A case control study on specific learning disorders in school going children in Bikaner city.

OBJECTIVE: To asses the prevalence of learning disorders in school going children and to compare the socio-demographic variables and other related factors with learning disorder. METHODS: All the 500 students of class III to V with all sections were given the dyslexia assessment questionnaire (DAQ) to fill; 468 students returned the completed forms.Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test. Only 68 children scored ≥ 4 on DAQ were given MISIC (Mallin's intelligence scale for Indian children) for IQ assessment and DST-J for dyslexia screening. Forty-eight students were labeled as dyslexia and further diagnosis was confirmed by DSM IV- TR classification. RESULTS: Prevalence of learning disorders (LD) was found to be 10.25% with higher in males than females (11.40% vs. 7.14%).The delivery complications (20.83% vs. 4.17%; X 2-4.667, p value-0.031) were more in LD and more family members were left handed (16.67% vs. 2.08%; X 2-4.41, p value-0.036) as compared to control group. In classroom behavior, children with LD asked questions less (10.42% vs. 75%; X 2-40.91, p value-0.0001), answered questions less frequently (6.25% vs. 79.16%; X 2-52.15, p value-0.0001) and took notes less attentively than control group (4.17% vs. 58.33%; X 2-32.77, p value-0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The current study, therefore, is an attempt to identify children with learning disorders and explore the prevalence of the problem and etiological factors e.g., family environment, social factors and developmental issues of child and associated co-morbidities. More studies with larger sample size should be undertaken to get accurate picture of these disorders.There is also need for some community based programme to raise the level of awareness and knowledge about these disorders in general population.

Atherosclerotic risk factors in adolescents.

METHODS: We studied 200 school going children age ranging 12-18 yr with regard to their nutritional intake, family history, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and lipid profile. RESULTS: It was observed that adolescents received less energy from carbohydrates and more from fats in comparison to the recommended standard. Sodium intake was found to be very high whereas fibre intake was low. The prevalence of hypertension was 1.5% and hypercholesterolemia 50%. The high prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was related mainly to dietary habits of these children. Thus our study shows that for the prevention of adult atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Indian population measures are urgently needed towards behavioral and life style modification including change in dietary habits.

Endoscopic variceal ligation using multiband ligator.

Esophageal variceal bleed in children is treated with endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST), which is associated with significant complications. Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) was found to be more effective and safe in adults. Use of EVL in children has not been studied much. Thirteen consecutive children (mean age 9.4 years) with variceal bleed were subjected to EVL by multi band ligator. Varices were eradicated in 2.8 sessions (range 2-4) and one patient had bleed during procedure. No other complications were noted. EVL could not be performed in 2 children less than 3 years of age.

Quantitation of proteinuria by use of single random spot urine collection.

Measurements of protein to creatinine ratios in single voided urine samples were compared with 24 hour urinary protein excretion for quantification of proteinuria in 20 healthy control and 30 patients of various renal diseases. The range of proteinuria in study group was 1.46-6.0 g/day and renal function was stable in all the cases. An excellent correlation was found between the results obtained by this method and those from the standard 24 hours urine collection method in healthy controls (r = 0.99) and in patients with renal disease (r = 0.98). In our study urinary protein-creatinine ratio in control group was less than 0.2 in all cases and in study group was more than 3.0 except in one. The results of the present study indicate that the random urine protein-creatinine ratio is highly reliable test for quantification of proteinuria in children and has obvious advantage in term of time, cost and patients convenience.