A Study of Hyponatremia in Lower Respiratory Infections in Children Aged 2months to 5 Years

We studied serum sodium levels within 2 hours of admission of 100 children aged 2months to 5 years admitted with diagnosis of lower respiratory infections(pneumonia,bronchiolitis, bronchitis, empyema and WALRI). Methods: In our study out of these 100 cases 33(33%) cases were having hyponatremia (s.sodium<135mEq/L) &0ut of33(33%) cases 17(51.5%) cases had mild hyponatremia i.e. s.sodium 131-134mEq/L, 14(42.5%) cases had moderate hyponatremia i.e. s.sodium 126-130mEq/L & 2(6%)cases had severe hyponatremia i.e. s.sodium <125mEq/L. These Children with hyponatremia were evaluated for plasma osmolality, urinary sodium and osmolality on day of admission and after appropriate fluid therapy. Results: Out of these 33 cases, the probable cause of hyponatremia was the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in 27(81.8%) cases (as suggested by their plasma osmolality,urinary sodium and urine osmolality). Symptoms and signs indicative of severe LRIs were about one and a half times more frequent and the mean duration of hospital stay was 49.2% longer in children with hyponatremia than with isonatremia. Two children (2%) with severe hyponatremia had complications in the form of convulsions associated with transitory altered sensorium for 2-3 days. The recovery from hyponatremia with timely intervention showed a good improvement in clinical symptomology of respiratory distress and there was no mortality in the studied cases. Conclusion: Thus it is concluded that,presence of hyponatremia in LRI’s increases the morbidity of these patients in the form of prolonged hospital stay and occurrence of complications like seizures followed by deranged sensorium in some cases.

Infecciones respiratorias agudas bajas y mortalidad posneonatal / Acute lower respiratory infections and post-neonatal mortality

La mortalidad por infecciones respiratorias agudas bajas (IRAB) en Argentina, constituye la tercera causa de muerte en menores de un año y es la primera causa si tomamos la mortalidad posneonatal. En este contexto, desde el año 2002, debido al lanzamiento del Programa Nacional IRAB, se lleva a cabo en el hospital en el período de Contingencia (1 de junio al 31 de agosto de cada año) el Centro de Prehospitalizacion,con el fin estratégico de disminuir la morbimortalidad de pacientes con enfermedad respiratoria aguda baja menores de 2 años. Durante 2012 realizamos un estudio descriptivo poblacional de cortetransversal, en el que se analizó el manejo de la Contingencia IRAB en el Hospital Luisa Cravenna de Gandulfo, contemplando la participación de todos los servicios involucrados. Entre los objetivos específicos se encuentran: obtener indicadores de morbimortalidad por IRAB y realizar contrarreferencia de pacientes IRAB atendidos en nuestro centro. Para la realización de este estudio se tuvieron en cuenta todos los niños menores de 2 años atendidos en nuestro hospital por IRAB. En el transcurso de la Contingencia,se atendió un 35% más de pacientes que en 2011, a expensas de esfuerzos propios y regionales.

Mortality for acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in Argentina is the third cause of death in infants less than one year old, and the first if we consider post-neonatal mortality. Against this backdrop, with the launch of the National ALRI Program, since 2002 the Pre-hospitalization Centre has been operat-ing in our hospital during the contingency period (July 1 to August 31 of each year), with the strategic aim of reducing the morbidity and mortality of infants aged less than two years old with acute lower respiratory pathology. In 2012, we carried out a cross-sectional, descriptive population study to analyze the way ALRI contingency was handled in the Luisa Cravenna de Gandulfo Hospital, considering the participation of all the medical services involved. The specific objectives included obtaining indicators of morbidity and mortality for ALRI and performing counter-references on ALRI patients treated in our health centre. In order to perform our study we included all infants aged less than two years old who were treated in our hospital for ALRI. During the contingency, due to self and regional efforts, we treated 35% more patients than in 2011.

Study of Disability adjusted life year (DALY) due to air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia / Шинэ санаа Шинэ нээлт

Acceleration of emissions reductions in household coal stoves and modest improvements in other sectors, however, have the potential to considerably lower outdoor pollution and reduce total exposures to about 70% of those today (Scenario 1). Reducing total exposures closer to these international benchmark levels will require moving away from coal and wood as household fuels and even more control on other sources (Scenario 2). The first package of moderate control measures (Scenario 1) considered in this assessment will result in a slow decline in impacts(Figure) and a cumulative health savings over trends in 2013, but leave annual per capita health impacts only about 25% lower than today after ten years. A more aggressive set of control measures (Scenario 2), however, will result in more health protection over the period and reduce annual impacts by approximately 60% from current levels in 2025 . In terms of impact per capita,this would represent nearly a 70% reduction over the period taking population growth into account.

Epidemiologic and Clinical Feature of Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections by Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Parainfluenza Virus in Children

PURPOSE: This is to analyze epidemic and clinical features of acute respiratory tract infections (ALRTI) by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza virus (PIV), which are considered to be the major respiratory pathogens in children. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 515 patients with ALRTI hospitalized at Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital between Apr. '94 and Oct. '96. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were inoculated to HEp-2 cell, MDCK cell, and LLC-MK2 cell for the cultivation of viruses. The cultivated cells were observed for cytopathic effect on the 4th and 10th day. In case cytopathic effect was seen, indirect IF was done by using monoclonal antibodies for RSV and PIV 1, 2, 3 types. RESULTS: 1) The RSV and/or PIV have been identified in 150 out of 515 patients (29.1%), which break down into 86 patients (cultured only RSV), 46 patients (only PIV), 18 patients (both RSV and PIV). 2) ALRTI caused by RSV and PIV occurred mostly in the first two years of life (93%). The ratio of male to female patient was 2.1:1 and 74% of ALRTI was found in the patients with no history of underlying diseases. 3) RSV infection occurred mostly late autumn and winter, while PIV infection occurred all the year round, mostly in May. 4) RSV infection caused bronchiolitis in 67%, pneumonia in 28%, croup in 4%, while PIV infection caused bronchiolitis in 41%, croup in 37%, pneumonia in 20% clinically. And combined infection caused bronchiolitis in 67% and pneumonia in 28%. 5) The WBC count was normal in 49% of the RSV, 35% of the PIV, and 56% of the combined infection. The ESR was normal in 71% of the RSV, 59% of the PIV, and 79% of the combined infection. The CRP was normal in 83% of the RSV, 66% of the PIV, and 89% of the combined infection. 6) The following non-respiratory signs and symptoms were detected: diarrhea, increased AST/ALT, conjunctivitis, febrile seizure, exanthem, acute otitis media, enanthem. 7) The major radiologic features of RSV were normal in 54%, hyperaeration in 28%, peribronchial infiltration in 8%, and consolidation in 8%. PIV infection shows normal in 30%, hypopharyngeal dilatation in 33%, hyperaeration in 17%, and peribronchial infiltration in 4%. 8) The hospitalized period was 7.1 days on the average. None of them was died or mechanically ventilated due to ALRTI. CONCLUSIONS: RSV and PIV are considered to be the major causes of ALRTI. Diagnosis and treatment of RSV and PIV infections will be improved through further epidemiologic or clinical studies.