of August 2005- August 2006 were enrolled. Antibiogram was done by disk diffusion method and serotyping by tebe agglutination methods. A Total of 96 E. coli strains were isolated from the urine samples of children with UTI aged from one month to 14 years. Cystitis was diagnosed in 49.2% and pyelonephritis ill 50.8% of these patients. The most resistance was related to Ampicilin [80.2%] and the least to imipenem [1.1%]. The most common type of H antigen was H4 [6.1%]. This is the first report of E-coli serotying in children with UTI from the south of Iran and its relationship with antibiotic resistance and clinical presentation. Further research in athes p ts with move st e thypes is re Commended

[Antibiotic resistance pattern of e-coli isolated from urinary tract infection]

The present study was designed to etermine the pattern of antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli [E.coli] isolated from urinary tract infection in Jahrom aiming at a rapid and appropriate empirical management. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 108 urine samples of patients with urinary tract infection in Jahrom hospitals and general practice in 2003. Antibiotic susceptibility was done by disk diffusion method and MIC. Gentamicin had the least effect on E. coli with 72.1% resistance. Co-trimoxazol and rifampin were the most effective oral antibiotics. 89.5 percent of the E.coli were resistant to two or more antibiotics. The most associated resistance was co-trimoxazol-rifampin and cotrimoxazol-gentamicin Based on the results gentamicin and co-trimoxazol were less effective for treatment of urinary tract infection, but nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin were appropriate for empirical treatment

[ scorpion stings in Jahrom 1380-82]

Scorpion stings have accounted for 10-15% of all bites for many decades. Scorpions sting is a significant medical problem in the middle east area, specially in the underdeveloped tropical countries. Scorpion stings cause a wide range of sign and asymptoms. The aim a of this study is to assess the present clinical management of scorpion bits in Jahrom city This prospective study was conducted between 1380-82 and a total of 63 cases of scorpin stings referring to health center were studied. The data included demographic information and first aid managements were conducted by health persons in referral cantros [nurses or doctors]. A total of 63 victims were studied [30 male and 33 famale with a mean age of [23.8 +/- 15.1]. The upper 50.8% and lower extremities 33.3% were the most common site of the bite. The most common and systemic symptom were pain [%88.9] and anxiety [68.3%] respectively. Other significant symptoms included, cardiovascular problems system with palpitation [46%] and respiratory problems [58.7%]. Males had more respiratory problems [p=0.017]. The majority of victims received local closure, and immobilization as first aid. The most common prescribed drugs were analgesics [82.5%] and antihistamine,[74.6%] and specific drugs for cardiac problems such as nifidipin or atropine. Based on the results, it seems that scorpion sting in this area does not lead to severe life threatening effects. Except anaphylactic shock. Another significant finding of the present study is low knowledge of our health personnel about management of scorpion stings. Finally, it is important to continue similar studies for better evaluation of various types of scorpions and their symptoms in the area

Growth of infants in relation to type of feeding in Jahrom, Islamic Republic of Iran

We evaluated the growth of 597 infants < 24 months attending health centres in Jahrom according to type of infant feeding. We also compared our growth curves with those of the National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS]. The infants were divided to 3 groups: exclusively breastfed, exclusively bottle-fed and both breast- and bottle-fed and were assessed monthly for the first year and every 2 months in the second year. There were no significant differences between the groups in height and weight in the first few months of birth; later, breastfed infants were significantly heavier and taller. The mean heights and weights of our infants were lower that those for NCHS

Iron status of babies born to iron-deficient anaemic mothers in an Iranian hospital

We investigated the relation between maternal anaemia and neonatal iron status in 97 mothers and their babies. Haemoglobin [Hb], serum iron, total iron binding capacity and serum ferritin were determined. Mothers were divided into 3 groups: iron-deficient anaemic [22.7%], non-anaemic iron-deficient [27.8%] and non-anaemic non-iron-deficient [49.5%]. There was no significant difference in the mean ages of the 3 groups but there were significant differences in relation to parity, Hb and serum ferritin levels. There was no significant difference in the mean value of serum iron or total iron binding capacity among the neonates of the 3 groups. Babies of iron-deficient anaemic mothers had significantly lower levels of serum ferritin [115.3 ng/mL] than nonanaemic, non-iron-deficient mothers [204.8 ng/mL] but not compared with the non-anaemic iron-deficient group. Maternal iron deficiency may affect iron status in their babies and predispose them to iron deficiency