Effects of Antibiotic Consumption on Children 2-8 Years of Age Developing Asthma / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: Antibiotic exposure in children is a possible contributor to the increasing asthma prevalence in several countries. The present study aimed to investigate the association between antibiotic exposure and the risk of developing childhood asthma at 2-8 years of age. METHODS: A case-control study was undertaken among children aged 2-8 years old between March and September 2010 in the Urmia district in the northwest of Iran. The cases were doctor-diagnosed asthmatic children based on Global Initiative for Asthma criteria (n=207), and the controls were children without respiratory symptoms (n=400) selected by frequency matching by age and gender. Clinical data including antibiotic exposure was collected by a validated and reliable questionnaire, which was completed by interviewing parents/guardians. RESULTS: Antibiotic consumption during the first year of life increased the odds ratio [OR] of asthma symptoms at 2-8 years of age (crude OR, 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-3.35; p<0.01), and the strength of association was similar after adjusting for a family history of asthma or atopic disorder, preterm delivery, birth order, and delivery method (adjusted OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.27-2.88; p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that antibiotic consumption in children was associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma, and an additional confirmative study is needed.

Prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in school aged children. The role of personal and parents related socio-economic and educational factors

Nocturnal enuresis is a common psychosocial concern for both parents and children. In the present study we have determined the prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in Urmia, Iran children and associated personal and familial factors with this problem. A cross sectional epidemiological study for detection of nocturnal enuresis prevalence rate and evaluation of associated familial and personal factors in elementary school children [7-11 years old] from Urmia were investigated. The subjects were selected by cluster sampling method. Chi square test and logistic regression were used in univariate and multivariate respectively. Of the 1600 questionnaires distributed, 918 [57%] were completed and included in the final analysis. The rest, which were not filled by parents and also those out of our study age range were excluded. Gender of the subjects was almost equally distributed [48.6% males and 51.4% females]. Prevalence of nocturnal enuresis was 18.7% [n=172] and prevalence of daytime incontinence was 5.5% [n=51]. There was no significant gender difference between these two groups. Enuretics had crowded families, positive family history, low educational level of parents, jobless father, working mother, single parent, poor school performance, positive history of urinary tract infection [UTI]. Our results with enuresis prevalence and associated factors were comparable to other epidemiological studies from various countries. We found that Iranian families do not pay sufficient attention to their enuretic children

Normal values for random urinary calcium to creatinine ratio in Iranian children

Due to worldwide variations, reference values of urinary calcium to creatinine ratio in pediatric population are not yet well established. To determine normal values for urinary calcium to creatinine ratio and its relation to urinary sodium or potassium, a descriptive [correlation type] study was conducted in 7 to 12 years old healthy children in Urmia, Iran. Primary school children were divided into two sectors and 7 clusters [4 cluster school boys and 3 school girls]. The subjects were randomly selected. Random, non-fasting morning urine samples were obtained from 364 healthy children aged 7 to 12 years during fall 2005 and immediately sent to laboratory to determine urine calcium [Uca], creatinine [Cr], sodium [Na] and potassium [K]. For data analysis, mean and 95th percentile of UCa/Cr and UNa/K were used. Pearson test was used to determine any relationship between UCa/Cr and UNa/K values. For comparison of UCa/Cr and UNa/K values between males and females, Mann-Withny test was used. A total number of 364 children were enrolled in the study. There were 208 [57.1%] males and 156 [42.9%] females. The mean and 95th Percentile for UCa/Cr was 0.11 [0.10 and 0.24 respectively. The mean and 95th percentile for UNa/K were 2.30 [1.42 and 5.21 respectively. There was no significant difference in UCa/Cr and UNa/K between two sexes [P > 0.05]. We found a weak relationship between UCa/Cr and UNa/K [P < 0.01]. UCa/Cr value may differ according to geographic location. For screening purposes, reference values should be determined in each geographic location