Helminth parasites from Egyptian freshwater fish: Paramasenia rifaati n. gen. and n. sp. (Trematoda Maseniinae Yamaguti, 1954).
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
S A Taha
Publications and source records attributed to S A Taha.
Reliability of present-day glucose test strips in the neonatal settings of a developing country.
To estimate the accuracy of glucose test strips in measuring glucose concentrations estimations were done in 100 full-term neonates, using Reflotest Hypoglycemie, Dextrostix, and BM-test-Glycemie. Results were compared with those obtained by laboratory methods. None of the glucose test strips was found to be completely reliable but the Reflomat system was found to be the least inaccurate.
Blood Glucose↗
Priapism in association with sickle cell anemia in Saudi Arabia.
A questionnaire study of 42 Saudi patients with sickle cell anemia revealed that none of them had ever suffered from priapism. A comparison of hematological parameters between Jamaican priapism patients and Saudi non-priapism patients suggested that high Hb F levels and hypochromic microcytosis in Saudi patients might play an important role in preventing this complication.
Adolescent↗
Datura intoxication in Riyadh.
Cases of stramonium poisoning due to deliberate abuse by young adults have been widely reported. There are also a few reports of accidental poisoning in children from contaminated food. The taste and shape of Datura stramonium makes it unattractive to both man and animals and, therefore, ingestion by children in ignorance of its toxicity is rare. Three such cases are described in this paper. In Saudi Arabia stramonium abuse is unheard of and poisoning of children as a result of food contamination is very unlikely. Cases of ingestion in ignorance are, however, likely to occur frequently since D. stramonium grows in many parts of the country. The doses taken under the circumstances, though toxic, were small. The patients, therefore, suffered mainly the peripheral signs of the anti-cholinergic action of atropine, the principal D. stramonium alkaloid. Central nervous system manifestations and toxic psychosis were minimal in contrast to intentional misuse or accidental poisoning. Due to the special susceptibility of children to atropine toxicity and the relatively small lethal dose (less than or equal to 10 mg), treatment with the specific antidote, physostigmine salicylate, is emphasized for all but the mildest cases, in addition to any symptomatic treatment that might be needed.
Child↗
Cerebral palsy in Saudi Arabia: a clinical study of 102 cases.
One hundred and two children with severe cerebral palsy (CP), referred to us during the period 1980 to 1983, were analysed for aetiology and clinical features. Ninety-one children were under the age of two years. Male to female ratio was 3:2. The causes of CP were prenatal in 23.5%, perinatal in 48%, and postnatal in 28.4% of cases. All the clinical types were represented and the study revealed the well-established high frequency of associated neurological deficits. Cerebral palsy was considered medically preventable in at least 30% of the cases, through improvements in obstetric and neonatal care services and control of infection. There is need, also, to establish integrated interdisciplinary teams for the effective diagnosis and complete habilitation of CP patients.
Age Factors↗
Transcutaneous bilirubin measurement in evaluating neonatal jaundice among Saudi newborns.
Transcutaneous bilirubin measurements, using the Minolta transcutaneous bilirubinometer (TcB), were performed in 68 full-term, healthy Saudi infants. Infants who had exchange transfusion and those under phototherapy were excluded. One hundred and twenty measurements were obtained and compared with serum bilirubin levels measured by the American Optics (A.O.) bilirubinometer. The serum bilirubin range was 3.8-18.4 mg/dl. The results showed that the TcB index correlates well with the serum bilirubin measurement: the regression analysis was: r = 0.878, y = 10.78 + 0.909 x, P less than 0.001. However, the regression line showed that at a serum bilirubin level above 12.9 mg/dl the sensitivity of the TcB was 69% and the specificity 92%, while its positive and negative predictive values were 58% and 95% respectively. There was a fair amount of variability around the regression line which may lead to significant errors in clinical decision-making. Thus, the TcB at present has grave limitations which restrict its usefulness in the newborn.
Bilirubin↗
Size at birth of live-born Saudi infants.
Anthropometric measurements were done on 967 singleton live-born Saudi infants of gestational age 33 to 42 weeks who belonged to the high and middle social classes and who were born consecutively in Riyadh University Hospital. The 914 infants born at term (greater than or equal to 37 weeks) had a mean birthweight of 3.31 kg (SD 0.45), a mean length of 49.74 cm (SD 2.5) and a mean head circumference of 34.4 cm (SD 1.4). Values were significantly higher in males than females. Effect of sex in this study was not apparent until 40 weeks and later. Difference in body size was significant between the first-born and second infants but the trend was unimpressive with greater parity. Fifty-three (5.5%) of the infants were born preterm. Twenty-one of the preterm babies and 18 of the term infants weighed less than 2500 g, an overall incidence of low birthweight of 4%. Results were compared with studies from Saudi Arabia and other countries. It is concluded that there was no significant difference between birthweights of upper-class Saudis and Europeans.
