Etiology of cerebral palsy in children below age of 5 years

Background: Cerebral palsy is the most common and costly form of chronic motor disability that begins in childhood. Aims of the study were to identify etiology and risk factors of CP*, to find correlation between the etiology and clinical type of CP* in children below age of 5 years.Methods: analytical study done in indoor patients at civil hospital, Ahmedabad from October 2014 to September 2016.Results: Overall incidence of cerebral palsy in indoor patients was 0.78 per 100 patients. Most common age of presentation is 1-3 years. Majority of cases have perinatal factors as etiology followed by postnatal etiology. Most common type of CP was spastic type. Most common type of topographical CP was spastic quadriplegic. Major symptom for which they admitted in the hospital was convulsion.Conclusions: Majority of cases had perinatal factors as etiology author can prevent CP* by providing primary prevention, specific prevention and improving antenatal and intra-natal care. Disease progression of CP* can be halted by secondary prevention. Maximization of function can be done by tertiary prevention.

Study of ocular manifestations in children of thalassemia.

Background: Purpose of current study was to study the ocular manifestations in beta-thalassemia major patients and assess the ocular side-effects of iron chelating agents. Methods: Cross sectional study included 45 β Thalassemia major patients from age group of 6months to 12 years were taken. Full medical history, thorough physical examinations were done to all patients groups, and ophthalmological examination to determine the prevalence of ocular manifestations for all patient groups and to correlate these manifestations or changes with iron chelating agents. Results: In 45 patients (22 males and 23 females) with age ranging between 2 years to 12 years, ocular involvement is seen in 35% in the form of decreased visual acuity 26%, tortuous blood vessels in 4.5%, disc hyperemia in 4.5%, heterochromia in 2.5%, retinal pigment epithelium mottling in2.5% and this involvement were more with older age group. Conclusion: Most of the ocular changes of beta thalassemia are attributed to the course and severity of the disease. Reduction in serum iron and serum Ferritin levels by iron- chelating agents and regular ocular examination to look for side-effects of such agents can aid in preventing or delaying ocular complications.