Sudanese journal of paediatrics最新文献

Twenty million children under 5 years old are estimated to suffer from malnutrition worldwide. The objective of this study is to determine factors associated with Riyadh children's nutritional status. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 6-12, excluding mentally ill children. The sample size was 200. Data were collected through interview-administered questionnaires developed for this study's purpose after consulting relevant literature and epidemiologists. Data analysis was via SPSS version-23; a p-value of 0.05 or less is considered significant. Consent was obtained before data collection, emphasizing confidentiality and the participant's rights to withdraw from the study at any time. Most of the study respondents in the age group (6-12 years) were 12 years (22%), and the predominant gender were girls (55.5%). No significant statistical relationship existed between the mother's education and the children's body mass index (BMI, p = 0.168). Many respondents had a normal BMI (40.5%), while a minority were underweight (28.5%) among all groups. There was a significant statistical relationship between the BMI of the children and with mother's BMI (p = 0.016). There was no significant statistical relationship between the food source and children's BMI (p = 0.710). There was no significant statistical relationship between the average meal and the children's BMI (p = 0.098). There is a significant relationship between the BMI of the respondents and the mother's BMI under the underweight group.

This is a brief review that highlights recent updates in malaria case management. Recent WHO revisions include a new artemisinin-based molecule (artesunate-pyronaridine), revising the recommendations for treating uncomplicated malaria during the first trimester of pregnancy and optimising primaquine dose to prevent relapses. The review also highlights innovative ideas to improve the implementation of guidelines for severe malaria and pre-referral treatment with rectal artesunate. Some issues under review for guideline revisions have also been pointed out.

Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a rare congenital disorder characterised by localised or widespread absence of skin mainly affecting the scalp. Bilateral involvement of both the upper and lower extremities is uncommon. This is a case report of a rare congenital disorder. The patient was a 26-hour-old male baby admitted with extensive absence of skin on the lower and upper extremities. He was co-managed conservatively with the plastic surgical team for ACC group VII. The lesions were healing satisfactorily until 12 days into the admission when the parents signed against medical advice despite counselling. ACC with involvement of both upper and lower extremities is a rare presentation that responds to conservative treatment. The report emphasises the need for a legal framework for physicians to override the decision of the caregiver not in the best interest of a child.

Ataxia-telangiectasia-like disorder-1 (ATLD1, OMIM # 604391) is a very rare clinical condition, characterized by slowly progressive ataxia with onset in childhood, associated with oculomotor apraxia and dysarthria. Laboratory findings reveal increased susceptibility to radiation, with a defect in DNA repair. Patients with ATLD1 show no telangiectasia, have no immunodeficiency, and also have preserved cognition. Reflexes might be initially brisk and later becomes reduced associated with axonal sensorimotor neuropathy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detects cerebellar atrophy. The condition is caused by mutations in the meiotic recombination 11 (MRE11A) gene. The present study reports on the neurophysiologic finding in eight Saudi patients, belonging to three Saudi families, who have genetically confirmed ATLD1. All investigated patients had cerebellar atrophy on brain MRI (5/5). Electrophysiologic studies showed normal motor conduction velocity (MCV) of the median (8/8) and tibial (2/2) nerves, while 5/6 (83%) had normal peroneal nerve MCV. The distal motor latency (DML) for median, tibial, and peroneal nerves was within the normal range in all examined patients. The amplitude of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of median and tibial nerves was also normal, while that of the peroneal nerve was normal in 3/6 (50%). Two of seven (29%) patients had reduced amplitude of median nerve sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) while 3/8 (38%) had a reduction in the amplitude of sural nerve SNAP. These findings favour an axonal type of neuropathy predominately affecting the sensory fibres (axonal sensorimotor neuropathy). The present study constitutes the largest cohort of ATLD1 patients worldwide who had electrophysiologic tests.

Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a novel pandemic disease. There have been many challenges for diabetic patients, which might have resulted in an increased risk of complications and significant lifestyle changes, including physical inactivity and psychological distress. This study evaluated the effects of lockdown on paediatric patients with type 1 diabetic mellitus (T1DM) in terms of acute metabolic complications and psychological deterioration. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2020 and February 2021 at Mohammed Alamin Hamid Diabetic Clinic, Omdurman, Sudan. Data was collected from direct interviews with patients and their caregivers. Out of 208 children with T1DM aged from 1-18 years, 48.1% had persistent hyperglycaemia, and 20.6% had hypoglycaemia. Insulin doses were missed in 20.2% of them, glucose monitoring was not done in 28.8%, and 20.6% reported decreased physical activity during the lockdown. Mean HbA1c levels were the same in pre and post-lockdown periods. There was an insignificant relationship between physical activity, dietary changes, and glycaemic control (p values = 0.519 and 0.146, respectively). On the other hand, there was a significant weak positive correlation between psychological and behavioural disorders such as aggression, anxiety, isolation, and glycaemic control (p-value = 0.032, 0.002, and <0.0001; r = 0.115, 0.135, and 0.169, respectively). The negative impact of the COVID-19 lockdown found on blood glucose measures and psychological status may correlate with glucose monitoring equipment shortage, lifestyle changes, and mood deterioration.

Despite the enormous benefits of breastfeeding (BF), its prevalence is suboptimal, with exclusive BF ranging between 7.3 % and 51% in the Saudi community. The aim of this study was to assess the Saudi community's knowledge regarding BF, exposure to BF promotional messages and formula milk advertisements and acceptability of BF in public places. It was a cross-sectional study that included Saudis aged 20-55 years old between December 2019 and June 2020. It utilised a self-administered questionnaire, which asked about background information, knowledge of BF, exposure to BF-promoting messages and exposure to formula milk advertisements and acceptability of BF versus bottle feeding in public. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS v. 22). For the analysis, a p-value <0.05 was considered significant. The sample included for analysis was 914. The mean age of participants was 33.8 ± 9 years. The majority of participants were female 823 (90%); males 87 (10%). The vast majority (94%) agreed that breast milk is more beneficial than formula milk. Nearly two-thirds (61%) were continuously exposed to messages advertising formula feeding, compared to only 35% who were exposed to messages promoting BF. The study found that 67.2% accept BF in public places. Among male participants, only 49% accepted BF in public places compared to 79% of female participants who accepted it; p-value <0.001. Acceptability of BF in public places was significantly higher among participants who had family members who breastfed (68%), compared to those who did not (50%), (p-value 0.01).

Arrhythmias refer to disturbances in heart rate or rhythm which leads to heart rates that are abnormally fast, slow or irregular. Rhythm abnormalities may be common among Nigerian children but there are only a few reports. The current write up is a clinical review of eight patients in various age groups including neonates, infants and older children. It is presented to highlight the different forms of arrhythmias that can occur in children, with varying underlying aetiology, thus, stressing the need for early recognition of arrhythmias in children, appropriate early intervention and challenges involved in their care.