Pediatrics Commons^™

Validation Of C-Reactive Protein In The Early Diagnosis Of Neonatal Sepsis In A Tertiary Care Hospital In Kenya., Rashim Kumar, Rachel Musoke, William Macharia, Gunturu Revathi

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Objective: To evaluate utility of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in a tertiary care Newborn Unit in Kenya.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Newborn Unit, Kenyatta National Hospital.

Subjects: All neonates admitted to Newborn Unit, Kenyatta National Hospital during the study period with suspected sepsis based on specified clinical criteria.

Results: Of the 310 infants, there were 83 episodes of proven sepsis and 94 episodes of probable sepsis. Using the standard CRP cut-off value of 5 mg/dl, a sensitivity of 95.2% in proven sepsis and 98.9% for probable septic episodes were noted. In proven sepsis, a …

Short Term Clinical Outcome Of Children With Rotavirus Infection At Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Bonface Osano, Rose Kamenwa, D. Wamalwa, J. K. Wang'ombe

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Rotavirus infection is the single most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children under five years of age. Rotavirus gastroenteritis has a high morbidity and mortality in children in Kenya.

Objectives: To determine the short term clinical outcome for children admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital with rotavirus gastroenteritis and the correlates of poor outcome.

Design: Short longitudinal survey. Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital from February to May 2008.

Subjects: Five hundred children were screened using a rapid antigen detection kit and ELISA. Results: Of the 191 children who tested positive for rotavirus in stool; 172 children were recruited into the …

Admission Creatine Kinase As A Prognostic Marker In Acute Myocardial Infarction, Khawar Abbas Kazmi, Saleem Perwaiz Iqbal, Ayla Bakr, Mohammad Perwaiz Iqbal

Section of Cardiology

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prognostic significance of creatine kinase (CK) in Pakistani patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to find out if CK combined with troponin T (TnT) could be a better predictor for long-term adverse cardiac event.

METHODS: One hundred and eighty six consecutive patients with AMI who were eligible for streptokinase (SK) treatment were included in this prospective cohort study. The relationship between their serum/plasma CK and TnT levels at the time of admission and clinical outcome was investigated over a mean follow up of 24.12 +/- 3.75 months.

RESULTS: Admission CK was found to be …

Outcome And Haemato-Toxicity Of Two Chemotherapy Regimens For Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma In A Kenyan Hospital, William Macharia

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Effectiveness and toxicity of childhood cancer treatments have never been evaluated in Kenya since introduction of structured care in the early seventies.

Objective:To evaluate effectiveness and toxicity of two treatment protocols for Non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).

Design: Historical cohort study using medical records.

Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital, a tertiary care and medical teaching hospital.

Subjects: Children ≤ 15 years with diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes were median survival, event free survival and toxicity.

Results: Out of 101 records, only 26 (25.7%) met inclusion criteria. Baseline characteristics were similar in the two treatment arms. …

The 'Molar Tooth Sign' In Joubert Syndrome, Imaad Ur Rehman, Zablon Bett, Yousuf Husen, Ali Syed Muhammad Akhtar, Faisal Aziz Khan

Department of Radiology

The molar tooth sign is seen in very few conditions and is a very rare paediatric central nervous system congenital anomaly. Molar tooth sign is the result of cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, thick and maloriented superior cerebellar peduncles, and an abnormally deep interpeduncular fossa. In Joubert syndrome this is seen in about 85% of patients. We present a case of 13 months old baby boy with recurrent episodes of fits and hyperpnoea, regression of milestones and developmental delay. MRI examination showed the characteristic molar tooth sign with apposition of cerebellar hemispheres, batwing-shaped fourth ventricle communicating through a thin fissure with foramen …

Venoarterial Pco2 Difference: A Marker Of Postoperative Cardiac Output In Children With Congenital Heart Disease, Muhammad Furqan, Fahad Hashmat, Munir Amanullah, Mansoor Khan, Hina K Durani, Anwarul Haque

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between venoarterial carbon dioxide gradient (DeltapCO2) and central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) in children after cardiac surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: A cohort study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Paediatric cardiac intensive care unit of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from June 2006 to May 2007.

