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Pattern of Childhood Tuberculosis in the Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Level Hospital in Dhaka City
Md. Mozammel Haque,
Md. Abdullah-Al-Maruf,
Abdullah Al Baki,
A. Z. M. Motiur Rahman,
Md. Arif Rabbany,
Dhiman Chowdhury,
Muhammad Jabed Bin Amin Chowdhury,
Muhammad Ismail Hasan,
Mohammad Morshad Alam,
Jugindra Singha,
Md. Shohidul Islam Khan,
Md. Humayan Kabir,
Mohammed Golam Mowla,
Kamrunnaher Shultana
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020
Pages:
23-28
Received:
22 March 2020
Accepted:
9 April 2020
Published:
15 May 2020
Abstract: Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) in children is increasingly becoming an important cause of global child morbidity and mortality. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical spectrum of TB in children under the age of 15 years and document any changes that occur over time. Materials & Methods: This observational study was conducted in the pediatric outpatient department (OPD) of 250 Bedded TB Hospital, Shyamoli, Dhaka, from October’2016 to January’2017. A total 71 children of both sex up to 15 years of age, who were diagnosed as having TB and attended the pediatric OPD of TB hospital during the four months study period were enrolled. The data was analyzed on the basis of patient’s age, gender, socioeconomic status, mode of presentation, BCG vaccination status, history of contact with smear positive TB patient, clinical findings, investigations and associated co-morbidities. Results: This study revealed that among the 71 cases of TB, (72%) had extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) and (28%) had pulmonary TB (PTB), the commonest age group was 6 to 15 years with male preponderance (51%). Pulmonary TB was diagnosed mostly clinically (60%) followed by positive sputum smear result (20%), gastric aspirate for acid-fast bacilli AFB (5%) and sputum for Gene Xpert (5%). Distribution of extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) according to the organ involvement was TB lymphadenitis (49%), osteoarticular TB (19.6%) and abdominal TB (5.9%). Cervical lymphadenopathy was the commonest presentation (76%) among the EPTB cases. Tuberculin skin test (TST) was positive in (69%) cases. Among the total cases (90%) children had TB alone whereas (10%) had other co-morbid disease along with TB. Conclusion: Extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) was more prevalent among the childhood TB cases in a tertiary level set up where cervical TB lymphadenitis was the commonest.
Abstract: Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) in children is increasingly becoming an important cause of global child morbidity and mortality. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical spectrum of TB in children under the age of 15 years and document any changes that occur over time. Materials & Methods: This observational study was con...
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Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals
Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020
Pages:
29-33
Received:
8 April 2020
Accepted:
24 April 2020
Published:
15 May 2020
Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 is an enveloped RNA enveloped beta coronavirus. In Iraq there were more than 700 cases officially reported for the period from February 24th 2020 to April 1st 2020 and the case fatality rate was 7.1%. This study aims to determine the most common clinical characteristics of patients who are confirmed as COVID-19 positive in Iraq, as well as to understand the underlying causes which make Iraq have one of the highest case-fatality rates in the world. Methods: A total of 128 doctors working in Iraqi hospitals participated in this study through answering a questionnaire that has been prepared for this purpose. The questionnaire included a set of questions related to the symptoms of the disease, hospital procedures, the level of these procedures and major obstacles. A total of 108 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 enrolled in this study to understand the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Iraq. Result: The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in Iraq were: fever (seen in 85.2% of patients), cough (55.6%), shortness of breath (31.5%), fatigue (27.8%), headache (7.4%), diarrhea (1.9%), and (9.3%) were asymptomatic. Initial chest X-rays were abnormal in (63%) and lymphopenia was seen in (72.2%). Most of the doctors (76.2%) complained from the unclear guidelines regarding COVID-19 screening and (17.7%) of suspected cases were not tested for COVID-19. Conclusion: The high fatality rate which seen in Iraq is related to the low level of awareness and late presentation of the patients, in addition to the limited number of the COVID-19 screening tests, unclear guidelines regarding the patients who should be enrolled for the COVID-19 testing, and finally, many of the suspected cases which were reported by doctors were not provided with the necessary tests to confirm the diagnosis. All these together contribute to high fatality rate.
Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 is an enveloped RNA enveloped beta coronavirus. In Iraq there were more than 700 cases officially reported for the period from February 24th 2020 to April 1st 2020 and the case fatality rate was 7.1%. This study aims to determine the most common clinical characteristics of patients who are confirmed as COVID-19 positive in ...