Birth Weight↗
Seroepidemiology of rubella in Saudi Arabia: an adapted vaccination policy.
Rubella haemagglutination antibodies were tested for in sera of 1793 unvaccinated subjects with age ranging from birth to 40 years. This was to assess the immune status of the population and to see the feasibility of introduction and the proper age for rubella vaccination in a Saudi community. Those with titres of greater than or equal to 1:8 were considered as seropositive. The lowest level of antibodies was seen among the 10-18 month age group. All children aged 2-5 years were seropositive as were 75% of the elementary school girls. Only 90-95% of the women of childbearing age were seropositive, however, leaving an immune gap of 5-10%. Unnecessary mass vaccination of young children is discouraged. Rubella vaccine should be given to all final elementary school girls and all women of childbearing age after screening, whenever possible. Special catchment zones are suggested for the latter group. Further nationwide seroepidemiological surveys are recommended for the other parts of the Saudi Kingdom.
Adolescent↗
25-Hydroxyvitamin D and total calcium: extraordinarily low plasma concentrations in Saudi mothers and their neonates.
Venous blood was obtained from 100 consecutive and unselected Saudi Arabian mothers and their neonates within 48 h after delivery. Plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and total calcium were measured in paired samples. Fifty-nine mothers and 70 neonates had subnormal (less than 10 ng/ml) 25-OHD levels. Plasma Ca concentrations were low in 61% of the mothers and 59% of the newborns consisting of 10 preterm and 38 full term babies. There were significant correlation between the plasma levels of maternal and neonatal 25-OHD (r = 0.54; P = 0.0001), maternal 25-OHD and Ca (r = -0.22; P = 0.03), neonatal 25-OHD and Ca (r = -0.28; P = 0.0009), and maternal and neonatal calcium levels (r = 0.46; P = 0.0001). Nevertheless, maternal 25-OHD was not invariably higher than that in the infant. Normocalcemia was observed in 29 neonates and 26 mothers (20 mother/baby pairs) in the presence of subnormal maternal 25-OHD. Twenty babies and 16 mothers including nine mother/baby pairs had hypocalcemia in the presence of normal levels of 25-OHD. This indicates that vitamin D plays a crucial, but not exclusive, role in calcium homeostasis during pregnancy. This study revealed that vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent during pregnancy in Saudi Arabia. It also showed that asymptomatic hypocalcemia in full term babies is far commoner than is generally appreciated. It is considered that vitamin D deficiency is primarily due to lack of exposure to sunlight. Encouragement to obtain sunlight exposure and fortification of food are the only alternative measures.
Calcifediol↗
Meningitis in children of Riyadh.
One hundred and forty cases of meningitis admitted to the Children's Hospital in Riyadh from June 1980 to the end of May 1982 were included in a prospective study. Sixty-seven percent were under 1 year of age and 90% were under 5 years old. One hundred and twenty-four (88.6%) had purulent CSF, 12 (8.6%) had viral and four (2.9%) had tuberculous meningitis. E. coli was the commonest causative organism in the neonates. After that age S. pneumoniae was the predominant isolate. The implication of increasing resistance of H. influenzae to ampicillin therapy were discussed and a further rare case of meningitis caused by Flavobacterium meningosepticum was described. Seventy-three (52%) were cured completely, 39 (28%) survived with immediate neurological deficits and 28 (20%) died. Mortality and neurological sequelae were found to be high in four categories of patients: neonates, patients who were stuporose or comatose on admission, those who were partially treated before admission and those who presented late after the onset of their symptoms.
Child↗
Epidemiology of accidental home poisoning in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
In a prospective study on 178 cases of accidental home poisoning admitted to the main children's hospital in Riyadh poisoning was found to account for 5.6% of the total annual admissions--greater than any other developing country and approaching Western proportions. The commonest ages were between 1 and 5 years. Drugs accounted for 52% of cases and household products for 46%. This picture also differs from the pattern of poisoning in developing countries and is more akin to that of industrialised countries. The most important factors in aetiology, besides the age of the patient and the underprivileged social class, were the abundance of drugs and household chemicals in the Saudi home, none of them in child proof containers; inappropriate storage; and lack of supervision of children. Cultural factors also contributed. The frequency of poisoning in childhood may be decreased in the long run by improved housing, socioeconomic status, and education. The place and methods of health education, also a long term objective, is discussed. For immediate primary prevention two important legislative measures are proposed: (1) provision of childproof containers of drugs and other chemicals used in the home and (2) banning of over the counter sales of drugs. For more accurate epidemiological data collection, and thereby better preventative planning, a national register of accidental poisoning and other accidents is recommended. Poison information centres are also deemed necessary.
