Acute poisoning in children: etiological agents, risk factors and outcomes

A total of 70 patients were thus included. The patients were followed till discharge. A Proforma was filled and results were analyzed on SPSS version 10 of computer programme. All consecutive patients of poisoning who visited the Emergency Ward during the study period fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled. The mean age was 2.89 years with range of 6 months to 10 years. Male to female ratio was 1.5:1. Kerosene was the commonest agent accounting for 50% of all cases, followed by pharmaceutical products [14.3%] and chemicals [12.9%]. Storage of Kerosene in empty bottles of beverages and lack of proper storage of drugs were the commonest risk factors identified. Oral ingestion was the most common route of intoxication. Most of the patients [84.3%] were discharged without any sequelae. Overall mortality was 5.7%. Conclusion most of toxic substances to which children were exposed were those stored in eatable containers i.e. kerosene oil. Minority of children with accidental poisoning developed serious toxicity. Parents can prevent many of these accidents by identifying, adequately storing and locking away toxic material

Maternal risk factors in early onset septicemia

This study was done to find out the association between the maternal risk factors like premature onset of labor [POL], prolonged rupture of membranes [PROM], and chorioamnionitis [CA] and subsequent development of early onset sepsis in the newborn. Of 129 patients studied 58 [44.96] developed sepsis. Premature onset of labor, prolonged rupture of membranes, and chorioamnionitis Present in 41[31.89%], 91[70.5%], 71[55.0%] respectively and sepsis developed in 30[73%], 42[46.5%], 1[51.47%] respectively. Two risk factors namely POL, ROM was present in 21 and 17[80.95%] babies developed sepsis. POL and CA was present in 13 and 12[92.30%] had sepsis. PROM and CA was present in 50 and 35[70%] had sepsis. Three risk factors POL, PROM, CA were present in 10 and 9[90%] developed sepsis. This indicates that presence of multiple maternal risk factors make a child more susceptible to have early onset neonatal sepsis

Feeding practices of infants in Lahore

The interview findings from mothers about feeding practices of their infants [n=600] from 3 months to 12 months, as determined in a cross sectional study in Lahore are presented. Initiation of breastfeeding was delayed till 3[rd] day of life in 70 percent of the infants, while prelecteal feeding; honey 69.88 percent was given on first day of life in 80 percent of the infants. Exclusive breastfeeding and exclusive bottle feeding was found in 17.50 percent and 20.3 percent respectively, while mixed breast and bottle feeding 61.66 percent was the most common feeding pattern through whole of infancy. Cow's milk with 1:1 dilution i.e. one part of milk and one part of water, was used by 56.96 percent mothers. Commercially available powered formula by 43.03 percent mothers was also noted in those cases who were either exclusively bottle fed or both breast and bottle fed. The weaning foods were started between 4-6 months in 24.94 percent, 7-9 months in 36.05 percent and 10-12 months in 39.00 percent infants. Compared with homemade semisolids 38.39 percent the commercially available foods were preferred by 60.90 percent mothers. The results of this study indicate that though breastfeeding is highly prevalent, yet is hardly exclusive and prelecteal and interlecteal feedings are highly common. Mixed breast and bottle feeding is the most common feeding pattern during infancy. The weaning foods are introduced late and are often inadequate