Fluoride levels of drinking water and dental caries in Hazara and Mianwali

Two hundred and sixteen drinking water samples from various sources in Hazaza Division and District Mianwali were tested for fluoride levels. In Hazara Division, out of 161 water samples, only 4 samples were found to have fluoride levels within acceptable range [0.8-1.5 PPM], remaining samples had fluoride either very low or not at all. The fluoride range was from 0.0 to 0.9 ppm with a mean of 0.11 ppm. In District Mianwali, 55 drinking water samples were tested, the fluoride content was within normal limits or high, except few samples having less fluoride concentration. The range was 0.3 to 6. 5 ppm with mean of 1.46 ppm. 1739 Primary and High School going boys and girls of District Abbottabad, Haripur and Mianwali were examined for dental caries. In Hazara Division 61% were found to have mild to severe dental caries while in District Mianwali, it was only 4.9% while mottling was 14.6%

Physical and mental handicapped in government institutes of Hazara division

Of the 194 physically and mentally handicapped children and adults admitted to 5 institutes of Hazara Division, 117 [57.2%] were congenitally deaf and dumb, 27 [14.0%] were Post paralytic Polio myelitis victims 24 [12.47] were blind, while 9 [4.7%] were mentally retarded. Congenital limb anomalies and post encephalitics were 4.0% each. Genetic defects and metabolic deficiencies were 2.5% of the total handicapped. Consanguinity was higher in congenital limb anomalies and in congenital deaf and dumb. Proper health facilities were not provided to these institutes and no doctors, nurses, psyiotherapists, paediatricians or psychiatrists were available or visiting these institutions

Preliminary cytogenetic studies in Hazara division

Cytogenetic studies were performed on 185 people in Hazara Division from January 1, 1993 to January 31, 1994; these included normal people, as well as selected groups of patients suspected of having various chromosomal abnormalities. Suspected patients were selected from special education centres, hospitals or the community and belonged to the following categories: mental retardation, congenital anomalies, Down's syndrome, Turner's syndrome, primary and secondary amenorrhoea, infertility, undescended testes, azoospermia and leukaemias. Abnormal karyotypes were found only in cases of Down's and Turner's syndromes and in Leukaemias. Further studies in these and other related groups are expected to continue in the future

Prevalence of glycosuria in the general population of district Abbottabad

One thousand one hundred and fifty six urine samples were tested for glycosuria in various age groups. There was almost an equal representation of urban and rural populations and ratio of male to female was 2:1. The mean age was 27.3 years. Out of the total, 16 subjects [1.4%] were diabetic and 75% of them were newly diagnosed. The prevalence of diabetes in the age group 31-44 years group was 2.2% 3% in 41-50 years and about 12% in the over 50 years age group. Only one case was Juvenile onset diabetes while all others were maturity onset diabetics. Most of the diabetics were obese. Two diabetics [12.5%], were found to have retinopathy and nephropathy and one [6.25%] was found to have neuropathy also. All the known diabetics [25%] were managed on oral hypoglycaemic agents and diet control

Screening for neonatal hemoglobin-S in Abbottabad-a hospital based study

A total of 764 cord blood samples were analysed for Haemoglobin-S [Hb-S] from two hospitals of District Abbottabad. Half of the cases belonged to rural areas of District Abbottabad and Mansehra. The common ethnic groups/casts were Awans and Pathans. No case of sickle cell disease or other variant was found thus showing that Hb-S and other haemoglobinopathies are uncommon in this area. It is concluded that extensive screening of the local population as a routine is unlikely to be very frutiful; however, this may be done keeping in view the local population movement and the malarial trends in the area

Serum total protein profile in children under 5 years age at women and children hospital, Abbottabad

A study of serum protein profile was done in 324 infants/children suffering from meningitis, pneumonia, enteric fever, diarrhoeal diseases, gastro - enteritis, malaria, septicaemia, rheumatic fever, cirrhosis, tetanus and leishmaniasis. Pneumonia and meningitis were the common diseases in the study. Hypoproteinaemia was found in only 4% of the patient of diarrhoeal diseases while hypoalbuminaemia occurred in all cases of septicaemia and cirrhosis. Alpha-I globulin was raised in 56% of meningitis, 60% cases of rheumatic fever, 20% of the enteritis fever and all of the septicaemia cases. It was markedly less in cirrhosis. Alpha-2 globulin was high in 85% of meningitis, 64% of pneumonia, 41% enteric fever, 38% of diarrhoeal diseases, 8% of gastro-enteritis and all of septicaemia, rheumatic fever and leishmaniasis. Beta globulin fraction was increased in rheumatic fever and cirrhosis only. Marked hypergammaglobulinaemia was found in septicaemia and cirrhosis. Hypogammaglobulinaemia was detected in 62 [19%] patients. Bisalbuminaemia, a genetic abnormality was seen in only one case. Alpha-2 globulin was raised in 7[8.5%] while Hypogammaglobulineemia was found in 4[4.9%]. Serum protein and its fraction determination is a valuable diagnostic aid for infections and some genetic abnormalities

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in children and its effect of hemoglobin level

A total of 856 stool samples from school going children of District Abbotabad were examined for intestinal helminths. The overall infestation rate was 35.3% of which 6.6% showed mixed infection. Ascaris lumbricoides was the commonest [74.11%], followed by Hymenolepis nana [15.1%]. Trichuris trichura [7.4%], Entrobius vermicularis [0.9%], Taenia Saginata [0.9%]. Ankylostoma duodenale [0.6%], Entamoeba histolytica [0.6%] and Giardia lamblia [0.3%]. The overall mean Hb was 12.6 g/dl, and there was a significant difference in Hb levels between the infected 1nd non-infected subjects who had 11.4 g/dl and 13.6 g/dl Hb respectively [P< 0.05]

Bacteriological study of drinking water in district Abbottabad

Seventy samples were collected from various sources of drinking water in Abbottabad Disrtict, to study the quality of such water. Out of all samples, faecal contamination was found in 57.2% of samples, while 18.6% of the samples were found sterile having less than 10 bacilli per 100 ml. It was noted that water from 76.2% spring, 100% streams, 44.0% taps and 50% shallow wells and faecal contamination. The common organism isolated were echerichia coli 57.2%, klebsiella 14.3% pseudomonas 1%, preoteus 1.4% and micrococci 1.4