Risk Factors for Relapse in Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome.

Minimal change nephrotic syndrome is the most common cause of the glomerular disease in children. Despite its high initial response to corticosteroids, relapses are common leading to increased morbidity. Therefore, appraisal of common triggers of relapse becomes an imperative for successful management of childhood nephrotic syndrome. The objective of the study was to identify the risk factors for frequent relapse in childhood nephrotic syndrome. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of Paediatrics, Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from January 2013 to December 2014. A total of 60 patients with relapsed idiopathic childhood nephrotic syndrome fulfilling the selection criteria were enrolled into the study. Serum total protein, serum albumin and urine culture were done. The following potential risk factors for relapse were analyzed using Chi-square test: age at onset of NS, sex, socioeconomic status, atopy, short duration of initial therapy with steriod, serum total protein, serum albumin level and infection. Among 60 patients, short duration of therapy with steriod (<8 weeks) for first attack was significantly higher among frequent relapse (FRNS) cases compared with infrequent relapse (IFRNS) group (63% vs. 27.27%). FRNS group had initial brief period of remission of <6 months, (p=0.04). Difference in mean serum albumin and that of serum total protein between FRNS and IFRNS cases was (1.0±0.66 vs. 2.66±1.6gm/dl) (p<0.0001) and (3.5±1.2 vs. 6.5±2.12gm/dl) (p<0 .0001) respectively. This study concluded that short initial therapy with corticosteroid, brief duration of initial remission; low serum total protein and decreased serum albumin were the risk factors for frequent relapses.

Comparison of WHO Clinical Criteria and Radiological Findings of Pneumonia in Children Aged 02-59 Months.

Despite recent advances, pneumonia contributes substantially to childhood mortality in low and middle-income countries. To reduce case fatality, World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a working formula to identify pneumonia clinically in resource constrained setting. Chest X-ray is the gold standard test to diagnose pneumonia but this tool is not readily available or affordable in primary health facility in developing countries even when it is indicated. Objective of the study was to compare WHO clinical criteria and radiological findings of pneumonia in children aged 02-59 months. This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at inpatient department of Paediatrics of Rangpur Medical College Hospital from July 2015 to June 2017. Total 112 patients aged 2 to 59 months fulfilling selection criteria were enrolled into this study. Data were collected and chest X-ray was done for each patient. Data were analyzed through SPSS software (version 16.0). Minimum level of significance was predetermined as p<0.05. Among 112 patients, mean age of chest radiograph positive cases of pneumonia was 7.64±7.08 months and that of negative cases 10.75±10.95 months. There was no statistically significant difference of age (p=0.083) between chest radiography positive and negative cases. Radiological findings were positive in 52(46.43%) cases and negative in 60(53.57%). Fever, cough and fast breathing were present in all patients with sensitivity 100%. Chest indrawing was significantly more (p=0.003) among 52(46.43%) cases who demonstrated positive radiological findings with sensitivity 63.46% (95% CI = 48.96% to 76.37%). There was no statistically significant difference of fever, cough and fast breathing between radiograph positive and negative cases. Chest indrawing was significantly more in radiograph positive cases. The results highlighted the importance of adoption of positive radiograph of WHO guideline to identify pneumonia.

Occult foreign bodies in the aero digestive tracts in infancy.

Foreign body impaction in aero digestive tract in infancy is difficult to diagnose sometimes. In this review of five unusual cases of occult foreign body impaction in aero digestive tract has been presented and their management discussed.

Midline cervical cleft: A report of two cases.

Congenital midline cervical cleft is a rare congenital anomaly. The cardinal diagnostic features are-(1). Fistula's opening are located caudally (2) Internuittent serous fluid discharge in the early neonatal period (3). Nipple like appearance of the cleft in the superior aspect (4). Widened scar and mininual neck contracture in later life. Two such cases are reported herewith with briefreview of literature and it's surgical management.

Emergency Otorhinolaryngolocal cases in Medical College, Kolkata-A statistical analysis.

At the round the clock entergency of the Deparment of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical College, Kolkata, different types of cases are managed everyday. The various emergency conditions encountered by us in last four years are gathered and analyzed in this study. The different problems and their modes of management are discussed here.

Neurofibroma of paranasal sinuses - a case report.

Primary neurogenic tumors in nose and paranasal sinuses are unusual entities. The majority of the reported cases have dealt with neurilemmomas and isolated neurofibromas are extremely rare. Here a case of neurofibroma of the paranasal sinuses is described.

Extranodal lymphoma.

Lymphomas in the extranodal sites are usually of Non-Hodgkin's variety Maxilla and mandibular involvement are usually far and few and GIT involvement with primary paranasal lympphomas are nearly unheard of.