Analysis of malaria epidemic features in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, Southeast of Iran, 2005-2008

An essential determinant for designing accurate strategies in malaria control is the precise knowledge of local epidemiology, which is time and location dependent. This study was designed to analyze the data on the verified malaria cases, reported in the southeast Province of Iran, Sistan and Baluchistan, from March 2005 to 2008. All the reported cases of malaria in the mentioned period were defined and epidemiologic characteristics of each case were registered and statistically analyzed. The annual incidence rates were 469, 345, and 359 [per 100000] in the 3 consecutive years, respectively. Malaria patients were mainly 15-44 year old males, mostly living in the rural areas. Imported malaria from Afghanistan and Pakistan was considerable [15-20%]. While malaria was more prevalent in the southern part of the province, the percentage of Plasmodium falciparum was higher in the western areas. The incidence of malaria reached its annual peak from July to October. This study clearly reveals that malaria is a significant disease in southeast Iran. The geographic pattern may implicate an important role of cross-border traffic in the importation of malaria in this area

[ risk factors of cryptorchidism in new born children]

Cryptorchidism is the most common urologic congenital malformation in males which contributed to increasing male infertility and testicular tumors. So, it seems to be necessary to identify its risk factors. Being a case-control study, the investigation consists of 37 cases of cryptorchid boys and 40 normal boys as the control group. Both cases and controls attended a face to-face interview, using the same questionnaire. The collected information was then analyzed by running a chi-square test using SPSS. We found significant positive associations between cryptorchidism and each of the following variables: hypertension during pregnancy [P=0.0327]; premature birth [P=0.0028]; low birth weight [P=0.0478]; UTI during pregnancy [P=0.0162] and brich presentation [P=0.0302]. However, although some risk factors like maternal age, fever during the first trimester of pregnancy, maternal blood group, cesarean section, being the first-born child of the mother and twins have been reported to cause cryptorchidism, we found no evidence to suggest so. In addition, it was the first time that maternal education and UTI during pregnancy were investigated, too. We concluded a significant positive association between UTI during pregnancy, but did not find any relation between cryptorchidism and maternal education. These findings suggest that not only might cryptorchidism be associated with genetic factors, but also can be increased by environmental factors. In order to arrive at more definite conclusions, further studies are needed to be carried out, in this respect

[ effects of family income and educational status on children's pattern of End-Stage renal disease in Mashhad]

The incidence of End-Stage Renal Disease [ESRD] varies markedly according to the age, race and sex of the population as well as the geographical characteristics of the place where they live. Low socio-economic status is associated with the occurrence of several different chronic diseases, but evidence regarding renal disease is scant. This study was performed to determine the relationship between the level of patient's family education and income with the etiology of ESRD. Material and A cross sectional study was conducted on 62 patients [30 Boys and 32 Girls] with chronic renal failure who were under dialysis treatment. A control group consisting of 400 students was also enrolled in the study. Socioeconomic data were obtained from both groups by using a questionnaire. Meanwhile, the cause of renal failure and the kind of dialysis were also determined for the patients. Socioeconomic features were compared in both the patients and the control group by using student T-Test, Chi-square, Fisher Exact Test and logistic regression analysis. In the dialysis group, there were remarkably more children from families with either one parent or without any supervisor, as compared with the control group [P<0.001]. The level of family education in the dialysis group and control group was 10.6 and 13.3 years of schooling, respectively [P<0.001]. Dialysis patients were either tenants or were living in houses smaller than the control group's [P<0.001]. In addition, the household's monthly income for the case group was lower than that of the control group and only 3% of the patients were living in the socioeconomic areas of high classes [P<0.001]. The dialysis patients' families had lower socioeconomic level in comparison with the healthy population. The high prevalence of ESRD in these families may be related to the lack of access to hygienic facilities, the parents' lack of sufficient knowledge and inattentiveness which may lead to delayed diagnosis of the disease, and incomplete treatment of the primary disease which may, in turn, develop ESRD