METHODOLOGY: All children admitted in the paediatric cardiac intensive care after complete repair of congenital heart defect using cardiopulmonary bypass were included in the study. Simultaneous arterial and central venous blood gas samples were obtained from a catheter placed in the artery (either radial or femoral) and superior vena …

Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation: Case Report, K. C. Wafula, S. Waa

Imaging & Diagnostic Radiology, East Africa

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung is a rare lesion that typically manifests as severe progressive respiratory distress in the neonate secondary to expansion of the affected lung. We present a neonate in whom this condition was diagnosed and managed at the Aga Khan University Hospital. In presenting this patient, we hope to highlight the radiological aspects of this condition which, with prompt recognition and management and in the absence of pulmonary hypoplasia, foetal hydrops or other congenital anomalies, has a favourable prognosis.

Foreign Body Or Foreign From Body--Congenital Unilateral Lobar Hypoplasia Of Lung, Heeramani Lohana, Syed Rehan Ali, Shakeel Ahmed

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

We report a rare case of congenital unilateral hypoplasia of the lung without any other anomaly at Aga Khan University Hospital. A 7-month-old male infant presented in emergency room with respiratory distress. There was no history of cough and wheeze. X-ray revealed left sided non homogenous opacity along with right sided hyperinflation. A suspicion of foreign body was made on chest X-ray but bronchoscopy was deferred in view of bilateral equal air entry and absence of wheeze. CT scan showed left upper lobe hypoplasia. Child recovered with supportive therapy and was discharged home. To the best of our knowledge unilateral …

Incomplete, Atypical Kawasaki Disease Or Evolving Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Case Report., Shakeel Shaikh, Sidra Ishaque, Taimur Saleem

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile condition seen in children. However, it is also well recognized that some Patients do not fulfill the classic diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of kawasaki disease. The incomplete form of kawasaki disease is termed as 'Incomplete KD' or 'Atypical KD'. We present a case of a 6 year old child with a history of prolonged fever, periorbital, oral and lip changes, changes in the extremities and an erythamatous, maculopapular rash. Based on the physical exam and her echocardiogram that showed right coronary artery dilatation, Intravenous immune globulin was administered in this Patient. This Patient …

Solar Water Disinfection In Household Settings:Hype Or Hope?, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Clinical Profile And Outcome In A Paediatric Intensive Care Unit In Pakistan, Anwarul Haque, Surraiya Bano

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Paediatric critical care medicine is a relatively new subspecialty in Pakistan. The clinical profile and outcomes of children admitted in the PICU (paediatric intensive care unit) were retrospectively reviewed from January to December 2007. Mean age of the studied 314 patients was 24 months; 37% were less than one-year-old and 66% was male. Mean PRISM score was 13.2. There were almost equal distribution of medical (46%) and surgical (54%) cases. Ninety percent of patients received mechanical ventilation, while more than 50% received vasoactive drugs. The rate of nosocomial infection was 4.7%. The average length of PICU stay was 3.2 (1-49) …

Consanguinity Among The Risk Factors For Underweight In Children Under Five: A Study From Rural Sindh, S. F. Hasnain, S. K. Hashmi

Community Health Sciences

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is a common problem, especially in developing countries. Of the 11 million children under 5 who die each year in the developing countries mainly from preventable causes, the death of about 54% are either directly or indirectly attributable to malnutrition. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence and associated factors for underweight in rural Sindh.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jhangara Town, located in District Dadu, Sindh. Eight hundred children under 5 years of age were enrolled. A questionnaire was used to elicit required information and anthropometric measurements were made.RESULTS: The overall prevalence for …

Comparison Of Oral Versus Injectable Vitamin-D For The Treatment Of Nutritional Vitamin-D Deficiency Rickets, Abdul Gaffar Billoo, Ghulam Murtaza, M. Ashraf Memon, Sultan Ahmed Khaskheli, Khalid Iqbal, Masood Hussain Rao

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and acceptability of a single dose of vitamin-D versus the efficacy of injectable Vitamin-D versus oral vitamin-D.

