Determinants of Undernutrition in Children Under 2 years of Age From Rural Bangladesh.

This study aimed to assess the determinants of under nutrition among under-two year old children of rural Bangladesh. The data of the National Nutrition Program baseline survey conducted in 2004 was analyzed, which included 8,885 under-two children and their mothers. Among the children studied, 41%, 35% and 18% were stunted, underweight, and wasted; and 16%, 11.5% and 3% were severely-stunted, -underweight, and –wasted, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that undernourished children were less likely to be female and having received measles vaccination, more likely to have suffered from diarrhea in the previous two weeks, and more likely to have older- (>30 years), shorter- (<145 cm), undernourished- (BMI ≤18.5 kg/m2) and illiterate/less educated mother. Children with moderate stunting and underweight were more likely to reside in households with un-hygienic toilet. Children with all forms of under nutrition were more often from families with lowest quintile of asset index. The identified associated/risk factors can be used for designing and targeting preventive programs for undernutrition.

Risk Factors of Mortality in Severely-malnourished Children Hospitalized with Diarrhoea.

This case-control study was conducted in the Dhaka Hospital of ICDDR,B to identify the risk factors of mortality in severely-malnourished children hospitalized with diarrhoea. One hundred and three severelymalnourished children (weight-for-age <60% of median of the National Center for Health Statistics standard) who died during hospitalization were compared with another 103 severely-malnourished children who survived. These children were aged less than three years and admitted to the hospital during 1997. On admission, characteristics of the fatal cases and non-fatal controls were comparable, except for age. The median age of the cases and controls were six and eight months respectively (p=0.05). Patients with low pulse rate or imperceptible pulse had three times the odds of death compared to the control group (p<0.01). The presence of clinical septicaemia and clinical severe anaemia had 11.7 and 4.2 times the odds of death respectively (p<0.01). Patients with leukocytosis (>15,000/cm3) had 2.5 times the odds of death (p<0.01). Using logistic regression, clinical septicaemia [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=8.8, confidence interval (CI) 3.7-21.1, p=0.01], hypothermia (AOR=3.5, CI 1.3-9.4, p<0.01), and bronchopneumonia (AOR=3.0, CI 1.2-7.3, p<0.01) were identified as the significant risk factors of mortality. Severely-malnourished children (n=129) with leukocytosis, imperceptible pulse, pneumonia, septicaemia, and hypothermia had a high risk of mortality. The identified risk factors can be used as a prognostic guide for patients with diarrhoea and severe malnutrition.

Zinc treatment to under-five children: applications to improve child survival and reduce burden of disease.

Zinc is an essential micronutrient associated with over 300 biological functions. Marginal zinc deficiency states are common among children living in poverty and exposed to diets either low in zinc or high in phytates that compromise zinc uptake. These children are at increased risk of morbidity due to infectious diseases, including diarrhoea and respiratory infection. Children aged less than five years (under-five children) and those exposed to zinc-deficient diets will benefit from either daily supplementation of zinc or a 10 to 14-day course of zinc treatment for an episode of acute diarrhoea. This includes less severe illness and a reduced likelihood of repeat episodes of diarrhoea. Given these findings, the World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund now recommend that all children with an acute diarrhoeal illness be treated with zinc, regardless of aetiology. ICDDR.B scientists have led the way in identifying the benefits of zinc. Now, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh and the private sector, the first national scaling up of zinc treatment has been carried out. Important challenges remain in terms of reaching the poorest families and those living in remote areas of Bangladesh.

Nutrition: basis for healthy children and mothers in Bangladesh.

