Pediatrics Commons^™

Perinatal Arterial Ischaemic Stroke: An Update With Literature Review, S. H. Ibrahim, Zafar Abdul Mueed

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Perinatal arterial ischaemic strokes are a major cause of morbidity in the neonatal period and leads to significant neurological morbidity. It is however under recognized as an entity and usually missed till the baby is 3-4 months of age when they first present with hemiplegia. Perinatal arterial ischaemic strokes are not reported from our country and this may be due to the fact that neurodiagnostic modalities were not available until the last few years. Even now this is not available in the smaller cities of our country. In this review we will discuss the common issues related to etiology and …

Clinical Profile And Outcome Of Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease In Neonates, Khadija N Humayun, Mehnaz Atiq

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical profile and assess the outcome of all neonates diagnosed with cyanotic congenital heart disease.

STUDY DESIGN: A case series.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Aga Khan University Hospital from January 1998 to December 2000.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Neonates admitted with diagnosis of cyanotic congenital heart disease were evaluated for clinical diagnosis, survival and mortality.

RESULTS: Forty four neonates met the inclusion criteria. Eleven babies (25%) had Tetralogy of Fallot or its variants. Other malformations were d-transposition of great arteries, tricuspid valve anomalies (tricuspid atresia and Ebstein's anomaly), hypoplastic left heart syndrome, truncus arteriosus, total …

A Family With Acute Intermittent Porphyria, Abdul Gaffar Billoo, Saira Waqar Lone

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Porphyrias are inherited defects in heme metabolism that result in excessive secretion of porphyrins and porphyrin precursors. Porphyrias can be classified into acute, (neuropsychiatric), cutaneous and mixed forms. There are seven main types of porphyrias; acute intermittent porphyria and plumboporphyria are predominantly neuropsychiatric; congenital erythropoietic porphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda and erythropoietic protoporphyria have predominantly cutaneous manifestations and hereditary coproporphyria and variegate porphyria are classified as mixed as they both have neuropsychiatric and cutaneous features. They cause life-threatening attacks of neurovisceral symptoms that mimic many other acute medical and psychiatric conditions. Lack of clinical recognition often delays effective treatment, and inappropriate …

Making A Difference - Drug Resistant Infections In Poor Countries - A Major Burden On Children, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Drug Resistant Infections In Poor Countries: A Major Burden On Children, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Short-Course Versus Long-Course Antibiotic Therapy For Non-Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia In Children Aged 2 Months To 59 Months, Batool A. Haider, Muhammad Ammad Saeed, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Pneumonia is the leading cause of mortality in children under five years of age. Treatment of pneumonia requires an effective antibiotic used in adequate doses for an appropriate duration. Recommended duration of treatment ranges between 7 and 14 days, but this is not based on any empirical evidence. Shorter duration of therapy, if found to be effective, could be particularly important in resource-poor settings where there is a high risk of death, poor access to medicines and health care, and limited budgets for medicines.
Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of short- course versus long-course therapy with the same antibiotic …

Retinopathy Of Prematurity: Frequency And Risk Factors In A Tertiary Care Hospital In Karachi, Pakistan, Ather M. Taqui, Reema Syed, Tanveer Anjum Chaudhry, Khabir Ahmad, Muhammad S. Salat

Section of Ophthalmology

Introduction: To determine the frequency of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in the premature infants born in a tertiary care hospital and to determine the risk factors associated with it.
Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of premature infants with birth weight < or = 1500 grams or gestational ago < or = 32 weeks, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital in a three year period. The infants underwent eye examinations between their 4th and 7th week of life. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the association between risk factors and ROP development.
Results: Sixty eight infants were included in the analysis. Out of these, 22 (32.4%) developed ROP (inclusive of all stages) and 14 (20.6%) developed threshold disease. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that low gestational age, sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome were independent predictors for the development of ROP.
Conclusion: The frequency of ROP in our hospital was on the …

