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Infective parasitic diseases are a major health problem, particularly among younger children and in subjects of low socioeconomic status.

A total of 29.4% of South Sinai children had some form of visual impairment, 90.32% of which comprised refractive errors (mainly astigmatism) which were significantly corrected with eyeglasses. VA screening and correction of refractive errors are of the utmost importance for ensuring better visual outcomes and improved school performance.

Hearing loss among schoolchildren in developing countries is reported to be a significant health problem. Data on child hearing loss in South Sinai, a remote governorate of Egypt, are lacking. Middle ear diseases and hearing impairment were assessed among 453 primary-school children aged 7-10 years in South Sinai (906 ears). Otoscopic examination, tympanometry and pure tone audiometry (PTA) were done. Ear disease was found in 27.5% of the ears examined. The commonest cause was secretory otitis media (10.8%), followed by occluded earwax (9.5%). Mild and moderate hearing loss affected 8.5% of the sample, while sensorineural hearing loss affected 2.4%; only 0.4% had moderate and severe hearing loss. Hearing impairment affects 19.3% of this age group in South Sinai. None of the children with hearing impairment had been previously diagnosed or was receiving treatment and support. Hearing and middle ear screening at schools is recommended for early detection and management of middle ear and hearing problems. 1Paediatrics Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt (Correspondence to G. Yamamah: Yamamahg@hotmail.com RÉSUMÉ La perte d'audition chez les écoliers de pays en développement est décrite comme un problème de santé important, mais les données sur la perte d'audition chez l'enfant au Sud Sinaï, un gouvernorat égyptien reculé, sont rares. Les affections de l'oreille moyenne et les déficiences auditives ont été évaluées chez 453 écoliers âgés de 7 à 10 ans au Sud Sinaï (soit 906 oreilles examinées). Un examen otoscopique, une tympanométrie et une audiométrie tonale ont été réalisés. Des affections de l'oreille ont été observées chez 27,5 % des oreilles examinées. La cause la plus fréquente était une otite sécrétoire (10,8 %), suivie par un bouchon de cérumen (9,5 %). Les pertes de l'audition légères à modérées touchaient 8,5 % des enfants de l'échantillon, alors qu'une surdité neurosensorielle affectait 2,4 % d'entre eux. Seul 0,4 % des enfants souffrait de pertes auditives modérées à sévères. Les déficiences auditives concernaient 19,3 % de ce groupe d'âge au Sud Sinaï, mais aucun des enfants en présentant une n'avait auparavant reçu un diagnostic, un traitement, ni même un appui approprié. Un examen de l'audition et de l'oreille moyenne dans les écoles est recommandé, pour permettre un dépistage et une prise en charge précoces de ces affections.

Summary. A total of 3961 married couples from six major geographical areas representing the South Sinai governorates in Egypt were studied to assess the rate of consanguineous marriage. The population of six selected areas (St Catherines, Nuweiba, Abu Rudeis, Ras Sudr, El Tor and Abu Zenima) were subdivided into Bedouin, urban and mixed populations. A questionnaire-based interview was conducted showing that the consanguinity rate in this region is 37.5%, with the highest rate recorded in Abu Rudeis (52.3%) and lowest rate in Nuweiba (24.1%). Consanguinity was significantly higher among the Bedouin population compared with the urban population in Abu Rudeis, Ras Sudr, El Tor and Abu Zenima, while in St Catherines and Nuweiba there was no statistically significant difference. Among consanguineous couples, 5%, 60% and 35% were double first cousins, first cousins and second cousins respectively. The mean inbreeding coefficient a of the studied population was 0.01845.

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IntroductionThe determination of goitre prevalence in children by ultrasonography is an important tool for considering iodine deficiency disorders. Our objective was to describe measurements of thyroid volumes by ultrasonography in Egyptian South Sinai schoolchildren and compare these with the WHO/International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders normative thyroid volume criteria (WHO/ICCIDD).Material and methodsCross-sectional thyroid ultrasonographic data of 719 schoolchildren (339 boys and 380 girls), aged 6-12 years from five cities in South Sinai (El Tur (T), Abu Redis (R), Ras Sudr (S), Saint Katherine (SK), and Nwebaa (N)). Age/sex and body surface area/sex specific upper limits (97th percentile) of normal thyroid volume were derived and urinary iodine (UI) was measured.ResultsThe median value of urinary iodine was 150 µg/l. Comparing WHO/ICCIDD thyroid volume references to Egyptian South Sinai schoolchildren resulted in goitre prevalence of 10.6% using age/sex specific and 13.48% using body surface area/sex specific cut-off values. The prevalence of goitre was 20.0% in S, 16.3% in R, 10.8% in N, 9.9% in T, and 10.5% in SC. Upper limits of normal (97th percentile) thyroid volume from South Sinai schoolchildren calculated using BSA, sex, and age were higher than the corresponding WHO/ICCIDD.ConclusionsPrevalence of goitre is high in South Sinai schoolchildren. The body surface area reference should be preferred to the reference based on age. South Sinai schoolchildren had larger thyroids than WHO/ICCIDD thyroid volumes, perhaps due to hard polluted water with a high fluorine level.

IntroductionCommon medications used to treat mild persistent asthma are glucocorticoids, leukotriene receptor antagonists and theophylline. The aim of the study was to evaluate monotherapy with either inhaled steroids, oral leukotriene receptor antagonist or theophylline in Egyptian children with mild persistent asthma by determining their clinical, laboratory and spirometric responses to treatment.Material and methodsThirty-nine mild asthmatic children between 8 and 13 years of age were included in the study. Patients were classified according to therapy received into four groups: oral leukotriene receptor antagonist (montelukast), inhaled corticosteroid (fluticasone propionate), sustained-release (SR) theophylline, and no treatment. Pulmonary function testing was performed at the start of therapy and 8 weeks later using spirometry. Eosinophil count and serum nitric oxide were estimated in the blood. Minitab statistical package was used for analysis of data.ResultsFollow-up after 8 weeks revealed significant improvement in FEV1% in groups 1 (p < 0.01) and 3 (p < 0.05), significant improvement in PEFR in groups 1 (p < 0.05) and 2 (p < 0.01), significant decline in serum NO levels in groups 1 (p < 0.05) and 2 (p < 0.05), as well as significant improvement in eosinophil count in groups 1, 2 and 3 (p < 0.01, < 0.001, < 0.01 respectively). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the decline in serum NO and the decline in blood eosinophil % in group 2 (p < 0.05).ConclusionsInhaled corticosteroids and montelukast have a significant role in controlling the pulmonary functions and the inflammatory process in children with mild persistent asthma, although inhaled corticosteroids seem to yield a better response. Children with mild persistent asthma should receive a controller medication, and SR theophylline may be a good cost-benefit alternative for low socio-economic groups of patients.