Nutritional rickets: correlation between clinical, biochemical and radiological profile

To determine the correlation between clinical manifestations, biochemical and radiological profile in children with nutritional rickets. This is a cross-sectional study conducted at paediatric ward of a private sector health facility, Kutyana Memon Hospital Kharadar Karachi. A total of hundred patients aged 2 to 36 months with clinical suspicion of nutritional rickets were included in the study. A detailed history and examination was done and relevant investigations including serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase and X-ray wrist joints were done to confirm the diagnosis. Data was analyzed and presented as percentages and frequencies. There were 63% males and 37% females. Majority of children were between 6 to 18 months of age, [49%] followed by 2-6 months [44%] and 18 to 36 months [07%]. Rachitic rosary was the most frequent clinical feature observed in 87% followed by widening of wrist joints in 76% cases. Serum calcium was low in 90% cases and serum alkaline phosphatase was increased in all patients. Serum phosphate was either low or normal in 44% cases each. Radiological findings were suggestive of rickets in 54% cases. Clinical and Biochemical markers are reliable indicators for diagnosis of nutritional rickets, which is more frequent between 2 to 18 months of age

Etiological profile of pancytopenia in children: a hospital based study

To determine the etiological profile of pancytopenia in children admitted in a Paediatric department of a tertiary care hospital. This is a cross-sectional study conducted at Department of Paediatrics Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital Karachi from January 2009 to December 2009. It included all the patients between 1 -12 years of age, presenting with complaints of pallor, fever and bleeding manifestations and their complete blood picture showed decrease in 2 or 3 blood cells lines i.e hemoglobin less than 10g/dl, absolute neutrophil count less than 1.5X10[3]/L and platelet count less than 150X10[9]/L. Relevant investigations such as complete blood count, peripheral smear, reticulocyte count and bone marrow examination were done to confirm the diagnosis. The data was analyzed through SPSS version 15.0. A total of fifty patients were enrolled. There were 48% males and 52% females. Male to female ratio was 0.9:1. Mean age of patients was 7 + 3.35 years with range from 1 to 12 years. Infectious etiology was found in 50% cases followed by aplastic anemia 22%, malignancies 10% and hypersplenism 8%. Common infections found were malaria 22%, enteric fever 12% and megaloblastic anemia secondary to vitamin B12 deficiency was observed in 4% patients. The most frequent etiology of pancytopenia in children was infections followed by aplastic anemia, malignancy and hypersplenism. Malaria and enteric fever were the two most commonly observed infections causing pancytopenia in children