Chediak-Higashi Syndrome, Emaduddin Siddiqui, Shaheena Hanif

Department of Emergency Medicine

Chediak Higashi Syndrome is a rare inherited autosomal recessive disorder of immune system. Susceptibility to infection due to phagocyte dysfunction ranges from recurrent skin infection to over whelming fatal systemic infection. A five years old male child was admitted on 31st March 2006 with the complaints of pallor, fever & ear discharge for 6 month. He was treated by several medications but had temporary relief. The ear discharge was bilateral, foul smelling and of yellowish color. Past history was significant with episodes of abscess involving the different parts of body. Myeloid precursors shows giant, purple stained granules mainly in metamyelocytes, …

The Need For Formal Paediatric Resuscitation Training In Pakistan., Adina R., Sheikh Sajjad, Junaid Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Managing Severe Pneumonia In Children In Developing Countries - Increasing Resistance To First Line Antibiotics Means Recommendations Need Changing, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Waiting For Child Developmental And Rehabilitation Services: An Overview Of Issues And Needs, Anton R. Miller, Robert Armstrong, Louise C. Mâsse, Anne F. Klassen, Jane Shen, Maureen E. O’Donnell

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Concern about the length of time that children, young people, and families may have to wait to access assessment, diagnostic, interventional, therapeutic, and supportive child developmental and rehabilitation (CDR) services is widespread, but adequate data collection and research on this issue remain limited. We review key concepts and issues relevant to waiting for CDR services from the published literature, a national workshop devoted to this topic, and international experience. We conclude that gaps in data, evidence, and consensus challenge our ability to address the issue of waiting for CDR services in a systematic way. A program of research coupled with …

Focus On The Profession: Academic And Clinical Departments, Robert Armstrong

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

The departments within the Faculty of Medicine at UBC play a central role in achieving the goals of the expanded medical school, and the goals of the broader health care system. Four strategies are needed for success: make professionalism the tie that binds the Faculty of Medicine and the health authorities; engage clinical and academic de­partments as key drivers of professionalism; ensure knowledge development and continuous learning are recognized as central to professionalism; challenge government to focus on supporting professionalism.

Pediatric Emergency Medicine--An Evolving Sub-Speciality In Pakistan, Emaduddin Siddiqui, Junaid Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Eight Key Household Practices Of Integrated Management Of Childhood Illnesses (Imci) Amongst Mothers Of Children Aged 6 To 59 Months In Gambat, Sindh, Pakistan, Ajmal Agha, Muhammad Younus, Muhammed Masood Kadir, Sajid Ali, Zafar Fatmi

Community Health Sciences

Objective:

To determine Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) regarding eight key integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) suggested practices and the association of these key practices with stunting as outcome.

Methods:

Sampling proportionate to sub-population sizes was employed to ensure representation from all the Union Councils of taluka Gambat-Sindh.

Results:

Low female education and mobility show the status of child's first care provider in a typical rural community. Few women knew about giving more food to a child suffering from diarrhoea. Moreover, very few exclusively breastfed their children for first 4-6 months, got their children completely immunized, washed hands before …

Acquired Aplastic Anemia: Treatment In A Developing Country., Shaheena Hanif, Farah Naz, Emaduddin Siddiqui, Jamal Raza

Department of Emergency Medicine

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical presentation of aplastic anemia as well as to assess the efficacy of Cyclosporin -A in patients with aplastic anemia.

Methodology:

This is a hospital based interventional study. During the three year study period, 44 children were enrolled. Mean age was 9.3 years and there was a male predominance.

Results:

Most common clinical presentation was anemia and bleeding. Four children died before therapy was started. Cyclosporin-A was started in 40 patients. Eleven patients died before completion of therapy and three patients were lost to follow-up. Out of 26 patients who …

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis In Neonates, Shahnaz Ibrahim

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Neonatal Cerebrovenous sinus thrombosis(CVST) is extremely rare, however it is a devastating condition and one needs to be aware of this condition to diagnose it. The risk factors for CVST are still not properly understood. The largest registry for stroke and for neonatal CVST is from the Canadian registry which quotes an incidence of 0.6per 100,000 population per year. No data is present for the neonatal CVST in this region.
One needs to be aware of this devastating condition to manage it timely and appropriately. To date there is no consensus on the role of anticoagulant therapy and therefore therapy …

