Current maternal-infant micronutrient status and the effects on birth weight in the United Arab Emirates

Micronutrient deficiencies exist among women of childbearing age in the United Arab Emirates but the effects of maternal micronutrient deficiency on fetal growth are not well documented. To investigate the association between micronutrients and birth weight, we measured maternal and cord blood micronutrients [vitamin A, C, D, and E] and ferritin in 84 term, singleton infants born to healthy Arab and South Asian women at Al-Ain hospital. Median serum ascorbic acid and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-OHD] concentrations were low in mothers and infants. In multivariate analysis, maternal serum 25-OHD correlated positively with birth weight while serum ferritin showed a negative correlation

Autosomal recessive early-onset nephropathy with progressive focal glomerule sclerosis

We report an inbred Arab family from Oman with 5 children affected with an early-onset nephropathy and an early progression to renal failure. All patients presented with eyelid swelling, proteinuria and microscopic haematuria associated with growth failure. The patients did not present gross oedema or clinical nephrotic syndrome in spite of massive proteinuria and hypoproteinaemia, and there was no response to steroid. Renal biopsy showed progressive focal glomerulosclerosis in 2 of them and an unusual appearance in the 3rd child with deposition of electron-dense immune complexes in the mesangium and subendothelial position. It may be that this is a new type of nephropathy leading to focal glomerulosclerosis. Mapping the gene for this type of nephrosis should be possible in this family using the concept of homozygosity mapping

Accidental poisoning of children in the United Arab Emirates

A prospective study of childhood accidental poisoning was conducted in the Al-Ain district of the United Arab Emirates. The results showed that accidental poisoning was frequent but morbidity was low and there were no deaths. The pattern of poisoning is similar to that in western Europe and north America, with household chemicals and medicines predominating. Analgesics and antihistamines were most frequently ingested. The frequency of accidental poisoning in Al-Ain merits the introduction of a public awareness campaign and increased use of child-resistant containers

Urinary tract infection in children is still a mismanaged problem

Forty Five children with definite and 41 with probable urinary tract infection [UTI] were identified from 136 case-notes reviewed for possible UTI. Twenty three of the 45 patients with definite UTI were aged one year or less. The main clinical features were fever [78%,] vomiting [33%], diarrhoea [33%] and abdominal pain [13%.] Imaging of the urinary tract was considered adequate in only two patients; 19 patients did not have any imaging study. The predominant causative organism was Escherichia coli which was cultured in 43 urine specimens. The organism was highly resistant to drugs often commonly used to treat UTI: ampicillin 87%, cephalexin 74% and cotrimoxazole 62%. Subsequent follow-up of the patients was inadequate. We conclude that UTI is still misdiagnosed and mismanaged in children