STUDY DESIGN: Case control.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: It was carried out at the Department of Paediatrics, Kharadar General Hospital, Karachi, from August 2003 to April 2004.

METHODOLOGY: Children of the age of 6 months to 3 years with clinical, biochemical and radiological evidence of vitamin- D deficiency rickets were included. The history, clinical examination, complete blood picture, serum calcium. Phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and X-ray of wrist joint were done. The children were divided into two groups …

Multiple Major Artery Compression By An Idiopathic Aortic Aneurysm: An Unusual Cause Of Hypertensive Encephalopathy, Shakeel Ahmed, Syed Rehan Ali, Husen Yousuf

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Multiple major artery compression by an aortic aneurysm is extremely rare in the paediatric population. Most arterial aneurysms in children are secondary to infections mainly mycotic, connective tissue disorder, vasculitis, collagen vascular diseases, and other causes. True idiopathic aneurysms are the least common and a few reports in children have been published. We describe an 8 year old boy who presented with hypertensive encephalopathy and later was found to have an idiopathic, symptomatic suprarenal aortic aneurysm compressing multiple major arteries of the abdomen. The child was subsequently managed on multiple antihypertensive medication and later required engraftment of the renal and …

Improving Outcome In Pediatric Intensive Care Unit In Academic Hospital In Pakistan, Anwarul Haque, Surraiya Bano

Department of Emergency Medicine

Objective:

To assess the impact on the clinical outcome of critically ill children before and after introduction of pediatric intensivist in an academic pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) inPakistan.

Methodology: :

This is aretrospective audit of children (age from one month to 14 years) admitted in the PICU during two 12-month periods in PICU of Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).Patients in Cohort one were managed by pediatric intensivist while in Cohort two were managed by general pediatricians.Patients were compared during the two 12-month cohort period.

Results:

During the study, in cohort one, 314 patients were admitted, mean age was 24 …

Vitamin B12 Deficiency--A Major Cause Of Megaloblastic Anaemia In Patients Attending A Tertiary Care Hospital, Saira Perwaiz Iqbal, Ghulam Nabi Kakepoto, Saleem Perwaiz Iqbal

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

BACKGROUND: Folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been known to cause megaloblastic anaemia. Since the deficiencies of these two vitamins are very common in Pakistani population, it would be imperative to investigate their role in causing megaloblastic anaemia. The objective of this study was to find out the contribution of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies in causing megaloblastic anaemia in our patient population.

METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, clinical records of 220 patients (101 females and 119 males with an age range of 1-80 years) who presented themselves with macrocytic anaemia at the Aga Khan University Hospital were collected. …

Severe Road Traffic Injuries In Kenya, Quality Of Care And Access, William Macharia, F. Muli-Musiime, V. Nantulya, Erastus K. Njeru

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Road traffic injuries (RTI) are on increase in developing countries. Health care facilities are poorly equipped to provide the needed services.

Objective: Determine access and quality of care for RTI casualties in Kenya.

Design: Cross-sectional survey

Setting: 53 large and medium size private, faith-based and public hospitals.

Participants: In-patient road traffic crash casualties and health personnel in the selected hospitals were interviewed on availability of emergency care and resources. Onsite verification of status was undertaken.

Results: Out of 310 RTI casualties interviewed, 72.3%, 15.6% and 12.2% were in public, faith-based and private hospitals, respectively. Peak age of the injured …

Four-Country Surveillance Of Intestinal Intussusception And Diarrhoea In Children, Shally Awasthi, Girdhar Agarwal, Vikas Mishra, Vijay Laxmi Nag, Hesham Fathey El Sayed, Antonio Da Cunha, Alvaro Madeiro, Dipty Jain, William Macharia, James Ndung'u, Saumya Awasthi, Ashish Wakhlu

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Aim: Establishment of baseline epidemiology of intussusception in developing countries has become a necessity with the possibility of reintroduction of rotavirus vaccine. The current study assessed the seasonal trend in cases admitted with intussusceptions and dehydrating acute watery diarrhoea in children aged 2 months to 10 years.