Recent data from the World Health Organization showed that about 60% of all deaths, occurring among children aged less than five years (under-five children) in developing countries, could be attributed to malnutrition. It has been estimated that nearly 50.6 million under-five children are malnourished, and almost 90% of these children are from developing countries. Bangladesh is one of the countries with the highest rate of malnutrition. The recent baseline survey by the National Nutrition Programme (NNP) showed high rates of stunting, underweight, and wasting. However, data from the nutrition surveillance at the ICDDR,B hospital showed that the proportion of children with stunting, underweight, and wasting has actually reduced during 1984-2005. Inappropriate infant and young child-feeding practices (breastfeeding and complementary feeding) have been identified as a major cause of malnutrition. In Bangladesh, although the median duration of breastfeeding is about 30 months, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding until the first six months of life is low, and practice of appropriate complementary feeding is not satisfactory. Different surveys done by the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF) showed a rate of exclusive breastfeeding to be around 32-52%, which have actually remained same or declined over time. The NNP baseline survey using a strict definition of exclusive breastfeeding showed a rate of exclusive breastfeeding (12.8%) until six months of age. Another study from the Abhoynagar field site of ICDDR,B reported the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding to be 15% only. Considerable efforts have been made to improve the rates of exclusive breastfeeding. Nationally, initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth, feeding colostrum, and exclusive breastfeeding have been promoted through the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) implemented and supported by BBF and UNICEF respectively. Since most (87-91%) deliveries take place in home, the BFHI has a limited impact on the breastfeeding practices. Results of a few studies done at ICDDR,B and elsewhere in developing countries showed that the breastfeeding peer-counselling method could substantially increase the rates of exclusive breastfeeding. Results of a study in urban Dhaka showed that the rate of exclusive breastfeeding was 70% among mothers who were counselled compared to only 6% who were not counselled. Results of another study in rural Bangladesh showed that peer-counselling given either individually or in a group improved the rate of exclusive breastfeeding from 89% to 81% compared to those mothers who received regular health messages only. This implies that scaling up peer-counselling methods and incorporation of breastfeeding counselling in the existing maternal and child heath programme is needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of improving child survival. The recent data showed that the prevalence of starting complementary food among infants aged 6-9 months had increased substantially with 76% in the current dataset. However, the adequacy, frequency, and energy density of the complementary food are in question. Remarkable advances have been made in the hospital management of severely-malnourished children. The protocolized management of severe protein-energy malnutrition at the Dhaka hospital of ICDDR,B has reduced the rate of hospital mortality by 50%. A recent study at ICDDR,B has also documented that home-based management of severe protein-energy malnutrition without follow-up was comparable with a hospital-based protocolized management. Although the community nutrition centres of the NNP have been providing food supplementation and performing growth monitoring of children with protein-energy malnutrition, the referral system and management of complicated severely-malnourished children are still not in place.

Impact of zinc supplementation on subsequent morbidity and growth in Bangladeshi children with persistent diarrhoea.

This study was conducted to explore whether supplementation of zinc to children during persistent diarrhoea has any subsequent effect on morbidity and growth. A prospective follow-up study was conducted among children, aged 3-24 months, with persistent diarrhoea, who participated earlier in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. During persistent diarrhoea, children were randomly allocated to receive either zinc in multivitamin syrup or only multivitamin syrup for two weeks. After recovering from diarrhoea, 76 children in the multi-vitamin syrup and 78 children in the zinc plus multivitamin syrup group were followed up for subsequent morbidity and growth. Weekly morbidity and two-weekly anthropometric data were collected for the subsequent 12 weeks. Data showed that episodes and duration of diarrhoea were reduced by 38% and 44% respectively with supplementation of zinc. There was no significant difference in the incidence or duration of respiratory tract infection between the zinc-supplemented and the non-supplemented group. Improved linear growth was observed in underweight children (weight-for-age <70% of the National Center for Health Statistics standard) who received zinc compared to those who did not receive.

Pseudoglandular pattern of basaloid cells in pilomatrixoma in the needle aspiration cytology: a case report.

A varied cytomorphology of pilomatrixoma often results in diagnostic dilemma. Here, we report a case of pilomatrixoma that presented with prominent gland like arrangement of basaloid cells on cytologic smears causing diagnostic problem. Clinical diagnosis in the present case was cervical lymphadenitis and the cytologic smears showed a strikingly varied morphology with few loose clusters of basaloid cells exhibiting pseudoglandular pattern. A possibility of metastatic carcinoma was considered. However, following histopathologic diagnosis of pilomatrixoma, when cytologic smears were reviewed, it was realized that the ghost cells were overlooked as anucleate squames. Our case highlights the importance of careful clinical and cytologic interpretation of pilomatrixoma. Awareness of the cytomorphologic characteristics of ghost cells and their identification in cytologic smears is highly criticalfor an accurate diagnosis. A prominent basaloid cell component of pilomatrixoma with a pseudoglandular pattern, which has not been described earlier, may easily lead to a false positive diagnosis.

Impact of zinc deficiency on vibrio cholerae enterotoxin-stimulated water and electrolyte transport in animal model.

