Violence injuries of Iraqi children

Iraqi Children suffered injuries during 1991 Gulf war. This was followed by suffering for 13 years from the effect of economic sanctions. The 2003 military invasion and occupation by coalition forces added more death and injuries. We wanted to know how frequent physical injuries were to Iraqi children, and how inflicted and what the consequences were. Mothers who were admitted with their children to the Children Welfare Hospital, Baghdad, in the period July 1-December 31, 2004, were interviewed about violence to their children, relatives, and neighbours that they had witnessed. Of the 218 mothers interviewed, 50 witnessed injuries [23%]; 28 of those who witnessed injuries were from the city of Baghdad and 22 from towns in the central part of the country. Twenty two injuries were by gunshots, 14 by aerial attack or tank bombs, and others were due to explosions. Head injuries were the most common. Twenty of the injured children recovered with no disability, two lost fingers, two got blind, two were limping, and one had persistent backache. Iraqi Children were commonly victims of violence during invasion and occupation of Iraq. There seems to be inadequate protection for children during the years 2003-2004

time of first passage of meconium in inborn neonates in Baghdad teaching hospital-medical city

The first passage of stool after birth [meconium], is delayed in preterm neonates compared to term neonates. Ninety-nine percent of term infants and 76% of premature infants pass a stool in the first 24 hours of life. Ninety-nine percent of premature infants pass a stool by 48 hours. To explain the effect of some factors on the time of first passage of meconium[POM] in neonates. Between January and March 2009, all neonates born in Baghdad teaching Hospital-medical city-Baghdad, with gestational age [GA] of 28-42 weeks and without metabolic, congenital or gastrointestinal diseases, were included. Neonates were divided into four groups: A. GA /= 37 weeks[term]. Neonates were followed for first POM. A total of 222 neonates [115 males]; 12, 22, 29 and 159 neonates in group A, B, C and D respectively were included. With decreasing gestation, a trend was found for delayed first POM [P<0.0001].Compared to term neonates 157/159 [98.7%], less preterm neonates passed their first stool within 24 hours after birth group A; 2/12 [16.6%]; group B; 9/22 [40.9%]; and group C; 26/29 [89.6%]. First POM was associated with birth weight < 2.5 kg [P= 0.0001], 42/69 [60.8%] of neonates passed their first stool within 24 hours after birth, compared to 152/153 [99.3%] of neonates > 2.5 kg. The time of first POM was associated with type of feeding [P=0.0001] and with the need for respiratory support, [P=0.0001]. First POM was not associated with gender, and birth weight in relation to GA. More than [98.7%] of term neonates passed their first stool within 24 hours after birth. The first POM was delayed in preterm neonates compared to term neonates. The first POM was significantly associated with gestational age. It was also delayed with decreasing birth weight, and in neonates who need respiratory support compared to those who did not. The first POM was earlier in breast fed neonates compared to formula fed or combined type of feeding

G6PD deficiency and neonatal jaundice

Glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency is the most common human enzyme deficiency in the world, and a common cause of neonatal jaundice in Iraq. To study the burden of G6PD deficiency on the development of hyperbilirubinemia in neonates, and analyze some possible associated risk factors. A prospective study was conducted in the Neonatal Care Unit in Children Welfare Teaching Hospital in Medical City, Baghdad; from the 5th of August 2006 till 10th of March 2007. Hundred newborn babies with neonatal jaundice [clinically and biochemically] and another 100 newborns were not jaundiced [control group] were studied. A methemoglobin reduction test used to assay the activity of G6PD. In this study, 30 [30%] of neonates with jaundice had G6PD deficiency while only 8 [8%] had G6PD deficiency in nonjaundiced. Twenty four [80%] of the G6PD deficient were males and 6 [20%] were females. In both normal and G6PD deficient groups, reticulocyte counts were normal.. Glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency can lead to an increased risk of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with significant number of patients required exchange blood transfusion 12 [40%]. We recommend to do cord blood G6PD screening and early detection of the enzyme deficiency in high risk populations with high prevalence such as our community, in order take approproate measures to prevent the complications of hemolysis and future problems of neonatal jaundice due to G6PD deficiency

Clinical presentations and complcations of Guilain barre syndrome in Children Welfare Teaching hospital

To study the clinical presentations and complications in patients with Guillain Barre syndrome [GBS]. A retrospective study was done on 70 patients with GBS from different parts of Iraq, who were admitted to children Welfare Teaching Hospital in Medical City, Baghdad in the period between January 2002 to December 2006. Of 70 patients with GBS, 40 [57.14%] were males and 30 [42.86%] were females, with a male to female ratio of 1.33:1. Antecedent events were found in 44 patients [62.86%], wherease 26 patients [37.14%] had no history of antecedent events. There is no specific pattern of motor weakness involvement and all cases show symmetrical muscle weakness. Bulbar nerves involvement is the commonest cranial nerve involvements. Autonomic nerves and respiratory muscles involvement are the main cause of death in GBS