Accidents, Home↗
The first febrile convulsion: an analysis of 108 children in Saudi Arabia.
In 108 children admitted to the Maternity and Children's Hospital, Riyadh with their first febrile convulsion, clinical course, management and underlying causes were analysed. There was a preponderance of boys (69%) and a mean age of 18.6 months with a peak incidence (82%) between six months and three years. The commonest precipitating conditions were upper respiratory infection and gastroenteritis. Physical findings were confined to those of the primary disease. Routine investigations, including CSF analysis were not helpful. Convulsions were mainly of the simple type, single and symmetrical, and did not last for more than 30 minutes. Two thirds of the children reached hospital within two hours of the onset of their first convulsion, and the remainder up to ten hours after the convulsion had ceased. In only 18 patients did the parents take measures to lower the temperature or revive the child. Management of febrile convulsions is discussed. Since the condition is common and, if repeated, may have serious effects, methods of educating parents are suggested.
Child↗
Two different patterns of sickle cell disease in children in Saudi Arabia.
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Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
A simple high calorie high protein feed for low birth weight infants in developing countries.
A simple high calorie high protein feed was devised by the addition of Caloreen and egg white to milk feeds for use in low birth weight infants (low birth weight--LBW). The growth rate was studied in 100 LBW infants. A weight gain of 203 g per week was obtained as compared to 110 g in the control group; growth was 8.6 mm in the study group as compared to 6.4 mm in the control group; the occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) was 0.67 mm in the study group and 0.38 mm in the control group. All differences were statistically significant.
Developing Countries↗
Ecological factors underlying protein-calorie malnutrition in an irrigated area of the Sudan.
A community survey was undertaken in 14 villages in the Gezira farming region of the Sudan to determine the causes of malnutrition which is prevalent in the area. Low expenditure on food, poor housing conditions, and poor hygiene were found to result from low income. While the ultimate goal should be improvement of income, quicker results will accrue from tackling the equally important dietary causes which result from ignorance about child feeding. In the Sudan, the decline of breastfeeding, the rise in bottlefeeding, the lack of supplementary feeding, and inequitable intrafamily distribution of food are particularly important causative factors. The low levels of immunization against communicable diseases is a contributory factor which could be corrected immediately. Family size and birth rank were not important in the etiology of malnutrition.
Africa↗
The pattern of severe protein-calorie malnutrition in Sudanese children attending a large hospital in The Sudan.
One hundred fifty patients suffering from severe protein-calorie malnutrition, admitted in 1 month to the Pediatric wards of Wad Medani Hospital, Sudan, were classified according to the Wellcome classification. Marasmus was the prevailing type. It was common in the 2nd year of life, while kwashiorkor occurred mainly under the age of 12 months. Anthropometric measurements showed that kwashiorkor was an acute disease while marasmus and marasmic kwashiorkor were more chronic. The triceps skinfold was unexpectedly low in kwashiorkor. Of the simple measurements and ratios used for assessing the nutritional status, the head/chest ratio applied ot children over 1 year was not found to be reliable and the weight for head circumference correlated poorly with deficits in other variables. Non of the major clinical features was found to be pathognomonic of any type of severe protein-calorie malnutrition. Megaloblastic anemia was common.
Age Factors↗
The comprehensive child health care centres in the Sudan.
In 1963, Morley initiated the concept of clinics for children under five years old. This paper describes our experience in applying that concept in Omdurman town (Sudan) where existing maternity and child health centres and hospitals in the area were involved in the scheme. It was found necessary to establish a main centre to develop methodology and to provide a specialized training of staff. The medical problems were similar to those described by Morley. The approach to their solution was essentially the same except that we used more professional staff and placed more emphasis on nutrition education than hitherto advocated. It is concluded that, in theory, Morley's concept provides a system of comprehensive child health care which suits the needs of developing countries. But our adaptation of Morley's ideas to existing health structures, even on the small scale we achieved in Omdurman, was difficult because of the high initial and running costs and in view of the long established dichotomy between curative and preventive medicine.
Child Health Services↗
The prevalence and severity of protein-calorie malnutrition in Sudanese children.
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Child, Preschool↗