The effect of zinc deficiency on the function of the intestine to absorb water and electrolytes was studied in animal models, stimulated by Vibrio cholerae enterotoxin. Sprague-Dawley rats, used in the study, were divided into four groups: Zinc-deficient, ad libitum zinc-fed control, zinc weight-matched control, and zinc-deficient acutely-repleted. 14C-labelled polyethylene glycol solution was used for measuring the absorption capacity of the small intestine. Significantly lower absorption of water and sodium per cm of the intestine was observed in the zinc-deficient animals compared to the ad libitum zinc-fed control animals (p < 0.01). An improved absorption capacity was equally observed in the zinc-deficient acutely-repleted animals and ad libitum zinc-fed control group. The zinc-deficient animals showed four times greater cholera toxin-induced net secretions of water and sodium compared to the ad libitum zinc-fed group (p < 0.01), while a 40% reduction was observed in the zinc-deficient acutely-repleted group. The results suggest that zinc deficiency is associated with reduced absorption of water and electrolytes and increased secretion of the same stimulated by cholera toxin.

Intensive nutrition education with or without supplementary feeding improves the nutritional status of moderately-malnourished children in Bangladesh.

This prospective randomized trial was carried out to test the efficacy of a specific intervention for reducing the extent of their malnutrition and to change behaviour of mothers relating to child-feeding practices, care-giving, and health-seeking practices under the Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project (BINP). The study was conducted in rural Bangladesh among 282 moderately-malnourished (weight-for-age between 61% and 75% of median of the National Center for Health Statistics standard) children aged 6-24 months. Mothers of the first intervention group received intensive nutrition education (INE group) twice a week for three months. The second intervention group received the same nutrition education, and their children received additional supplementary feeding (INE+SF group). The comparison group received nutrition education from the community nutrition promoters twice a month according to the standard routine service of BINP. The children were observed for a further six months. After three months of interventions, a significantly higher proportion of children in the INE and INE+SF groups improved (37% and 47% respectively) from moderate to mild or normal nutrition compared to the comparison group (18%) (p < 0.001). At the end of six months of observation, the nutritional status of children in the intervention groups improved further from moderate to mild or normal nutrition compared to the comparison group (59% and 86% vs 30%, p < 0.0001). As the intensive nutrition education and supplementation given were highly effective, more children improved from moderate malnutrition to mild or normal nutritional status despite a higher incidence of morbidity. The frequency of child feeding and home-based complementary feeding improved significantly (p < 0.001) in both the intervention groups after three months of interventions and six months of observation. Body-weight gain was positively associated with age, length-for-age, weight-for-length, frequency of feeding of khichuri, egg, and potato (p < 0.05). Ability of mothers to identify malnutrition improved from 15% to 99% in the INE group and from 15% to 100% in the INE+SF group, but reduced from 24% to 21% in the comparison group. Use of separate feed pots, frequency of feeding, and cooking of additional complementary feeds improved significantly in the INE and INE+SF groups compared to the comparison group after three months of interventions and six months of observation. It can be concluded from the findings of the study that intensive nutrition education significantly improves the status of moderately-malnourished children with or without supplementary feeding.

Study of KAP of the private medical practitioners about national disease control programmes.

This study was carried out among the Private Allopathic Medical Practitioners (PMPs) at Khardah Municipal area (West Bengal) to find out their perception & practice about management protocol of diseases like acute respiratory infections and diarrhoel diseases in children, malaria and tuberculosis. Data was collected by interviewing the PMPs with pre-designed open-ended questionnaire. It was supplemented by analysing sample prescriptions of the same diseases. The study revealed that PMPs knowledge and practice were not at par with national guidelines. The need for periodic sensitization of PMPs regarding national disease control programme was emphasized.

Risk factors for mortality due to shigellosis: a case-control study among severely-malnourished children in Bangladesh.

