Journal Issue: Volume: 30, No. 1 (2010)
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2010
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ISSN 1990-7974 eISSN 1990-7982
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Articles
Is Low Hemoglobin Level a Risk Factor for Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections?
(Nepal Paediatric Society (JNPS), 2010) Malla, Tejesh; Pathak, Om K; Malla, Kalpana K
Abstract:
Objective: This prospective study was conducted to evaluate whether a low hemoglobin level, was a risk factor for Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (ALRTI) in children.
Methods: 150 Children of all age groups who came to the outpatient department and those admitted for ALRTI were included in the study. Age and sex-matched 140 children, not having any respiratory illness, were taken as control. The study period was from March 2006 - March 2007. Detailed clinical and laboratory evaluation of the enlisted patients was done. All were subjected to detail investigations.
Results: Radiological evidence of pneumonia was present in 70 (50 %) children.Hyperinflated lungs were seen in 40 (29%) and was normal in 30 (21.4%) cases. Blood culture was positive in 14 (10%) children of study group and none among control group. Klebsiella was the commonest organism isolated 6 (4.2%) in blood culture positive cases. The mean Hemoglobin (Hb) level of study group was 9.88 gm% and it was 12 gm% in control group.96 (68.6%) of study group and 30 (21.42%) of control group had anemia. Of the anemic children, 79 (82.3%) in study group had iron deficiency, and 17 (17.7%) had normocytic normochromic anemia. These values were 18 (33.3%) and 36 (66.6%) respectively for control group. Low hemoglobin level was a risk factor (p<0.001) ALRTI.
Conclusion: Anemic children were 3.2 times more susceptible to ALRTI compared to the control group and and iron deficiency anemia was predominating. Supplemental iron therapy may reduce the incidence of ALRTI. Prevention of anemia, due to whatever etiology is also essential.
Early Motherhood and Contraceptive Use among Adolescents: A Study from Rajshahi District of Bangladesh
(Nepal Paediatric Society (JNPS), 2010) Rahman, Md Mosiur
Abstract:
Introduction: This paper employs various statistical methods to identify the factors associated with age at first motherhood and contraception use among the adolescence mothers in Rajshahi district of Bangladesh.
Methods: To meets the objectives this study utilizes information from 1000 married adolescents of Rajshahi district within the age span (15-19 years).
Results: We have observed adolescents mean age at first marriage and birth to be 15.0 and 16.4 years. This study reveals that the education, place of residence, occupation of husband and religion played the greatest roles on adolescent's age at first motherhood. The analysis shows that, use of contraceptive among the adolescent's was still very low. Slightly 56.7 per cent of the married adolescents were currently using any method of contraception. Among the factors determining contraceptive use among adolescents, education, visits of family planning workers and place of residence appears to be the most significant and positively associated with contraceptive use.
Conclusions: The results indicate several policy options: (1) government has to take initial steps to strictly prohibit the early marriage with the proper application of existing law that would directly or indirectly rise the age at first birth among the adolescence; (2) programmes that encourage postponement of first birth after marriage through adoption of temporary contraceptive methods should be considered seriously ; (3) provide adolescents with information on the availability of family planning methods and their effectiveness; (4) increase the number of visits by family planning workers and their counseling about family planning methods help to motivate adolescents to accept family planning methods and use them effectively and (5)emphasize adolescents education to make a lasting impact on overall health of the adolescent mothers.
Knowledge about Condoms among Adolescents in Kathmandu Valley
(Nepal Paediatric Society (JNPS), 2010) Jha, Sagar Mani; Chaurasia, Ramesh; Jha, Beena
Abstract:
Introduction: The issues of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) remain the leading cause of ill health among adolescents worldwide and are of growing concern in Nepal. The correct knowledge of condoms is integral part of SRH. The present study was carried out to assess and compare the knowledge about condoms among adolescents in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal.
Aim: To study, assess and compare the knowledge about condoms among adolescents in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal.
Methods: The study was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey. The sample was derived through cluster sampling of the secondary schools in the Kathmandu valley. Schools were selected randomly and two hundred and fifty adolescents were taken from each government and non-government high schools.
Result: Altogether 500 adolescents were recruited for this study. A total of 298 (53.0%) participants said that condoms reduced pleasure. Most women don't like to use condoms was agreed by 291 (55.6%) people and it was statistically significant (p value < 0.05) when compared between males and females. Using condoms with new partner is a good idea was agreed upon by 448 (81.0%) participants. Women should ask their partners to use condoms was answered by 480 (88.1%) and discussing condom use with prospective partner is easy was agreed by 417(79.0%) and both the issues were also statistically significant (p value < 0.05).
Conclusion: It was found that the knowledge about condoms was not adequate and the knowledge among male participants was in general better than females.
Infection of Cyclospora cayetanensis in Diarrhoeal Children of Nepal
(Nepal Paediatric Society (JNPS), 2010) Sherchan, Jatan B; Sherpa, Kunjang; Tandukar, Sarmilla; Cross, John H; Gajadhar, Alvin; Sherchand, Jeevan B
Abstract:
Introduction: Cyclospora cayetanensis is a coccidian parasite that causes recurrent gastroenteritis among children living under poor sanitary condition and adults from industrialized countries who lived or traveled in endemic developing countries.
Methods: A total of 1842 stool specimens from gastroenteritis patients were examined between March 2006 to February 2007 and collected various types of faecal specimens from human, animals and samples of water and green leafy vegetables.
Results: Of 1842 stool specimens collected from different areas of Nepal, 146 (7.9 %) were found to be positive for Cyclospora cayetanensis. with the majority were from children 2-9 years of age. The highest rate of infections was found in the month of June; (31.6%). Cyclospora cayetanensis were found to be contaminated in green vegetables including leaves of basil, mint leaves, water sources and feces of domestic animals and these findings were presented in the paper.
Conclusion: Cyclospora-like oocysts were detected in vegetables leaves, feces of domestic animals and water sources. The results suggest that water, vegetables and domestic animals are possible sources of infection in Nepal. The study also obtained more information on Cyclospora cayetanensis a coccidian parasite that infect humans especially children and causes prolonged diarrhea and life threatening infestation.
Clinico-Laboratory Profile and Immediate Outcomes of Hyperbilirubinemic Babies Admitted in Kanti Children Hospital
(Nepal Paediatric Society (JNPS), 2010) Nepal, Deepeshwara; Banstola, Dinesh; Khakal, Ajaya Kumar; Mishra, Udbhabhat; Maheseth, Chandeshawar
Abstract:
Introduction: Jaundice is an important problem in the neonatal period especially in the first week of life. Our objective of the study is to find out the immediate outcome of hyperbilirubinemic babies admitted in Kanti Children Hospital.
Methodology: This is a retrospective study and carried out in tertiary care paediatric hospital.
Results: Altogether 73 babies were enrolled in the study. Male babies outnumbered the female (72.6% vs. 27.4%).Only 2.4% babies were near-term. LBW babies constitute 19.2% of the study population.86.3% of babies also have clinical sepses as defined by WHO criteria. Almost half of the babies have mild hyperbilirubinemia (15-19.9 mg/dl). Most of the babies (94.5%) improved and the mortality was 5.5%.
Conclusion: Healthy term babies with a serum bilirubin <17mg/dl should not be admitted for routinely as they do not need phototherapy. Phototherapy is effective in most of the time, but exchange transfusion should also be carried out when phototherapy fails. Causes of hyperbilirubinemia should be searched extensively especially to rule out haemolysis.