15.37 (3.31 -71.37).Key words: Hypertension, school going children. children are exempted. Moreover, BP measurement in infants and children is difficult and time consuming. So, in pediatric practice BP is not measured routinely and is assumed to be normal. Contrary to this belief it is estimated that 1-3% children are hypertensive 1 .Diagnosis of hypertension in adult is made when BP exceeds a defined level i.e. systolic BP (SBP) 140 mmHg and diastolic BP (DBP) 90 mmHg 2 . Absence of such single cut off value in children makes diagnosis of hypertension more difficult, and the use of such age -sex-independent absolute value is inappropriate. In children, hypertension is diagnosed when resting BP consistently exceeds 95 th centile in relation to age and sex 3 . In infancy and early childhood, hypertension is mainly secondary to some diseased BANGLADESH J CHILD HEALTH 2005; VOL 29 (3) : 82-87

Background: Birth weight is an important indicator of neonatal health. Incidence of low birth weight infants in developing country like Bangladesh is high. Deliveries as 75% are conducted in rural community mainly by Traditional Birth Attendants or by relatives. Facility of birth weight recording is not existent. To overcome the problem of weight recording, it was justified to find out other simple measurements that could be used as substitute of weighing babies. Aim of the study was to examine the validity of anthropometric measurements as a screening method of low birth weight babies. Material & Methods: A cross sectional analytical study was conducted on 560 newborns over a period of 18 months in 2000-2001 in Dhaka city. Mid-arm circumference, length, head circumference, chest circumference, abdominal girth and calf circumference were considered. Results: A significant correlation was observed for birth weight with all other anthropometrical parameters (P<0.001). However, there was a higher correlation (r=0.946) between birth weight and mid-arm circumference. The study showed that in identifying newborns of <2500 gm a mid-arm circumference of <9 cm had the best sensitivity (96.2%) and specificity (97.3%). A value of <8 cm and <6.8 cm for mid-arm circumference showed highest validity for picking up newborns weighing <2000 gm and <1500 gm respectively. Cut-off values for all other parameters to screen neonates categorically were observed. Regression analysis of birth weight on all other parameters was seen. Conclusion:The work concluded that anthropometric parameters might be a valid alternative method in screening low birth weight infants.

Arsenic is a ubiquitous element detected in low concentration virtually in all environmental media. Arsenic intoxication may occur following ingestion, inhalation or contact. A 5 1/2 years old girl with arsenic intoxication and haemosiderosis was admitted in the department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. In Bangladesh 54 out of 64 districts are affected by arsenic contamination in tubewell water. 35 million people are at risk of arsenic toxicity. This patient presented with history of repeated blood transfusion since 4 months of age associated with fever, Jaundice and abdominal pain. She also had anaemia and hepatosplenomegaly. She had high arsenic level in urine and hair samples. Haemosiderosis was diagnosed by liver biopsy. She was treated with Desferrioxamine, antioxidant vitamins (Vit A, E), zinc and blood transfusion. In the present case haemolysis due to arsenic intoxication occurred at an early age, for which frequent blood transfusions were needed. Multiple transfusion without proper chealation led to development of haemosiderosis. DOI: 10.3329/jbcps.v26i3.4200 J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2008; 26: 149-152

A prospective, observational study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh, between July 2008 and January 2009 to compare position and attachment of the babies during breastfeeding before and after counselling the mothers. Our study samples include 100 healthy mothers and 100 term healthy babies. Initially, all the mothers and babies were observed for their position and attachment during breastfeeding within 24 hours of the delivery and documented in a standard data sheet. Then the mothers were shown the wall chart of nursing mothers and breastfeeding manual and taught practically by the investigators. Mothers were requested to come after 15 days for follow-up visit so that they become physically fit by that time and improve their skills. At follow-up visit, documentation of the position and attachment during breastfeeding was done in the data sheet. Comparison of each of the components of positioning and attachment was done with first observation (i.e., within 24 hours of the birth of the baby) and follow-up observation (i.e., after 15 days). The mean age of the mothers was 29.40±4.71 years. In all components of the position and attachment of the babies, the difference between before and after counselling the mothers was statistically significant (P<0.05). Similarly, in all signs of effective sucking, the difference was also statistically significant between before and after counselling (P<0.05) except for the sign of oxytocin reflex noticed by the mother (P>0.05). CBMJ 2022 July: vol. 11 no. 02 P: 102-107