Methods: In a prospective surveillance study, teaching and research hospital sites in India (Lucknow and Nagpur), Brazil (Fortazela), Egypt (Ismailia) and Kenya (Nairobi) established a surveillance where a network of hospitals with surgical facilities catered to a reference population of about 1-2 million for reporting of intussusception. One large hospital per site also …

Characteristics Of Hiv-Infected Children Seen In Western Kenya, W Nyandiko, A. Mwangi, S. O. Ayaya, E. C. Nabakwe, C. N. Tenge, R. C. Vreeman, Peter Gisore

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Objectives: To describe the characteristics and outcomes of children registered for care in a large HIV care programme in Western Kenya.

Design: A retrospective descriptive study.

Setting: USAID-AMPATH HIV clinics in health centres; district and sub-district hospitals; Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Western Kenya.

Subjects: HIV-infected children below age of 15 years seen in a network of 18 clinics in Western Kenya.

Interventions: Paediatric HIV diagnosis and care including treatment and prevention of opportunistic infections and provision of combination antiretroviral therapy (CART).

Main outcome measures: Diagnosis, clinical stage and immune status at enrollment and follow-up; hospitalisation and death. Descriptive …

Clinico-Pathologic Characteristics And Treatment Outcomes In Children With Neuroblastoma At The Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi., Grace Kitonyi, William Macharia, Otieno Walter Mwanda, R. Pamnani

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Objective: To determine clinical-pathologic characteristics, treatment modalities and treatment outcomes of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

Design: Cross- sectional descriptive study based on secondary data from patient records.

Setting: Records department of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), a tertiary teaching and referral hospital based in Nairobi.

Subjects: Children aged 15 years and below, admitted with the diagnosis of neuroblastoma, between January 1997 and December 2005.

Main outcome measures: Presenting clinical features, diagnostic modalities including laboratory and imaging data, treatment modalities, response to treatment and patient survival.

Results: Twenty six patients were eligible for the study; 13 males and 13 females giving a …

Well Leg Compartment Syndrome: The Debit Side Of Hemilithotomy Position, Shahryar Noordin, Salim Allana, Muhammad Abdul Wajid

Section of Orthopaedic Surgery

We describe a case of well leg compartment syndrome following unilateral lithotomy position in a patient undergoing contralateral antegrade intramedullary femoral nailing. Following two-incision four compartment fasciotomy, the patient recovered with no residual defects. We dissuade use of the hemilithotomy position for antegrade femoral nailing procedures in favour of another previously described position, because this predisposes patients to position-associated complications without offering any substantial advantage.

Fmic Annual Report 2009​ | English, French Medical Institute For Mothers And Children

French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC) Archives

No abstract provided.

Incomplete Kawaski Disease: Are We Missing It, Abdul Gaffar Billoo, Saira Waqar Lone, Salman Siddiqui, Huba Atiq

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome or infantile polyarteritis nodosa is an acute febrile vasculitis of unknown etiology with a predilection for coronary arteries and potential for aneurysm formation. In Incomplete Kawasaki disease, children with fever lack the sufficient number of criteria to fulfill the epidemiologic case definition and are diagnosed when coronary artery disease is detected. We present a case report of a one and a half years old girl who came with features of incomplete Kawasaki disease, high grade fever, irritability, history of conjunctivitis and cracking of lips. She was investigated and had a platelet …

Controlled Evaluation Of Bactec Peds Plus/F And Bactec Lytic/10 Anaerobic/F Media For Isolation Of Salmonella Enterica Serovars Typhi And Paratyphi A From Blood, Megan E. Reller, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Shazia Sultana, Shazia Azeem, Beenish Hanif, Shahida Qureshi, Rumina Hasan, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Rehana Akhter, Donald A. Goldmann

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

We compared anaerobic lytic (AL) and pediatric aerobic resin-containing (Peds Plus/F) blood culture media for the isolation of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi or Paratyphi A from children. The yields from AL and Peds Plus/F media were the same with equal volumes of blood, but recovery was faster from AL medium than Peds Plus/F medium (10.7 and 16.4 h, respectively) (P < 0.001).

