Quality assessment of some paediatric Cotrimoxazole suspensions marketed in Bangladesh

This report includes the actual analytical studies on the marketed paediatric Cotrimoxazole suspensions manufactured by different companies. Ten brands of those suspensions obtained from different drug shops of the country were analyzed mostly according to B.P. method. Not only potency, but also other vital pharmaceutical parameters, such as appearance, weight/ml., pH, viscosity were taken into consideration, for making decision about the standard of the products. Because all these parameters collectively contribute to the total quality of the drug products. Among the ten brands, 7 were found substandard from the pharmaceutical point of view. Some necessary informations were also not mentioned in the package inserts

Orbital manifestations of paranasal sinus diseases

Sixty patients, 42 males and 18 females with a male -female ratio of 2.3: l and age ranging from 1 year to 65 years with a mean of 34.37 years had orbital manifestations which were observed mostly in 2nd decade of life. Majority of them were from middle class. There were 14 inflammatory lesions, 28 malignant tumors, 8 benign tumors and 10 miscellaneous conditions. Among 14 inflammatory pathologies ethmoidal abscess and acute ethmoiditis were noted in 8 patients in younger age group, 20 cases of maxillary antral carcinoma were encountered among 28 malignant lesions, elderly males were the main victims, 8 cases of benign tumors were found in this series, 6 of them were osteomas, 4 arising from the frontal and the other 2 from the ethmoid. Miscellaneous lesions e.g., mucoceles, cysts etc, were found in 10 cases. Orbital manifestations from sinus diseases were multiple in most of the cases. Proptosis was found in 52 cases arising from all groups of sinus diseases. Orbital cellulitis was encountered in 6 cases. Blindness in 4 cases. Antibiotic, has reduced inflammatory diseases significantly but neoplastic infiltration has remained static. Early diagnosis and management reduce the fatal outcome of these diseases

Hearing screening- is it essential? Facilities existing in developing countries in comparison with the developed world

Considering the socio-economic condition and population burden of the developing countries, initially, it will be wise that the children should be screened at age of 7-12 months, than at 2 years for hearing and for CSOM at school entry using a simple Free Field Audiometer [FFA] and that the external ear be inspected [otoscopy] for the presence of discharge, or pus. There is an urgent need to develop reliable and simple screening procedures for infants and young children, where possible, all children should be screened for sever or significant hearing impairment before the age of two years. No screening should, however, be implemented untial appropriate follow-up servies are available. If internationally standardized procedures for the identification and classification of hearing impairment are be developed, an exchange of ideas and cooperation between countries is needed. Agreement on such procedures would facilitates both the beginning and development of audiological services and comparisons of the prevalence of hearing impairment in different populations. Routine screening programmes should only be implemented where there are adequate referral services. These services include diagnosis and assessment, production, fitting of ear moulds and hearing aids with follow-up and maintenance services and rehabilitation programmes, including educational support. In such situations, routine screening for hearing impairment should be performed at school entry and where posrformed at school entry and where possible before the age of two years. If it is not feasible to screen whole populations of young children, attempts should be made to screen those children considered to be 'a risk' of hearing impairment. Behavioural testing of infants and children in industrial countries are less likely to be applicable in developing countries because of equipment, trained personnel and environmental, trained personnel and environmental facilities. Moreover, the traditionally used procedures for the behavioural screening for hearing impairment have been developed in industrial countries and may be inappropriate for some Asian countries like Bangladesh. Research for the development of simple, low cost and reliable techniques for the early identification of hearing impairment is urgently needed. CSOM appears to be most common cause of mild to moderate hearing impairment in children in developing countries. Tympanometry is not the most effective technique of identifying this condition, which is best diagnosed by the presebce of a purulent discharge, using otoscopy if possible. For the detection of moderate to severe hearing impairment, purpose audiometry is still the most suitable screening procedure. A simple, robust and low cost field audiometer has recently been developed for this purpose