Child Health And Survival In The Eastern Mediterranean Region, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Asim Belgaumi, Rab Mohammad Abdur, Zein Karrar, Mohamed Khashaba, Nezha Mouane

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Botulinum Toxin Type-A In The Management Of Cerebral Palsy: Low Or High Dose?, Alper I. Dai, Mohammad Wasay

Department of Medicine

Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of severe physical disability in childhood. Spasticity is a common and disabling symptom for many patients with cerebral palsy. Therapy for spasticity is symptomatic with the aim of increasing functional capacity and relieving discomfort. Spasticity treatment by orally administered drugs and intramuscular chemodenervation agents has become more frequent. Most oral medications to treat spasticity have been inadequately studied in children, especially those with cerebral palsy. Since its first use in pediatric patients, reported in 1993, botulinum toxin (BTX-A), a relatively recent addition to the available medical interventions for children with cerebral palsy, has …

Role Of A Probiotic (Saccharomyces Boulardii) In Management And Prevention Of Diarrhoea, A G. Billoo, M A. Memon, S A. Khaskheli, G Murtaza, Khalid Iqbal, M Saeed Shekhani, Ahson Q. Siddiqi

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) in acute watery diarrhoea and its role in reducing the frequency of episodes of diarrhoea in subsequent two months.
Methods: Children from 2 mo to 12 years of age, with acute diarrhoea were selected according to inclusion criteria and randomised in S. boulardii group (treated with ORS, nutritional support and S. boulardii, 250 mg bid) and in control group (treated with ORS and nutritional support only). Active treatment phase was 5 d and each child was followed for two months afterwards. Frequency and consistency of stools as well …

Current Concepts In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Typhoid Fever, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Incidence Of Acute Respiratory Infections In Children 2 Months To 5 Years Of Age In Periurban Communities In Karachi, Pakistan, Shaikh Qamaruddin Nizami, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Rumina Hasan

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective: To measure the incidence of acute respiratory infections and burden of respiratory pathogens in children aged two months to five years.
Methods: Four periurban communities in Karachi were selected for the study. The children, identified with fever and cough during community surveillance at regular intervals, were referred to especially established study clinics. These children were diagnosed to have "no pneumonia", "pneumonia" and "severe pneumonia" as per IMCI guidelines. To identify the causative organisms, children with pneumonia and severe pneumonia were investigated with oropharyngeal swabs and blood culture.
Results: Acute respiratory infection was seen in 5884 children during 1st February …

The Million Death Study In India: Cam It Help In Monitoring The Millennium Development Goals?, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Lessons And Implications From A Mass Immunization Campaign In Squatter Settlements Of Karachi, Pakistan: An Experience From A Cluster-Randomized Double-Blinded Vaccine Trial, M. Imran Khan, Rion Leon Ochiai, Hasan Bin Hamza, Shah Muhammad Sahito, Atif Habib, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Naveed Sarwar Bhutto, Shahid Rasool, Mahesh K Puri, Mohammad Ali, Shafi Mohammad Wasan, Mohammad Jawed Khan, Remon Abu- Elyazeed, Bernard Ivanoff, Claudia M Galindo, Tikki Pang, Allan Donner, Lorenz Von Seidlein, Camilo J Acosta, John D Clemens, Shaikh Qamaruddin Nizam, Zulfiqar A Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective: To determine the safety and logistic feasibility of a mass immunization strategy outside the local immunization program in the pediatric population of urban squatter settlements in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: A cluster-randomized double blind preventive trial was launched in August 2003 in 60 geographic clusters covering 21,059 children ages 2 to 16 years. After consent was obtained from parents or guardians, eligible children were immunized parenterally at vaccination posts in each cluster with Vi polysaccharide or hepatitis A vaccine. Safety, logistics, and standards were monitored and documented.
Results: The vaccine coverage of the population was 74% and …

