Enteric Fever in Children at Dhulikhel Hospital.

Introduction: Typhoid fever is one of the most common public health problems in Nepal. It occurs in all parts of the world where water supplies and sanitation are sub-standard. In Dhulikhel hospital, this is one of the top acute febrile illnesses in inpatient department. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the clinical and laboratory parameters including culture and sensitivity, the response to therapy, and complications of enteric fever among child cases at Dhulikhel Hospital. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Teaching Hospital from January 2009 to June 2011. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS. Results: There were total of 138 cases of enteric fever admitted. There were 73 (53%) male and 65 (47%) female. Eighty-one percent were above five years of age. The most common clinical presentation was fever (100%) followed by headache and G I symptoms. Hepatomegaly was the most common sign seen among the cases and was seen in 110cases (79.71%). Most of the patients had normal WBC count 100 (72.46%) Widal test was positive in 70 (50.72%) cases and blood culture was positive in 52(37.68%) cases. Nalidixic acid was found to be resistant in 26 (50%) cases. Complications were seen in only 7 (5%) enteric fever cases. Conclusion: Typhoid fever is predominant in school going children in Nepal with slight male predominance. Fever lasting over 3 days followed by headache and GI symptoms are the major presenting symptoms. In making the diagnosis, the isolation of bacteria from blood is the “gold standard”. Nalidixic acid resistant Salmonella typhi is on the increasing trend. Pneumonia was found to be the most common complication among all other complications seen in enteric cases. In Dhulikhel Hospital this is one of the top acute febrile illnesses in inpatient department.

Brain tumours in children.

A 10 years old, female patient presented with symptoms of abnormal movement of the body for 5 years, deviation of mouth to left side for 12 days and difficulty in walking for 12 days. We report a very rare case of Brain Stem gliomas. Clinical and imaging findings were suggestive of brain stem gliomas.

One year audit of perinatal mortality at Kathmandu Medical College Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal mortality is a sensitive indicator of the quality of service provided to pregnant women and their new borns. Regular audit of perinatal mortality will help in finding out preventive factors and thus helps in reducing perinatal mortality rate in an institution. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine perinatal mortality rate (PMR) and the factors associated with it at KMCTH in the one year period (Bhadra 2059-Shrawan 2060) MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of entire still births and early neonatal deaths that occurred at KMCTH during the one year period (Bhadra 2059-Shrawan 2060). The study was done by collecting the data of all stillbirths and early neonatal deaths from record books of the Special Care Baby Unit, Labour Room and operation theatre. RESULTS: Out of 563 total births in the one year study period, 17 were still births (SB) and 10 were early neonatal death (ENND). Out of 17 SB, 7 were of < 1 kg and out of 10 ENND, 3 were of < 1 kg. Thus, perinatal mortality rate during the study period was 30.7 and extended perinatal mortality rate was 47.9 per 1000 births. Perinatal deaths were mostly due to extreme prematurity, birth asphyxia, septicemia and congenital anomalies. According to Wiggleworths classification, 18.5% of perinatal deaths were in Group I, 14.8% in Group II, 22.3% in Group III, 40.7% in Group IV and 3.7% in Group V. Intrapartum asphyxia was the commonest cause of perinatal deaths, but majority of these babies were of low birth weight. Prevention of preterm births, better care during intrapartum period, more intensive care of very low birth weight and preterm babies would help in reducing the present high perinatal mortality.

A case report of Gilbert Syndrome.

Gilbert syndrome is benign, often familial condition characterized by recurrent but asymptomatic mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in the absence of haemolysis or underlying liver disease. If, it becomes apparent, it is not until adolescence and then usually in association with stress such as intercurrent illness, fasting or strenuous exercise. Virtually all patients have decreased level of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase, but there also is evidence for a defect in hepatic uptake of bilirubin as well. This case is reported due to its rarity. The prevalence of Gilbert syndrome in U.S is 3-7% of the population.