Smoking among school children and parental socioeconomic status

Background: There is a growing epidemic of tobacco use among adolescents in the developing world. However, there is no up to date information on smoking among adolescents in Pakistan. Adolescence is the time of life when people are more interested in taking risks and testing the boundaries of the world outside as well as their own limits

Objectives: To assess prevalence of smoking and some social factors involved in initiation of it in school adolescents and to formulate recommendations to plan the campaign to prevent and control smoking by school based prevention program

Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in two high schools of Liaqatpur. A total of 300 students, 152 from 9[th] and 148 from 10[th] class were taken having mean ages 14.4 and 15.5 respectively. A questionnaire was given and response of each student was noted individually

Results: In present study out of 300 students, 37[12.33%] were found smokers. Regarding class wise the proportion was 11.18% and 13.51% in 9[th] and 10[th] classes respectively, which shows higher prevalence with increasing age. The prevalence was higher among the children of land Lords and Businessmen. Similarly the education of father has impact upon the smoking prevalence as it was significantly low as compared to those of illiterate parents. The occupational status and education of mother has non-significant effect over prevalence of smoking

Conclusion: The prevalence of smoking in school adolescents of Pakistan is low as compared to many countries but still it is higher than some other countries of the world. Many social factors are involved in initiation of smoking. So there is need to control and prevent this initiation by causing awareness in the parents and school based prevention programs

Frequency and age-specific presentation of burn patients at Sheikh Zayed hospital

Background: Burns are a major source of morbidity and mortality and their incidence is high in the Easter Mediterranean region, including Pakistan. Appropriate measures to prevent burns require adequate knowledge of the epidemiological characteristics and associated risk factors, which may vary among communities

Objectives: To investigate the epidemiological features of patients of burns in Rahimyarkhan, and based on these findings appropriate measures will for prevention of burns

Study design and duration: This was a descriptive study conducted from Feb to Sep, 2010

Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in the Burn Unit of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan. All the burn patients were included in the study. Data regarding age, sex, causative agents, body parts involved, geographical origin, mode and nature of injury and outcome were obtained from the hospital record. Analysis was done with SPSS version 14.0

Results: Total victims were 109 [56 males, 53 females]. Age ranged from 7 months to 70 years [mean 14.30+/- 4.31 years]. Children <10 years were 53[48.6%], 11-20 years were 19 [17.43%] and 21-70 years were 37 [33.9%]. 65 were from rural areas and 44 from urban. 67 [61.41%] cases were caused by flame, 31[28%] by hot liquids, 8 [7%] by electricity, 3 [2.7%] by chemicals. 107 were accidental and 2 suicidal. 85 healed completely, 16 had complications and 8 expired

Conclusion: By using safe kitchen appliances, majority of all burn accidents can be prevented. Measures should be taken to launch a public health education campaign that will reduce the incidence of these fatal casualties

Congenital hypothyroidism: an underestimated clinical entity

The aim of study was to determine the clinical features of Hypothyroid Children in various age groups residing in Rahim Yar Khan. Prospective, descriptive, study, over a span of one year. This study was conducted in Pediatrics department at Sheikh Zayed Hospital and Medical College Rahim Yar Khan from 1st March 2010 to March 2011. The thirty children of both sexes in age group of 1 day - 12 years presenting with clinical features, suspicion of Hypothyroidism were included in study. Children with subtle as well as full fledged sign and symptoms of hypothyroidism were considered for further evaluation. The clinical history, feeding pattern and clinical examination of these cases were recorded. Their blood was examined for T4, T3 and TSH. The X-rays of chest, X-rays of Skeleton, particularly X-ray wrist and X-ray knee joint were obtained. Serum cholesterol, glucose, electrolytes [Na[+] and K[+] and perchlorate [KC10[4] discharge test were obtained. Thyroid scintigraphy was done for isotope uptake. Ultrasonography for thyroid position, its size and detection of solid and cystic lesions was performed.Cardiac monitoring was gained by E.C.G. The data analysis was done by software SPSS 16. All children with clinical features and investigations in favor of hypothyroidism were kept in four groups according to the age. The sluggish behavior, bradycardia, typical coarse faces and TSH in values above normal range were consistent findings in all thirty [n=30] cases. Congenital Hypothyroidism is usually under diagnosed that leads to mental retardation in a child. Therefore any child having suspicion of hypothyroidism should be evaluated by thyroid functions test [TFT], including new born screening