Seckel syndrome: in a two and a half months old male presenting at tertiary care hospital in Karachi

Seckel syndrome is a rare disease, with autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Clinically manifests as intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation along with microcephaly, receded forehead, micrognathia, hypoplastic ears and mental retardation. Here we present a case of two and a half months old boy with four days history of loose stools and fever with facial dysmorphism and growth retardation of prenatal onset. This case is notable as detailed physical examination in patients leads to early diagnosis of the disease

Conflicts of women health in teenage pregnancy

Early marriage and subsequent pregnancy is desired in Pakistan and is generally considered a blessing but it also carries some risks to the mother and resultant product. To determine the frequency of teenage pregnancy and complications it imposes on teenage mother when compared with non teenage mothers. It is a descriptive comparative study. A review of hospital record from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2008 was carried out to compare the obstetric complications in 212 teenage pregnant mothers with that of 4052 non teenage mothers [Mothers =20 years of age] Prevalence of teenage pregnancy was 4.97% of the total pregnancies occurring at Sobhraj Maternity Hospital during the study period. 73.11% of all teenage mothers were primigravida and 48. 58% followed the proper antenatal care. Teenage pregnant mothers had significantly increased incidence of anemia, preterm labor, pregnancy induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia and decreased incidence of glucose tolerance as compared to non teenage mothers. Risks of ante partum hemorrhage [APH], post partum hemorrhage [PPH] and placenta previa were found similar in the two groups. The results indicated that the risks of complications of pregnancy like anemia, preterm labor, pregnancy induced hypertension and pre eclampsia were more in teenage pregnant mothers. This requires increased need of Pakistani communities to review and consider the correct age marriage, so that the health of pregnant mothers can be protected. A healthy mother is necessary to bring up a healthy child

Childhood pneumonia-organisms and their pattern of sensitivity

To isolate causative organisms of pneumonia in children between 2 months to 5 years and to determine the sensitivity pattern of these organisms. It was an observational study in children presented with fever,cough or difficulty in breathing in outpatient department or emergency room of pediatrics department of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi. The study was carried out in the department of Paediatric, Karachi Medical and Dental College and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital over a period of ten months [17 -01-08 to 15-11- 08]. Children between 2 months to 5 years, who present at outpatients department or in emergency room with complaint of fever, cough or/and difficulty in breathing were included in study. 100 cases of pneumonia fulfill WHO criteria who visited out patients and in emergency room during this period were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis is made by observing respiratory rate more than 50 per minute if the child was 2 months to 12 months and 40 per minute or more if the child was 12 months to 5 years of age. A nasopharyngeal swab was taken from each child for culture and sensitivity pattern. The idea behind choosing this site is that, obtaining nasopharyngeal swab is very simple, safe and without the risk of any serious complications. Majority of pneumonia cases are occurring under two years of age [85%] and maximum number of pneumonia cases are occurring under 1 year [54%]. Sex distribution of pneumonia cases of the study showing that out of 100 cases of pneumonia 60 were males and 40 were females. A male to female ratio of 3:2. Two most common pathogens i.e. S.pneumoniae [60%] and H.influenzae[25%] are mainly responsible for childhood pneumonia and these organisms are well covered with the first line antibiotics recommended by WHO ARI programme for out patient treatment of pneumonia i.e. co-trimoxazole, amoxycillin and ampicillin Streptoccocus pneumonia is sensitive to amoxicillin 98%,co-trimoxazole 80% and ampicilln 98% while sensitivity of H. influenza with amoxicillin, co-trimoxazole and ampicilin is 91%, 91% and 100% respectively. The organisms isolated in this study and their sensitivity pattern shows that two most common pathogens of pneumonia are S.pneumoniae and H.influenzae and these organisms are well covered with the first line antibiotics recommended by WHO ARI programme for out patient treatment of pneumonia i.e. co-trimoxazole, amoxicillin and ampicillin