Role of probiotics in acute diarrhea in children

Objective: To determine the effect of Bifidobacterium BB12 on mean change in stool frequency and hospital stay in the management of acute diarrhea. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Place and duration of study: Study was conducted at department of pediatrics. DHQ hospital, Faisalabad from 1[st] July 2013 to 31[st] December 2013

Patients and methods: Ninety eight patients after fulfilling inclusion criteria were registered and sorted out into group A [study] and Group B [Control] randomly [By lottery method]. Group A patients were given Bifidobacterium BB12 [6 Billion units BD for five days] diluted in ORS while group B patients were given ORS only. The cases were assessed daily for decrease in frequency of stool and total duration of illness at discharge

Results: Mean age at the time of admission was 17.6 +/- 7 months for study group and 14.6 +/- 7.4 months for controls. Duration of hospital admission was 1.88 +/- 0.21 days in the probiotic group compared with 3.38 +/- 0.13 days in the control group [P = 0.02]. Mean reduction in the frequency of stool per day was 5.08 +/- 0.34 times for study group and 2.3 +/- 0.35 times for the control group [P = 0.05]

Conclusion: We conclude that effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum is statistically significant in reducing the mean change in stool frequency and hospital stay in management of acute diarrhea in children

Acute severe asthma in children; role of intravenous magnesium sulfate in treatment

To compare the efficacy of intravenous magnesium sulfate and conventional treatment with conventional treatment alone in acute severe asthma in children of age group 5 to 15 years known cases of bronchial asthma. Randomized control trial. Indoor and outdoor patients of pediatrics department of DHQ hospital, Faisalabad. Six months. In this study, 43.58%[n=17] in Exposed and 53.85% [n=21] in Un-exposed group were male and remaining 56.42%[n=22] and 46.15%[n=18] were females, mean pulse rate in both groups was recorded which shows 97.32 +/- 6.58 in Exposed Group and 103.67 +/- 8.32 in Un-exposed Group, p value was calculated as 0.02, mean FEV1 rate in both groups was recorded which shows 60.32 +/- 7.56 in Exposed Group and 54.07 +/- 6.43 in Un-exposed Group, p value was calculated as 0.03. We concluded that intravenous magnesium sulfate along with conventional treatment is significantly better than conventional treatment alone for the management of acute severe asthma attack

Treatment of Bronchiolitis; role of inhaled beta-agonists in infants and children

Objective: To compare the efficacy of normal saline and inhaled beta-agonist in the treatment of bronchiolitis

Study design: Randomized clinical trial

Settings: The study was conducted in Paediatric Medicine Department, DHQ hospital/Punjab Medical College Faisalabad. Period: 06 months from 1[st] October 2013 to 31[st] march 2014

Results: In this study, 58.33%[n=21] in Group-A and 66.67%[n=24] in Group-B were between 0-9 months of age, mean and sd was calculated as 11.43 + 3.87 months in Group-A and 10.52 +/- 3.32 months in Group-B, 52.78%[n=19] in Group-A and 61.11%[n=22] in Group-B were male while 47.22%[n=17] in Group-A and 38.89%[n=14] were females, mean clinical score in both groups was recorded as 4.11+1.32 in Group-A and 5.65 + 1.89 in Group-B, comparison of efficacy in both groups was recorded which shows 58.33%[n=21] in Group-A and 25%[n=9] in Group-B were treated effectively while rest of 41.67%[n=15] in Group-A and 75%[n=27] in Group-B were not treated effectively, p value was calculated as 0.008, which is statistically significant

Conclusions: The results of this study reveal that inhaled beta-agonists are more effective than normal saline

Frequency of hepatitis B virus infection among children with chronic liver disease

To determine the frequency of Hepatitis B Virus infection and clinical profile among children with chronic liver disease. Descriptive, Cross sectional Study. The study was conducted in the Department of Pediatric Medicine Allied Hospital Faisalabad from 1[st] June 2007 to 31[st] May 2009. The data of all patients admitted with chronic liver disease during the study period was recorded for age, sex, gender, risk factors, and socioeconomic factors, duration of disease, clinical signs and relevant investigations. A total of hundred patients with chronic liver disease were studied. Among them 54% were male and 46% were female. 15% of patients had positive history of blood transfusion. Hepatitis B seropositivity was found to be 30% in children with chronic liver disease tested by HBsAg in serum. Chronic HBV infection is serious viral disease that can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis B Vaccine should be given to all neonates regardless of maternal HBsAg status to prevent the disease

Pattern of neonatal mortality in neonatal unit of allied hospital Faisalabad Pakistan

To document number and pattern of neonatal mortality at neonatal Unit. Descriptive Study. The study was conducted in the neonatal Unit of Allied Hospital Faisalabad from 1[st] January 2008 to 31[st] December 2008. The data of all admitted patients during the study period were reviewed and analyzed for age, sex, weight, cause of admission and outcome. A total of 3082 patients were admitted. Among them 58% were male and 42% were female. Most of the patients were admitted in 1[st] 24 hours of life. Major causes of death were birth asphyxia 38%, neonatal infections 29% and prematurity 27%. Birth asphyxia, neonatal infections and prematurity are leading causes of neonatal mortality