Assessment of the Blood Lead Level in Children with Unexplained Failure to Thrive (FTT) admitted to Pediatrics Emergency Ward of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran

BackgroundLead is a strong and stable toxin, harmful especially to children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Nearly 27% of children aged under 5 years suffer from failure to thrive (FTT). Due to the probable harmful effects of lead poisoning on children’s growth, in this study we aimed to assess the blood lead level in children with unexplained failure to thrive.MethodsThis analytic cross-sectional study was performed on 200 children under 2 years of age who were referred to Ghaem hospital, a referral hospital in Mashhad city-Iran. The participants were divided into two equal groups, one with unexplained FTT (group A), and children with normal weight (group B). Baseline characteristics were obtained by a research-made questionnaire. Blood samples were taken by the hospital nurses who were blind to the study groups. Blood lead level was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometric method (Perkin Elmer 3030). ResultsThe mean ± standard deviation (SD) of blood lead level in FTT group and control group were 7.3±3.32 µg/dL and 6.37±5.93 µg/dL, respectively. Blood lead level was significantly higher in FTT group than control group (P=0.001). Baseline Charactistics (such as hgender, parental educational level, gestational age, and socio-economic status of the family) were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionThe results of our study revealed that blood lead level was higher in children with FTT. So Lead poisoning may be a potential cause of unexplained FTT. So, measuring blood lead level can be useful in diagnostic workup of patients with FTT

The Effects of Botulinum Toxin Type A on Reducing Sialorrhea in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Self-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Cerebral palsy stands as the main cause of mobility disability in childhood, and the accompanying sialorrhea exacerbates health and psychological issues for both the child and the family. We aimed to assess the effect of botulinum toxin type A on reducing sialorrhea in children with cerebral palsy.Methods: This self-controlled clinical trial was executed among children afflicted with cerebral palsy. The Teacher Drooling Scale was used as the data collection tool. The intervention involved the administration of botulinum toxin A, with a dosage ranging from 30 to 50 units in each parotid gland, skillfully guided by a radiologist using ultrasound. Sialorrhea scores were compared before and after the injection.Results: Our study included 21 children with cerebral palsy and sialorrhea. After the two post-injection weeks, a noteworthy drop was observed in the sialorrhea score (4.10±0.831) compared to the pre-injection score (4.71±0.463). The sialorrhea score until the ninth month after injection (1.121±3.43) was still significantly lower than the score before injection.Conclusion: The injection of botulinum toxin A emerges as a potent medication, significantly curtailing the drooling among patients with cerebral palsy. This finding can be used to prevent aspiration pneumonia and reduce social and psychological complications in this population

Case Report of a Vanished Aspirated Foreign Body; Cough may be more Helpful

Foreign body aspiration is a potentially life-threatening event especially in those who are younger than 5 years old. Aspiration could be presented as a spectrum, ranging from absolutely asymptomatic event to more sever events including choking, respiratory distress and cyanosis or even death. Although foreign bodies in lung may not be visualized on X-ray, X-ray radiography is considered as a first step in localizing aspirated foreign bodies. Bronchoscope as rigid or flexible optic fiber is the main device used in removing aspirated foreign bodies. However, in some cases, as the present case report, previous foreign bodies which were localized in lung could travel back to the mouth and be ingested. In this report, we discussed a case of foreign body aspiration in a 10 year-old girl referred to Dr. Sheikh Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, whose foreign body located in the lower lobe of the left lung returned and was ingested before bronchoscopy after some episodes of sever coughing

Key Facts about Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Children Worldwide

Unfortunately, we do not know how many perinatally (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) HIV-infected pepole are living in contries today, while knowing these informations is necessary. UNAIDS reports that there are 3.4 million children under 15 years of age with HIV and 2 million adolescents between 10 and 19 years of age. Although the vast majority of children were perinatally infected, older children are combined with behaviourally infected adolescents and youth in global reporting, without disaggregation by sex. The aim of this study is to introduce the prevalence and prevention  of HIV/AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) in children of worldwide

Key Facts about Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Children Worldwide

Unfortunately, we do not know how many perinatally (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) HIV-infected pepole are living in contries today, while knowing these informations is necessary. UNAIDS reports that there are 3.4 million children under 15 years of age with HIV and 2 million adolescents between 10 and 19 years of age. Although the vast majority of children were perinatally infected, older children are combined with behaviourally infected adolescents and youth in global reporting, without disaggregation by sex. The aim of this study is to introduce the prevalence and prevention  of HIV/AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) in children of worldwide

Study and Comparison the Knowledge of Medical and Public Health Students about Control and Treatment of TB with DOTS Strategy

