Evaluation of serum lead levels in children with constipation and normal controls in Northern Iran

Constipation is a major debilitating problem in children. We aimed to assess the serum lead levels of 2-13 year-old children complaining from constipation who referred to our center in Guilan province, Northern Iran. This cross-sectional study was done on ninety 2-13 year-old children referring to 17[th] Shahrivar Hospital, complaining from constipation [case group] and 90 healthy children The demographic data as well as the children's serum lead levels were evaluated and recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Chi-square test was used as applicable. Lead poisoning was significantly more frequent in the case group [37.8%] compared with the control group [8.9%]. The frequency of lead poisoning in the case group compared with the control group, was significantly higher in children <7 years old [40.2% vs. 10%], boys [40.9% vs. 9.3%], girls [34.8% vs 8.3%], residents of old houses [43.1% vs. 9.7%], residents of new houses [28.1% vs. 8.5%], residents of low-traffic areas [26.8% vs. 5.3%], urban residents [40.5% vs. 9.9%], children whose fathers had low risk [33.3% vs. 10.9%] and high risk jobs [40.7% vs. 3.8%]. The frequency of lead poisoning was higher in children suffering from constipation .No significant difference was found between the two groups with respect to their sex, age, father's job, and living in urban or rural areas

Diabetic ketoacidosis and its complications among children

In order to recognize of DKA and its complications among children with DM type I, we conducted a descriptive study and all of the children with the final diagnosis of DKA. Data regarding their demographics, disease characteristics, treatment features and outcome derived from patients' medical files and registered in a data sheet. Data were analyzed using SPSS 11.0 and exhibited in the form of frequency tables and charts. There were 33 females and 30 males [53.1% and 46.9%, respectively]. They were involved with ketoacidosis most commonly in summer [42.2%]. Autumn, winter and spring seasons were in the next turns [29.7%, 15.6%, and 12.5%, respectively]. Data analysis showed a clear improvement in the time taken to correct the acidosis with respect to the date of admission [more than 40 hours in the initial year to less than 28 hours at the final year]. It seems that the management of diabetic ketoacidosis has improved during recent years. We concluded to consider ketoacidosis even in the first admission of a diabetic child