Upper limit of anti-streptolysin O level in normal children in behera area

Antistreptolysin O [ASO] levels vary with age group of the study population and geographical location. The aim of the present work was to measure the upper limit of normal [ASO] titer as a referent value among healthy children of age up to 12 years living in El-Behera governorate and near areas. It was undertaken to 300 normal children of age 0-12 years, with no history of recent sore throat infection, they were attending the pediatric and ENT outpatient clinics of Damanhour Medical National Institute [DMNI] during the period from February 2004 to January 2005. The modified Randall method was used for estimating ASO titers. The results showed that the upper limit of normal [ULN] ASO level for the children of age 0 - < 2 years was 147 IU. The ULN, ASO level for the children of age 2- < 6 years was 336.8 IU and that for children of age 6-12 years was 353.2 IU. There were statistically significant difference among the three groups [ANOVA, F=160, P = 0.00]. By multiple comparison, the least significant difference [LSD] showed that the mean difference between children of age group 2 to < 6 years and those of 2 months to < 2 years was 138.6 IU [p= 0.000 and 95% confidence interval was ranging from 120.4 IU to 156.8 IU], and the mean difference between children of age group 6 to 12 years and those of 2 months to < 2 years was 148.2 IU [p= 0.000 and 95% confidence interval was ranging from 129.9 IU to 166.4 IU]. On the other hand the mean difference between children of age group 6 to 12 years and those of 2 to < 6 years was 9.6 IU [p = 0.301 and 95% confidence interval was ranging from] -8.6 [0] IU to 27.8 IU]

Study of clinical profile of sepsis in neonates

Neonatal sepsis is a clinical syndrome of systemic illness that affect this very delicate group in the first month of life. The aim of the present work was to detect the different clinical profiles of neonatal sepsis in neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] in a tertiary level pediatric hospital of ministry of health in Alexandria over one year [2003]. Total number of neonates admitted was 700 over 1 year, out of them 186 cases [26.5%] were initially diagnosed as neonatal sepsis. Only 128 neonates [68.32%] were proved to have sepsis, while the remaining cases 58 [31.18%] suffered from conditions that mimic sepsis

Study of rheumatic fever among school children in Alexandria during 1995-1999

Acute rheumatic fever continues to be a major health problem in economically developing and developed counties. The present study aimed to identify the incidence of rheumatic fever [RF and its complications among school students in Alexandria governorate [Egypt] during the years 1995-1999. The incidence of RF showed a decrease trend ranging from 189/100000 in 1995 to 93/10,000 in 1999; Rheumatic arthritis was the main presentation observed. Mitral regurgitation was the most common valvular lesion, followed by combined mitral and aortic regurgitation. Isolated aortic regurgitation was the least frequent lesion. Surgical intervention was done for no more than 2% of all cases

Statistical study of preterm infants admitted to NICU in Fawzy Moaz Hospital for children

Prematurity is a major health problem and a leading cause of neonatal mortality. Prematurity is defined as gestational age less than 37 weeks of gestation measured form the first day of the last normal menstrual period. The aim of the present work is to detect premature problems, incidence of premature and incidence of neonatal deaths in neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] in Fawzy Moaz pediatric hospital in Alexandria [Egypt] through one year [October 1999-October 2000]. Data were collected retrospectively from Healthy Mother/Healthy Child files in the NICU. Sample size included 480 neonates [106<37 weeks]. Results revealed that 22.1% of cases admitted in the NICU were prematures. Among those 51.9% were females, 75.5% were >/= 32 weeks and 62.3% weighed >/= 1500 gm. Deaths constituted 48% of admitted preterms. Premature death was significantly higher among those less than 32 weeks [80.8%] and less than 1500 gm [60%]. Hyperbilirubinemia was the first cause of admission [28.4%]. Premature admission and death rate were high. Better antenatal care coverage for pregnant women and continuous training of neonatologists is needed for more accurate assessment and management of premature cases

Prevalence of nasal and sinus diseases in atopic asthmatic children in Behera

Most patients with asthma also have rhinitis, and the same inflammatory cells and mechanisms are present in bronchial and nasal mucosa, thus leading to the concept of "one airway, one disease". The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of rhinitis and sinusitis in children with varying severities of bronchial asthma and its relation to the degree of asthma severity among children residing in semi urban semi rural areas in Behira, Egypt. Our study was a matched case control cross sectional study. It included one hundred asthmatic children whose ages ranged from 5-12 years, attendants of the allergy and chest diseases, pediatric outpatient clinic, and 100 matched controls, attending pediatric outpatient clinic in Damanhour Medical National Institute during the period from the first of February 2004 to 31[st]of August 2004. Asthmatic children were judged atopic or non atopic on the basis of skin tests to common allergens and were graded as having mild, moderate and severe asthma. All children were subjected to complete physical and medical examinations, radiography of chest and paranasal sinuses, pulmonary function test. Laboratory investigations included complete blood picture and examination of nasal secretions for eosinophils. In the present study, there was significantly higher prevalence of both allergic rhinitis [63%] and sinusitis [19%] among allergic asthmatic children than controls [9% and 6% respectively] with a statistically significant difference at p< 0.01. Other nasal diseases among asthmatics were insignificantly different from controls. The chronic severe asthmatics had higher rate of sinusitis [62.5%] than other asthmatic children [12%] in children with frequent moderate and 8.8% in those with mild asthma with a statistically significant difference at p< 0.01. Proper examination of the upper airways including nose and paranasal sinus should be an essential and routine part when evaluating a child with bronchial asthma, even if symptoms of the upper respiratory tract diseases are not present

Incidence of urinary tract infection in protein calorie malnutrition

Infection and malnutrition are usually a common association and it is not easy to define which is the cause and which is the effect. The present study aimed to find out the incidence of urinary tract infection [UTI] in malnourished infants and children. Pyuria [5 pus cells/HPF] was found in 15 cases out of 60 malnourished patients [25%], but only 5 cases [8.3%] out of them had positive urine cultures with colony count 10[6] or more. These five cases had significant pyuria [> 15 pus cells/HPF] while non of the healthy group had abnormal urinary changes