Introduction: training medical students and prepare them for diagnosis, treatment and care of diseases, is the main goal of medical education. According to  importance of adapting educational content to the needs of society and the high incidence of infectious diseases in the country,  decided to study  the knowledge of medical students and public health students about Tuberculosis (TB) and Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS), because they are the main stakeholders in the field  at feuture. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire consisting of 40 questions related to the knowledge necessary measures in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (DOTS), 90 students of public health and medical students who were taken by  the stratified random sampling with  Using a reliable and valid questionnaire. The results of the tests were analyzed by descriptive and analytical tests in SPSS11.5 software. Results: Average knowledge of public health students about TB was 9.24+9.091of total 20 and kowledge of medical students was 8.67+1.954. The mean of knowledge, diagnosis and treatment of Public health students was 16.91+3.168 of total 40 and of medical students was 16.42+3.720. There was a significant linear correlation between general and tecnical students information about TB (r=0.681, p=0.000). T test showed there is not significant relationship between gender and field of study and students knowledge about TB; however, the infromation level in women was higher than in men. Couclusion: Knowledge of medical and health students about TB and DOTS is not in acceptable level and it is necessary to revise the education of tuberculosis in medical and health school

Child Labor Facts in the Worldwide: A Review Article

The economic exploitation of children is an insult to humanity. All over the world children continue to work, putting at stake their education, their health, their normal development to adulthood, and even their lives. Millions of them work under hazardous conditions which present dangers to their health, safety and welfare. They toil in mines and quarries, are exposed to agrochemicals in agriculture, squat in crippling positions to weave rugs and carpets, and scavenge in rubbish tips. Too many are enslaved in bonded labour, isolated in domestic service, and traumatized and abused in the commercial sex trade. Today many people and organizations are concerned about child labour. The number of children working in the world today is higher than most people think, although it is difficult to obtain anything more than an educated global estimate. This is firstly because many kinds of child labour are underreported, and secondly because many countries have no desire or incentive to publicize how many of their young people work. Nevertheless, statistical techniques allow us to estimate that 211 million children aged 5 to 14 and an additional 141 million children aged 15 to 17 are “economically active”, i.e. are involved in some form of work

Assessment the Relationship Between Parents' Literacy Level with Children Growth in Mashhad: An Analytic Descriptive Study

Introduction: Present children are the investments of community in the future. Preparing children health which leads to the stability of community health, provided to accurate implementation of educational and health programs in the community and especially in mothers. So it is necessary to determine the relationship between parents' literacy  with growth rate in children. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study was conducted on 300 mothers referring to 10 selected Mashhad health-care centers for monitoring their 6-24-month year old infants. They completed questionnaire. Participants were selected by cluster and simple random sampling. Data were analyzed by descriptive- analytic statistics and using SPSS 16. Results: Presentfindings showed a significant relationship between literacy  level of parents with child growth status, breast feeding rate, junk food consumption, referring to health care center for growth monitoring, the age of initiating supplementary nutrition, the use of oil and butter in baby food and rate of attending in educational classes. So that higher literacy  level of parents was associated with using more formula, less junk food, oil and butter in baby's food and more referring times to health care center for monitoring child growth, desirable growth, and  also initiating supplementary food more at the assigned time (

Status of Hepatitis B Immunization in Medical Stuffs at Children Medical Center Hospital-Tehran

Introduction: Hepatitis B is a disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is transmitted through percutaneous (i.e., puncture through the skin) or mucosal (i.e., direct contact with mucous membranes) exposure to infectious blood or body fluids. HBV can cause chronic infection, resulting in cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. Persons with chronic infection also serve as the main reservoir for continued HBV transmission.   Material and Methods: This is a prospective cross sectional study was performed in ChildrenMedicalCenterHospital on 396 medical personals (including 172 students,92 interns,56 residents and 56 fellowships) during Sep 2012 to  Oct 2013. Results: All of medical staff had done HB vaccination. In 93% of them the vaccination was complete. The others,16% had only one, and 84% had two dose injections. 73% didn’t check HBsAb after vaccination.  Results showed in 21.4% of fellowships, 42.8% of residents, non of interns and 35% of students, had checked HBsAb.   Conclusion: Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease. HB is a serious world wide infection and medical staff are one of the most high risk groups. So Vaccinate their and HBS Antibody titer determination after complete vaccination is mandatory.

Maternal Knowledge and Attitude toward Exclusive Breast Milk Feeding (BMF) in the First 6 Months of Infant Life in Mashhad

Introduction: Breast milk is a complete food for growing children until 6 months of age, and mothers, as the most important child health care, play a decisive role in their growth. So promoting  their attitude toward the benefits of breastfeeding ensures guarantee child health in the future. This study aimed to assess maternal knowledge and attitude of Mashhad toward exclusive BMF in the first 6 months of infant life.   Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study was conducted on 126 mothers who referring to Mashhad health-care centers for monitoring their 6-24 month year old infants. They completed questionnaire. Participants were selected by cluster and simple random sampling. Data were analyzed by descriptive- analytic tests and using SPSS 11.5.   Results: Mean score of maternal attitude toward exclusive BMF was 14.32±5.28 (out of 28) and maternal knowledge score toward advantages of breast milk was 19.59±4.80 (out of 28). The incidence of exclusive BMF in the first 6 months of life study was 73.8%. Child growth was as follows: excellent growth (5.6%) and good growth (42.1%). ANOVA showed a significant difference between parents' education and maternal attitude towards exclusive BMF; whatever higher education of parents, more positive maternal attitude towards exclusive BMF (