A case of occult fronto temporo parietal meningoencephalocele in an infant.

We describe a case of an occult fronto temporo parietal meningoencephalocele discovered in a 45 days old infant baby. The most common cause for meningoenphalocele is trauma by any means during birth or during development. But here in our case there is lack of such significant history of trauma and so the possible cause of the lesion may be congenital defect only. Preoperative Clinical, CT and MR images are presented. Lesion was removed surgically with satisfactory post operative recovery.

Risk factors of childhood tuberculosis: a case control study from rural Bangladesh

Background: Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major causes of childhood morbidity and mortality; however, it is relatively a neglected disease. Hence, we explored the risk factors for childhood TB. Methods: Ninty-five cases and 94 controls were selected during January to May 2011 from DOTS centres located in four sub-districts of Bangladesh. The exposure status of recently diagnosed childhood TB patients (<18-year-olds), who were sputum-positive, were compared with children who were sent to the laboratory with suspected tuberculosis but were found to be sputum-negative. Data were collected by a structured questionnaire. Crude odds ratios (OR), adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Stepwise logistic regression model was used to identify independent predictors. Results: Children under 14 years of age (AOR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.10-0.66), having completed primary education (AOR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.10-0.74), whose fathers’ were in business or service(AOR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.08-0.72), and who slept in a less crowded room (AOR: 0.32; 95% CI:0.14-0.76), lived in a house with a separate kitchen (AOR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.16-0.96) had less chance of having TB. Those who had contact with cases of TB among relatives or neighbours were less likely to have TB (AOR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.16-0.70) compared to those who had contact with a TB case in the family. Conclusion: Age, education, father’s occupation, crowding, kitchen location and intimate contact with a TB case were significantly associated with smear-positive childhood TB.