Knowledge, attitude and response of mothers about fever in their children.

AIM: This study was conducted to determine mothers' knowledge about fever, and their attitudes and responses to fever in children, along with the influence of demographic characteristics on the level of knowledge, and to identify occurrences of fear of fever. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study consisted of 4500 mothers with children 0-12 years of age who were referred to the pediatric health and disease polyclinic and primary care polyclinic over a period of 24 months. Data were collected using a questionnaire containing 32 open-ended, multichoice questions, and assessed using number, percentage and χ(2) analyses. RESULTS: In this study, 36% of mothers regarded body temperatures lower than 37°C as fever; 83% believed that fever was harmful for their children, and 92.3% experienced fear and concern due to their child's fever. The most significant reason for fear was the belief that the child may have a seizure. Moreover, 12% of mothers feared that their child would die due to fever. The level of fear triggered by fever was lower as the education level of the mothers increased. Meanwhile, when their child had a fever, 28.9% of mothers used antifebrile drugs without consulting a physician, while 19% applied cold water and 7.7% applied water with alcohol or vinegar, among other inappropriate practices. CONCLUSION: Increased information about fevers geared towards the caregivers of children, particularly mothers, would prevent the unnecessary treatment of children, as well as minimising delayed and insufficient responses to fever.

Beta-ketothiolase deficiency brought with lethargy: case report.

Beta-ketothiolase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of isoleucine and ketone body metabolism. This disorder is clinically characterized by ketoacidotic attacks. Ketoacidosis, vomiting, and dehydration, lethargy and coma may be seen during attacks. A 9-month-old girl was admitted to our hospital with acidosis and dehydration. The patient was lethargic. Ketoacidosis was suspected because of acetone odor on her breath. Her blood glucose level was 262 mg/dL and urine ketone was (++++). Branched chain amino acid levels were elevated in her blood sample. Organic acid analysis of urine revealed 2-methylacetoacetyl-CoA thiolase deficiency. This was reported because of rarity of the disease and we should consider it in the differential diagnosis of ketoacidotic episodes.

Malondialdehyde level in the cord blood of newborn infants.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to demonstrate that measurement of the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the umbilical cord blood of newborn infants born via cesarean section (C/S) and normal vaginal delivery (NVD) is indicative of oxidative stress during the perinatal period. METHODS: The study was conducted at Bakirkoy Training and Research Hospital between January 2006 and April 2006 on 15 newborns born via elective C/S, 15 newborns born via emergency C/S, and 15 newborns born via normal vaginal delivery. Complete blood count, total bilirubin, glucose, creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), uric acid, iron, blood gas, and malondialdehyde levels were measured in the umbilical cord blood FINDINGS: Malondialdehyde levels in the umbilical cord blood in the emergency C/S and NVD groups were found to be statistically and significantly higher than those in the elective C/S group. In the emergency C/S group, it was determined that the malondialdehyde level increased as the oxygen saturation of the umbilical cord blood increased. In the NVD group, a positive correlation was detected between the total bilirubin and malondialdehyde levels in the umbilical cord blood. In the emergency C/S group, the malondialdehyde level was recorded to be high in the infants with high level of uric acid in the umbilical cord blood. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the malondialdehyde level in umbilical cord blood could serve as an indication of perinatal oxidative stress and that it could thus help in preventing permanent damage.