RESUMEN
Background: The objective of the study was to find out the etiology, associated signs and symptoms of fever of 1-3 weeks in the age group of 1-12 years and their outcome following treatment in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: This was an observational prospective study conducted at Institute of child health and hospital for children, Egmore, Chennai during the period from January 2011 to October 2012. A total of 621 children aged 1-12 years with 1-3 weeks of fever were included in the study. Demographic, clinical and diagnostic data were collected and analyzed for each patient and outcome was assessed for different types of febrile illness.Results: Out of 621 patients enrolled in the study, enteric fever was diagnosed in majority cases followed by respiratory tract infection, urinary' tract' infection' in' 102' (16.4%), leptospirosis in 78 (12.6%), malaria in 60(9.7%), dengue fever in 8 (7.7%) rickettsia infection in 36 (5.8%), tuberculosis in 24 (3.9%), CNS infection in 18 (2.9%), viral hepatitis in12 (1.9%), malignancy in 5(0.8%), connective tissue disorder in 4 (0.6%), localized infection in 2 (0.3%) cases. The incidence was unknown in 10 patients (1.6%). Fever and vomiting were the common symptom seen in all the patients. Mortality was observed 18 (2.94%) cases.Conclusions: The similarity of illness and complexity in etiological conditions demonstrates the complications of diagnosis and treatment of fevers. The present study findings provided rationale information for development of guidelines necessary for treatment and thereby reducing the mortality rate in children of age 1-12 years with incidence of febrile illness.
RESUMEN
Background: Vitamin D deficiency in exclusively breast fed infants was increasing in young infants. Many studies were done previously but still the data on vitamin D status of healthy term infants are scanty. Hence the present study was done to determine the prevalence of subclinical vitamin D deficiency among exclusively breast fed babies by estimating the serum levels of relevant parameters.Methods: The present descriptive study included 40 babies that are exclusively breast fed healthy term babies with birth weight >2.5kg. After collection of complete demographic and antenatal data, serum was collected from all the babies to estimate serum levels of vitamin D (25OH-D3) and calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase.Results: Out of 40 babies, vitamin D deficiency was found in 33 (83%) babies. Of them, hypocalcaemia was seen in 13 (39.3%) infants. Raised ALP was noticed in all babies with a mean value of 464.97 IU/L. Phosphorus levels were normal in all babies with a mean value of 6.12 mg/ml.' Serum 25 OH vitamin D3 levels were low (mean-10.02 ng/ml) and mean calcium was 8.81 mg/dl.Conclusions: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found to be high in exclusively breastfed babies with hypocalcemia in 39% of babies and associated seizure in one baby in this study.