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (Bcg) Lymphadenitis: Changing Trends And Management, Zafar Nazir, Saqib Hamid Qazi

Section of Paediatric Surgery

Background: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination is performed as a part of expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI). Suppurative lymphadenitis is the common complication of BCG vaccination. The optimum treatment for this complication is debated.
Methods: All cases of BCG lymphadenitis presenting to pediatric surgical service over a 17-year study period were reviewed to determine the optimum treatment for this problem.
Results: Sixty children were referred for the management of BCG lymphadenitis during the study period. Most patients (n=43) presented during 1988 and 1990. Children were healthy and received BCG (Pasteur strain) vaccination at EPI during first 2 months of life. Initially …

Outcome For Hospitalized Road Trauma Patients At A Tertiary Hospital In Kenya, Hassan Saidi, William Macharia, John Ating'a

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: The developing world continues to experience a disproportionate burden of injury. About one half of injury deaths are due to motor vehicle collisions. Road traffic fatalities per 10,000 vehicles are ten to 20 times higher in Africa compared to Europe.

Patients and Methods: 233 patients were consecutively analyzed. Injury acuity was determined by calculating Injury Severity Scores (ISS) for each patient. Information on the care and treatment outcome was obtained from patient interviews, case notes and discharge summaries. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS version 10.0 statistical software.

Results: Injury accounted for 48.8% of all emergency hospitalizations into …

Ceftriaxone Or Hiv Associated Angio-Oedema? Case Report, William Macharia, C. Mbaabu, L. Wachira, S.O.M. Muhudhia, G. Moniz

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Angio-oedema may be hereditary or acquired and is characterised by episodes of potentially life threatening localised tissue oedema and swelling resulting from deficiency of compliment pathway C1 esterase inhibitor. Acquired angio-oedema is about ten times less frequent than the hereditary type and has been associated with immune-deficiency disorders, malignancies and exposure to specific medications and food substances. We present a case of seven year old, human immune-deficiency virus positive girl, who developed gross swelling of the tongue and neck while on treatment for pneumococcal meningitis with ceftriaxone. Difficulties in arriving at a definitive diagnosis of angio-oedema in a resource poor …

A Systematic Review Of Existing National Priorities For Child Health Research In Sub-Saharan Africa, George Swingler, James Irlam, William Macharia, Felix Tietche, Martin Meremikwu

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: We systematically reviewed existing national child health research priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the processes used to determine them.

Methods: Collaborators from a purposive sample of 20 WHO-AFRO Region countries, assisted by key informants from a range of governmental, non-governmental, research and funding organisations and universities, identified and located potentially eligible prioritisation documents. Included documents were those published between 1990 and 2002 from national or nationally accredited institutions describing national health research priorities for child health, alone or as part of a broader report in which children were a clearly identifiable group. Laboratory, clinical, public health and policy research …

Orbital Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcomain Karachi (1998-2002), Yasmin Bhurgri, A. Mazhar, H. Bhurgri, A. Usman, J. Malik, A. Bhurgri, R. Ahmed, S. Muzaffar, N. Kayani, Shahid Pervez, S. H. Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To study the epidemiology of ocular Rhabdomyosarcoma (ORMS) in Karachi.

Methods: Incident ORMS cases resident of Karachi, registered at Karachi Cancer Registry (KCR) during 1st January 1998 to 31st December 2002 were included in the study. The data were classified using ICD-O2; computerized with Canreg-3, and analyzed using SPSS 10.0.

Results: Ten cases of ORMS were reported to KCR during 1998-2002. RMS originated in the orbit in eight cases, conjunctiva in one and eyelid in one. Nine cases presented with proptosis, associated with conjunctivitis in four cases. One case presented with eyelid swelling. The crude annual incidence rate was …

Burden Of Infectious Diseases In South Asia, Anita K M Zaidi, Shally Awasthi, H Janaka Desilva

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Esophageal Foreign Body In Neonates, Tasneem Fatima, M A M Khan, N Uddin

Section of Paediatric Surgery

No abstract provided.