ABSTRACT
To determine the prevalence of skin diseases among primary-school children in Baghdad, Iraq, a total of 2160 schoolchildren were randomly selected from 30 primary schools. Sociodemographic data were collected from each pupil and exposed parts of the body of each child were clinically examined. The overall prevalence of skin diseases was 40.9%. A significant association between the prevalence of skin diseases with education level of parents was demonstrated. The prevalence rates of transmissible and nontransmissible skin diseases were 8.8% and 33.7% respectively. The high prevalence rate may reflect prevailing low socioeconomic conditions.
Subject(s)
Child Welfare/statistics & numerical data , Skin Diseases/epidemiology , Urban Health/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Age Distribution , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Child, Preschool , Educational Status , Female , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Iraq/epidemiology , Male , Parents/education , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical data , Risk Factors , Sex Distribution , Skin Diseases/etiology , Skin Diseases/prevention & control , Socioeconomic Factors , Students/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute hepatitis in many developing countries. This study describes an outbreak of HEV infection in Al-Sadr city, Baghdad. Blood samples obtained from patients with jaundice attending 19 primary health care centres in AI-Sadr city during a 6-month period in 2005 were tested for HEV. HEV (IgM) antibodies were detected in 38.1% of 268 patients. The association of HEV infection with unacceptable residual chlorine concentrations and/or bacteriologically unsafe water samples was significant. High rates of HEV infection, low chlorine concentrations and unsafe water were reported in June. Gross isruption of sanitation and water supplies was the most likely contributing factor.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks/statistics & numerical data , Hepatitis E/epidemiology , Hepatitis E/transmission , Urban Health/statistics & numerical data , Water Microbiology , Water Purification , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Catchment Area, Health/statistics & numerical data , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Developing Countries , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Epidemiologic Studies , Female , Hepatitis E/prevention & control , Hepatitis E/virology , Humans , Iraq/epidemiology , Jaundice/virology , Male , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Seasons , Sex Distribution , Water Purification/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
The effect of population growth and demographic transitionon economic developmenthas been well documented. The population growth in Iraqi Kurdistan is passing through a critical stage of demographic transition. It is, in fact, extremely likely that the region will fail to efficiently move through the demographic transition and will experience a long period in the demographic trap, i.e. the population will grow steadily and rapidly owing to the high fertility and low mortality rates. With correct government policies in terms of promoting family planning programmes, should the political context allow, demographic transition can pass smoothly through this critical stage. Furthermore, if demographic transition in Kurdistan moves to the next stage, it will provide an important window of opportunity for economic development. Proper exploitation of this demographic window through investment in education, on-the-job training and health services, in addition to proper and appropriate exploitation of economic resources and suitable and productive use of the labour force, will result in significant economic development over the next few decades.
Subject(s)
Developing Countries/statistics & numerical data , Economic Development/trends , Fertility , Health Transition , Mortality , Population Dynamics , Forecasting , Health Status Indicators , Humans , Iraq/epidemiology , Models, Statistical , Mortality/ethnology , Mortality/trendsABSTRACT
Hepatitis E virus [HEV] is a major cause of acute hepatitis in many developing countries. This study describes an outbreak of HEV infection in Al-Sadr city, Baghdad. Blood samples obtained from patients with jaundice attending 19 primary health care centres in Al-Sadr city during a 6-month period in 2005 were tested for HEV. HEV [IgM] antibodies were detected in 38.1% of 268 patients. The association of HEV infection with unacceptable residual chlorine concentrations and/or bacteriologically unsafe water samples was significant. High rates of HEV infection, low chlorine concentrations and unsafe water were reported in June. Gross disruption of sanitation and water supplies was the most likely contributing factor
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Surveys and Questionnaires , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Hepatitis E , PrevalenceABSTRACT
The effect of population growth and demographic transition on economic development has been well documented. The population growth in Iraqi Kurdistan is passing through a critical stage of demographic transition. It is, in fact, extremely likely that the region will fail to efficiently move through the demographic transition and will experience a long period in the demographic trap, i.e. the population will grow steadily and rapidly owing to the high fertility and low mortality rates. With correct government policies in terms of promoting family planning programmes, should the political context allow, demographic transition can pass smoothly through this critical stage. Furthermore, if demographic transition in Kurdistan moves to the next stage, it will provide an important window of opportunity for economic development. Proper exploitation of this demographic window through investment in education, on-the-job training and health services, in addition to proper and appropriate exploitation of economic resources and suitable and productive use of the labour force, will result in significant economic development over the next few decades
Subject(s)
Population Growth , Demography , Population DynamicsABSTRACT
To determine the prevalence of skin diseases among primary-school children in Baghdad, Iraq, a total of 2160 schoolchildren were randomly selected from 30 primary schools. Sociodemographic data were collected from each pupil and exposed parts of the body of each child were clinically examined. The overall prevalence of skin diseases was 40.9%. A significant association between the prevalence of skin diseases with education level of parents was demonstrated. The prevalence rates of transmissible and nontransmissible skin diseases were 8.8% and 33.7% respectively. The high prevalence rate may reflect prevailing low socioeconomic conditions
Subject(s)
Prevalence , Students , Schools , Educational Status , Socioeconomic Factors , Cross-Sectional Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Skin DiseasesABSTRACT
To evaluate the significance of IgE antibodies in postoperative follow-up studies of patients with primary hydatidosis, 24 patients with detectable levels of Enchinococcus granulosus-specific IgE as determined by radioallergosorbent test (RAST) were re-examined one month and four months after surgical resection of the cyst. Serum levels of polyclonl IgE as determined by paper radiommunosorbent test (PRIST) were also determined before and after surgery. Anti-Enchinococcus IgE was undetected in 75% and 89% of patients with hepatic or pulmonary hydatidosis, respectively, four months after surgery. In addition, significant decline was observed in the serum polyclonal IgE four months after surgical removal of the cyst in both hepatic and pulmonary hydatidosis. However, surgical removal of pulmoary cyst alone showed no such effect on either polyclonal or Enchinococcus-specific IgE in hepatopulmonary hydatidosis. The results suggest that determination of specific an polyclonal IgE antibodies provide useful serological tests for prognosis and early detection of persistence and recurrence of hydatid disease postoperatively.