A Comparison Of Treatments Offered To Patients With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, Saleem Perwaiz Iqbal, Sadia Mahmud, Saeed Hamid, Omrana Pasha, Khabir Ahmad

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

OBJECTIVE: To compare various treatment options provided to patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and assess improvement in liver status via reduction in serum Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) levels.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from April 2000 to April 2007.

METHODOLOGY: All available records of patients aged between 20-70 years, fatty liver on ultrasound, elevated serum ALT and having at least one follow-up, after a baseline visit were included. The patients had variable number of follow-ups and a maximum of 3 follow-ups were considered. Information was collected on demographic and clinical …

Fluoroquinolones For Treating Typhoid And Paratyphoid Fever (Enteric Fever), Durrane Thaver, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Julia A. Critchley, Asma Azmatullah, Syed Ali Madni, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Fluoroquinolones are recommended as first-line therapy for typhoid and paratyphoid fever (enteric fever), but how they compare with other antibiotics and different fluoroquinolones is unclear.
Objectives: To evaluate fluoroquinolone antibiotics for treating enteric fever in children and adults compared with other antibiotics, different fluoroquinolones, and different durations of fluoroquinolone treatment.
Search strategy: In November 2007, we searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2007, Issue 4), MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, mRCT, conference proceedings, and reference lists.
Selection criteria: Randomized controlled trials of fluoroquinolones in people with blood or bone marrow culture-confirmed enteric fever.
Data collection …

Seroprevalence Of Varicella Zoster Antibodies Among Children With Malnutrition, Malignancies And Hiv Infection, Bashir Admani, William Macharia, F. Were

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of varicella zoster in paediatric patients at a high risk of developing complications.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: Paediatric general wards at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Subjects: Children with malignancies, severe malnutrition and were HIV positive.

Interventions: The sample size was calculated at 147 subjects. Venous samples were tested for varicella zoster virus (VZV) antibodies using enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratories, The data were anaIysed using the SPSS software and presented in form of tables and graphs. The prevalence of VZV antibodies was determined and 95% confidence interval computed. …

Familial Chylomicronemia In A Nine Months Old Infant, Saira Waqar Lone, Aamer Imdad, Abdul Gaffar Billoo

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Familial chylomicronemia syndrome is a rare disorder of lipoprotein metabolism due to familial lipoprotein lipase or apolipoprotein C-II deficiency or the presence of inhibitors to lipoprotein lipase. It manifests as eruptive xanthomas, acute pancreatitis, and lipaemic plasma due to marked elevation of triglyceride and chylomicrons levels. We report a rare case of familial chylomicronemia in a 9-month-old infant, who was diagnosed after his plasma was incidentally found to be milky. Lipid profile showed familial chylomicronemia (Type 1 Hyperlipidemia). The infant was started on a low fat diet and advised a regular follow-up.

Alma-Ata: Rebirth And Revision 8 - Primary Health Care: Making Alma-Ata A Reality, John Walley, Joy E. Lawn, Anne Tinker, Andres De Francisco, Mickey Chopra, Igor Rudan, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Robert E. Black

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

The principles agreed at Alma-Ata 30 years ago apply just as much now as they did then. "Health for all" by the year 2000 was not achieved, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2015 will not be met in most low-income countries without substantial acceleration of primary health care. Factors have included insufficient political prioritisation of health, structural adjustment policies, poor governance, population growth, inadequate health systems, and scarce research and assessment on primary health care. We propose the following priorities for revitalising primary health care. Health-service infrastructure, including human resources and essential drugs, needs strengthening, and user fees …

Factor Xiii Deficiency In Children--Clinical Presentation And Outcome, Zehra Fadoo, Ali Faisal Saleem

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

OBJECTIVE: To determine the demographic features and clinical outcome of children with Factor XIII deficiency.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational case series.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 1996 to December 2006.

METHODOLOGY: Records of all hospitalized pediatric patients with discharge diagnosis of FXIII D, on the basis of factor XIII assay 5 mol/L urea test were retrospectively reviewed and abstracted on a pre-specified proforma. Demographic features, coagulation profile, family history and outcomes were noted.

RESULTS: A total of 10 charts were reviewed. There were 5 boys and 5 girls. Almost all the children (9/10) …