ABSTRACT
To compare Greulich-Pyle [GP] and Girdany-Golden [GG] methods for estimation of Skeletal Age [SA] in children referred to a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Cross-sectional study. Department of Radiology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from July 2010 to June 2012. Children up to the age of 18 years, who had undergone X-ray for the evaluation of trauma were included. Each X-ray was interpreted using both methods by two consultant paediatric radiologists having at least 10 years experience, who were blinded to the actual Chronologic Age [CA] of children. A total of 283 children were included. No significant difference was noted in mean SA estimated by GP method and mean CA for female children [p=0.695]. However, a significant difference was noted between mean CA and mean SA by GG method for females [p=0.011]. For males, there was a significant difference between mean CA and mean SA estimated by both GP and GG methods. A stronger correlation was found between CA and SA estimated by GP method [r=0.943 for girls, r=0.915 for boys] as compared to GG method [r=0.909 for girls, r=0.865 for boys] respectively. Bland- Altman analysis also revealed that the two methods cannot be used interchangeably. Excellent correlation was seen between the two readers for both GP and GG methods. There was no additional benefit of using GP and GG methods simultaneously over using GP method alone. Moreover, although GP was reliable in estimating SA in girls, it was unable to accurately assess SA in boys. Therefore, it would be ideal to develop indigenous standards of bone age estimation based on a representative sample of healthy native children
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Cross-Sectional Studies , Radiology/standards , ChildABSTRACT
To assess knowledge of patients with tuberculosis; about their disease and misconceptions regarding TB. A cross sectional study was conducted at Out-patient clinics of two teaching hospitals [private and public] in Karachi, Pakistan. A questionnaire was filled for the purpose. A total of 170 patients were interviewed, 112 from private and 58 from a public sector hospital. Cough, fever, bloody sputum and chest pain were recognized as the common symptoms of TB. Eleven [7%] patients thought TB was not an infectious disease and 18 [10.6%] did not consider it a preventable disease. Contaminated food was considered the source of infection by 81 [47.6%] and 96 [57%] considered emotional trauma/stress the causative agent of TB. No counseling about preventing spread was received by 81 [50%] patients and 97 [57%] considered separating dishes as an important means of preventing spread. Thirty one [18%] patients would have discontinued their medications following relief of symptoms. Thirty nine [23%] of the respondents thought that TB could lead to infertility and 66 [38.8%] believed that there were reduced chances of getting married following infection. Misconceptions concerning TB are common in Pakistani patients. Lack of knowledge on Tuberculosis is alarming