RESUMO
Background: Nutritional status is an important indicator in measuring the quality of life of children. Galkadapthana is a rural agricultural village in the Nuwara Eliya district, Sri Lanka. Villagers confront difficulties regarding their nutritional status due to low income, inadequate education and poor infrastructure facilities. This study was undertaken to identify the relationships between the nutritional status of school children in Galakadapathana village and their dietary patterns. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out using a deductive approach. A total of 85 households with 137 school children aged 6-18 years were randomly selected. Data was collected using structured surveys and conducting face-to-face interviews. The nutritional status of children was assessed through anthropometric measurements. Results: A severely stunted condition was observed in 5.8% of children, while 7.3% represent severely underweight conditions according to the WHO growth references, 2007. The maximum number of 6 was scored in the Individual Dietary Diversity Score (IDDS) by 24.8% of the population. The maximum number of 7 in the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) was scored by 21.2% of the population. There was no significant (P>0.05) relationship between the BMI-for-age status and the aggregate level of education of the breadwinner, birthweight of the child, IDDS, and HDDS. However, the amount of starchy food intake significantly (P<0.05) impacted the BMI-for-age status. Conclusions: The amount of starchy food intake showed a significant impact on the prevalence of wasting (P<0.05), but not the aggregate level of education of the breadwinner, birthweight of the child and dietary diversity.
RESUMO
Objective: To analyse the effectiveness and safety of cyclosporin A (CsA) in the treatment of steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) in childhood. Design: Prospective descriptive study Setting: Nephrotic Syndrome Clinic, Teaching Hospital Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Method: Children with SDNS who had normal renal function, relapsed while receiving over 1mg/kg prednisolone on alternate days and who had received at least one course of cyclophosphamide were recruited to the study over a period of 5 years. They were treated with CsA 3-5 mg/kg/day orally with a tapering dose of alternate day prednisolone. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-test. Results: Over 5 years, 48 children who satisfied the inclusion criteria were recruited. CsA therapy was discontinued in two patients who had evidence of nephrotoxicity within 6 months of therapy. Forty six patients completed the study. Thirty one were male. The maintenance dose of prednisolone was tapered at least by 50% at 6 months of therapy in 38 (83%) patients. At the completion of 6 months of therapy, the mean serum cholesterol decreased from 396.96 mg/dl to 269.5 mg/dl (p<0.01) and the mean serum albumin increased from 21.1 mg/dl to 33.5 mg/dl (p<0.01). Hypertension was seen in 26 (57%) patients and hirsutism in 37 (80%). All patients had normal liver enzymes and opportunistic infections were not encountered. Conclusions: CsA treatment in combination with low-dose prednisolone is highly effective in maintaining complete remission in difficult SDNS in childhood. Reversible nephrotoxicity was seen in 4% of patients, hypertension in 57% and hirsutism in 80%.
RESUMO
Hyper-IgE syndrome, a multi-system disorder affecting dentition, skeletal and immune systems and connective tissues, presents with recurrent infections and dermatitis. We report here the first case in Sri Lanka.