Comparison of gene expert and tuberculin test for the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis

Background: Tuberculosis is a lethal communicable disease, and at times its diagnosis is difficult to establish

Objective: To compare the results of Gene Expert to that of tuberculin test for the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis

Patients and Methods: Study design: Cross-Sectional Analytical study. Place and duration of study: Department of Pediatrics, Sheikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan from 1[st] November, 2012 to 31[st] July, 2013.92 patients of tuberculosis were included strictly, following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Diagnosis of tuberculosis was on the basis of Kenneth Jones criteria. Beside other investigations Gene Expert® and Tuberculin test were done and their results were compared. The data was entered and analyzed by SPSS version 15

Results: Out of 92 patients, 80 [86.9%] were reported positive by Gene Expert whereas 56 [60.8%] were reported positive by Tuberculin test. Overall 52 [56.5%] were found positive by both Gene Expert and Tuberculin test, whereas 8 [8.6%] were found negative by both Gene Expert and Tuberculin test. Out of 80 who were found positive by Gene Expert, 28 [35%] were reported negative by Tuberculin test while out of 12 who were reported negative by Gene Expert, 4 [33.3%] were positive by Tuberculin test

Conclusion: In our study, we found that both Gene Expert and Tuberculin test are effective diagnostic tools for tuberculosis. However, in several cases Gene Expert is more effective than Tuberculin test

Comparison of gene expert and tuberculin test for the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis

Background: Tuberculosis is a lethal communicable disease, and at times its diagnosis is difficult to establish

Objective: To compare the results of Gene Expert to that of tuberculin test for the diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis

Patients and Methods: Study design: Cross-Sectional Analytical study. Place and duration of study: Department of Pediatrics, Sheikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan from 1[st] November, 2012 to 31[st] July, 2013. 92 patients of tuberculosis were included strictly, following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Diagnosis of tuberculosis was on the basis of Kenneth Jones criteria. Beside other investigations Gene Expert and Tuberculin test were done and their results were compared. The data was entered and analyzed by SPSS version 15

Results: Out of 92 patients, 80 [86.9%] were reported positive by Gene Expert whereas 56 [60.8%] were reported positive by Tuberculin test. Overall 52 [56.5%] were found positive by both Gene Expert and Tuberculin test, whereas 8 [8.6%] were found negative by both Gene Expert and Tuberculin test. Out of 80 who were found positive by Gene Expert, 28[35%] were reported negative by Tuberculin test while out of 12 who were reported negative by Gene Expert, 4 [33.3%] were positive by Tuberculin test

Conclusion: In our study, we found that both Gene Expert and Tuberculin test are effective diagnostic tools for tuberculosis. However, in several cases Gene Expert is more effective than Tuberculin test

Liver biopsy as a diagnostic tool in undiagnosed chronic hepatic problems in children

To determine the diagnostic yield and safety of liver biopsy in undiagnosed cases of chronic hepatic problems in children. Retrospective review of 50 pediatric patients who underwent closed needle liver biopsy. Paediatric unit 2, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College/ Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur, from Feb 2004 to March 2005 for a period of 14 months. In this study, 50 cases of liver biopsies in children were included. The patients included children who were having chronic hepatic problems i.e., hepatomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly with or without jaundice or deranged liver function tests for more than 3 months duration. In these cases, etiology could not be determined by routine non-invasive laboratory investigation and liver biopsy was carried out. The record of these patients was evaluated for the histopathological findings of biopsy and post-biopsy complications. Liver biopsy led to a definitive diagnosis in 90% of cases of chronic liver disorders in children. Glycogen storage diseases are the commonest disorders present in 40% of the cases, followed by histopathological changes of fatty liver in 18%, and cirrhosis in 10% of the cases. Only 7 [14%] children complained of pain at the local site during stay in the ward in the first six hours after biopsy. The percutaneous liver biopsy provides a good diagnostic yield with an acceptable failure rate. The approach to the management of various liver ailments can be tailored according to the histological diagnosis furnished by the liver biopsy. It is very safe with minimal complications

Pendred 's syndrome

This report describes pendred's syndrome in three siblings of a consanguineous marriage, belonging to Rahim Yar Khan. The children presented with deafmutism and goiters. The investigations included scintigram, perchlorate discharge test and audiometery. The perchlorate discharge was positive in index case. Bilateral sensorineural hearing defect was detected on Pure Tone Average [PTA] audiometry. Meticulous clinical and laboratory evaluation is mandatory for the detection of rare disorders like Pendred's syndrome

Patterns of breast feeding in children under two years of age in Bahawalpur

To find the patterns of breast feeding in children under two years of age in Bahawalpur. Design: An observational descriptive cross-sectional [prevalence] study. Two thousand five hundred mothers having children below two years of age attending Paediatric outpatient department in Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of breast feeding in children below two years of age in Bahawalpur. Two thousand five hundred mothers were interviewed to find out patterns of feeding their children under two years of age. Colostrum was offered to 19.4% of newborns as first feed; 24.8% of mothers started breast feeding on the very first day while 4.2% did not breast feed at all. Majority of the women started breast feeding because of the family traditions. Eighty five percent of mothers continued breast feeding upto one year, 10% withdrew breast feeding before one year and 35% continued breast feeding their babies beyond infancy. Exclusive breast feeding prevalence was 30% with 25% at the age of b months. Five percent of mothers continued exclusive breast feeding' their children upto 1-2 years. Breast feeding prevalence was low in educated, urban and high socioeconomic class women. Prevalence of breast feeding is significantly high in women belonging to rural set up and among uneducated and low socioeconomic group women in Bahawalpur

Prevalence of hepatitis-B carriers among children in Bahawalpur urban slums

To find out the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B carriers among children in Bahawalpur urban slums. An observational descriptive cross-sectional study of 550 children between 6 months to 15 years age in Paediatric Unit-ll [DTU] of B.V. Hospital over a period of four months [Mid Sept. 1 999 to Mid Jan. 2000] Bahawalpur urban slums and Paediatric Unit-ll [DTU] of B.V. Hospital Bahawalpur. Five hundred fifty children admitted to Paediatric Unit-ll [DTU] and those in Bahowalpur urban slums. Main outcome measures: Seroprevalence of Hepatitis "B" carriers. Mean age of children in our study was 7.5 years. Males were 54%. The number of children detected as carriers of Hepatitis-B was 1 6 [2.9%]. None of the carriers of HB infection, had ever received vaccination against HB infection. Out of 16 carriers 7 cases had successfully completed their EPI schedule, 4 received incomplete vaccination while 5 carriers did not receive any EPI schedule vaccination. Just one seropositive case gave past history of jaundice in his early neonatal period for which he got exchange transfusion. None of the carriers got tattooing nor shared piercing of nose or ears by a common [contaminated] needle nor any history of bath in a swimming pool. There were no signs suggestive of chronic liver disease in any carrier. Overall seroprevalence of Hepatitis-B carriers in Bahawalpur is 2.9%. There is a large cohort of seronegative children. They need to be protected against HBV infection through active immunization