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Insecticide Treated Net (ITN) Utilization and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women’s in Halaba Kulito Town, South Ethiopia, 2016: Cross-Sectional Study
Alex Yeshaneh,
Daniel Adane
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020
Pages:
34-40
Received:
2 July 2019
Accepted:
4 August 2019
Published:
29 May 2020
Abstract: Background:-Malaria remains to be a major problem causing an unacceptable toll on the health and economic welfare of world’s poorest communities. Globally, it is agreed to reduce the burden of malaria by half by the year 2010 and again by half by 2015. Similarly, at the African summit on Roll Back Malaria (RBM) in Abuja, committed themselves to halving the burden of malaria by 2010, by achieving 60% coverage of all at risk population with suitable curative and preventive measures by 2005. Ethiopia, as one of the signatories of the Abuja convention, has included the above global strategies in its national malaria prevention and control approach. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess Insecticide Treated Nets utilization and associated factors among pregnant women in Halaba kulito town, 2016. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was carried out among pregnant women in Halaba Kulito town. The study included 92 mothers who were selected by simple random sampling. Household survey using structured questionnaire was used to collect information. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with ITN utilization. Variables with a p-value <0.05 were identified as statistically significant factors. Results: Only 51 (70.8%) of pregnant women had self-reported as utilizing bed net during in previous night of survey. The direct observation done had shown that only 39 (42.4%) of pregnant women were directly observed while sleeping under bed net. Among this 19 (20.43%) of pregnant women’s properly utilize mosquito net. Conclusion: The time taken to reach health institution, the type of bed room condition and level of education were some of significant factors which were associated with ITN Utilization. Majority of the pregnant women did not utilize ITN. Therefore, the free distribution should prioritize vulnerable groups using good opportunity of Antenatal care clinic, household education and regular district level on going survey.
Abstract: Background:-Malaria remains to be a major problem causing an unacceptable toll on the health and economic welfare of world’s poorest communities. Globally, it is agreed to reduce the burden of malaria by half by the year 2010 and again by half by 2015. Similarly, at the African summit on Roll Back Malaria (RBM) in Abuja, committed themselves to hal...
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Comparison of Speculum and Non-speculum Vaginal Specimens in the Diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis
Obunge Orikomaba Korifama,
Oboro Ibinabo Laura,
Onyejepu Nneka,
Alex-Wele Mary Adanma
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020
Pages:
41-44
Received:
22 May 2020
Accepted:
9 June 2020
Published:
20 June 2020
Abstract: Trichomoniasis is the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Apart from being a key biologic indicator of sexual activity, it’s been associated with the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency virus. The use of vaginal speculum is traditionally required for specimen collection. The limited application of this step in various primary health care facilities in resource-poor settings due to difficulties with sterilization of speculae among others, has grossly reduced the offer of testing for Trichomoniasis. Self-collected vaginal swab could be an acceptable alternative specimen for diagnosis of trichomoniasis in these settings. We compared the yield of Trichomonas vaginalis from speculum and non-speculum based specimens. Five hundred women between 18 – 45 years presenting with abnormal vaginal discharge in two health care facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria, were enrolled. Three specimens were collected from each woman; two non-speculum based /non-invasive and the third, speculum based. Microscopists were trained and the procedure standardized. Wet mount microscopy was performed on all specimens within thirty minutes of collection. Three Microscopists examined each specimen independently. All infected patients were managed according to existing guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained and data analyzed using SPSS version 21. Median age of participants was 31 years. Of the 500 women, 53 were infected giving an overall prevalence of 10.6%. Using the speculum-based specimens, 90.5% (48) of infected women were detected while 83.0% (44) and 30.1% (16) were detected using the self-collected swab and first void urine respectively. Interestingly, first void urine was able to detect five (5) more cases that were not detected by the speculum-based method. In low income settings, use of self-collected swabs in combination with first void urine is likely to increase detection rate of Trichomonas vaginalis when compared with the use of speculum-based specimen only.
Abstract: Trichomoniasis is the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Apart from being a key biologic indicator of sexual activity, it’s been associated with the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency virus. The use of vaginal speculum is traditionally required for specimen collection. The limited application of this step in vari...
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