To determine the risk factors for death of severely-malnourished Bangladeshi children with shigellosis, a case-control study was conducted at the Clinical Research and Service Centre of ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research in Dhaka, Bangladesh. One hundred severely-malnourished children (weight-for-age <60% of median of the National Center for Health Statistics), with a positive stool culture for Shigella dysenteriae type 1 or S. flexneri, who died during hospitalization, were compared with another 100 similar children (weight-for-age <60% and with S. dysenteriae type 1 or S. flexneri-associated infection) discharged alive. Children aged less than four years were admitted during December 1993-January 1999. The median age of the cases who died or recovered was 9 months and 12 months respectively. Bronchopneumonia, abdominal distension, absent or sluggish bowel sound, clinical anaemia, altered consciousness, hypothermia, clinical sepsis, low or imperceptible pulse, dehydration, hypoglycaemia, high creatinine, and hyperkalaemia were all significantly more frequent in cases than in controls. In multivariate regression analysis, altered consciousness (odds ratio [OR]=2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-6.8), hypoglycaemia (blood glucose <3 mmol/L (OR=7.8, 95% CI 2.9-19.6), hypothermia (temperature <36 degrees C) (OR=5.7, 95% CI 1.5-22.1), and bronchopneumonia (OR=2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.5) were identified as significant risk factors for mortality. Severely-malnourished children with shigellosis having hypoglycaemia, hypothermia, altered consciousness and/or bronchopneumonia were at high risk of death. Based on the findings, the study recommends that early diagnosis of shigellosis in severely-malnourished children and assertive therapy for proper management to prevent development of hypothermia, hypoglycaemia, bronchopneumonia, or altered consciousness and its immediate treatment are likely to reduce Shigella-related mortality in severely-malnourished children.

Perceptions of mothers and use of breastmilk substitutes in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

To explore the actual practices and perceptions of giving breastmilk and breastmilk substitutes (BMS), this cross-sectional study was conducted among 326 mothers of low (income/month < Tk 4,000, n = 163) and middle (income/month > Tk 4,000, n = 163) socioeconomic status (SES) with infants aged 6-12 months in Dhaka city during February-April 2001. Qualitative data on perceptions of mothers on appropriate breast-feeding practices were also documented through focus-group discussions (FGDs). The prevalence of exclusive breast-feeding was low in both the socioeconomic groups but was comparatively higher among the mothers of middle SES (3.1% vs 12.3%, p < 0.001), although predominant breast-feeding was high among the mothers of low SES. In addition, the use of BMS was higher among the mothers of middle SES than among the mothers of low SES (55.8% vs. 43.5%, p < 0.001). The majority (62.3%) of the mothers mentioned insufficiency of breastmilk as the main reason for introducing BMS. Perception on appropriate feeding practices was also significantly different between the two groups. Approximately, 90% of the mothers of low SES could not differentiate between infant formula and milk powder compared to 70% of the mothers of middle SES (p < 0.001). The findings of FGDs revealed that some middle-class mothers thought that infant formula was the best food for their infants. Programmes to impart proper knowledge on breast-feeding practices should be strengthened.

Impact of lactational performance on bone mineral density in marginally-nourished Bangladeshi women.

This cross-sectional study, carried out during July 1997-June 1998, evaluated the effects of prolonged breast-feeding and lactational amenorrhoea on bone mineral density (BMD) in 400 marginally-nourished Bangladeshi women aged 20-81 years. A bone densitometer was used for measuring BMD in the distal and ultra-distal end of radius and ulna. The results showed that the women who breastfed for 60 months or less had a higher mean BMD compared to those who breastfed for 61-120 months and for over 120 months. There was a significantly higher BMD in the women who had a shorter duration of lactational amenorrhoea compared to those having a longer duration of lactational amenorrhoea. BMD was significantly and negatively correlated with total duration of lactational amenorrhoea (slope -0.024, p<0.05) after controlling for parity, physical workload, and total duration of breast-feeding. The study concluded that there was a negative correlation between longer duration of breast-feeding and BMD, but it was not found when other factors were controlled in multivariate analysis. The duration of lactational amenorrhoea, which is a proxy indicator of breast-feeding, showed a negative correlation with BMD. It is recommended that all lactating women be given diet with adequate calcium to support breast-feeding for maintaining good nutrition of their bones.

Incidence of malignancy in microscopic haematuria: a study of 100 cases.

During June, 1998 to April, 2000, one hundred cases of microscopic haematuria were evaluated. All were symptomatic patient with age ranging from 24-68 years. 70 (70%) cases were male and 30 (30%) cases were female. Commonest presentation was dysurea 70 (70%). Urinary stone disease was the commonest cause found to be present in 25 (25%) cases. Malignant lesion was found in 16 (16%) cases of which bladder tumour was found in 10 (10%) cases.

Unusual presentation of schwannoma.

Schwannomas are slow growing benign tumours arising from the nerve sheath. Two cases of schwannoma arising from the vagus nerve are presented here. One case was found in a 6-year-old boy and another one in a 30-year-old man. In the first case the tumour was detected on the left side of the neck just below the angle of the mandible, and in the second case it was found on the lower part of the right side of the neck. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis as first one to be of Antoni-A type and the second one to be of Antoni-B type. Both the tumours were excised and on follow-up the patients were doing well.