Background and objective Targeting parents of children affected by dengue fever offers a window of opportunity for education. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge on dengue fever and preventive measures planned among mothers of children with dengue fever admitted to the University Paediatric Unit at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital. Methods This cross-sectional study included a consecutive sample of 300 mothers of children admitted to the University Paediatric Unit at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital with a clinical suspicion of dengue/confirmed dengue infection. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data. [190 (63.3%)] has improved following hospital admission. All participants reported looking for potential breeding places even prior to the admission and would continue to do so after discharge. Only 64 (21.3%) cleaned small water collections prior to the admission and those who would continue/take up this new practice was shown to increase to 174 (58%). The practice of day time application of repellent oils/ointments or sprays was seen to be the least practiced preventive measures 48(16%) but was the practice that the highest number indicated that they would adhere to after discharge from the hospital 258(86%).
Results
ConclusionsThe study showed evidence of success of the health education services of the University Paediatric Unit at Lady Ridgeway hospital and also revealed some important gaps to be addressed to improve the services.
Introduction: Central precocious puberty (CPP) needs treatment to minimise the psychosocial impact and optimize the auxological outcome. Objective: To analyse the growth pattern and outcome of gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) therapy in a cohort of children with CPP Method: Heights were serially recorded, skeletal age monitored and height velocities calculated in children with CPP prospectively followed up from presentation to cessation of therapy with GnRHa. The response to treatment was assessed as the height standard deviation scores (SDS), ratio of chronological age to bone age and reduction of height velocity with treatment and the significance was determined using the paired 't' test and ANOVA. Their heights when last seen were compared with their predicted mature heights and target heights which were calculated based on the bone age prior to treatment and the parents' heights respectively. Results: There were 9 patients (8 girls) with a mean age of 56.4 (19.1) and 124.2 (15.2) months at onset and completion of treatment respectively. There was a significant reduction in the height SDS, bone age acceleration and height velocity with treatment. The heights at final assessment were acceptable for the national average in the majority. Conclusion: There was a significant reduction in the height SDS, bone age acceleration and height velocity in the cohort of children with CPP treated with a GnRHa.
Introduction Recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) for growth hormone deficiency (GHD) has been available free in the state hospitals of Sri Lanka since 2009.
ObjectivesThe aims were to compare height standard deviation scores (SDS) before and after treatment and compare heights at final assessment in relation to the target height (TH) and TH range Method Patients with confirmed GHD followed up at the University Unit of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo were studied. Anthropometric data were prospectively recorded from presentation to cessation of therapy. The height SDS before and after treatment were calculated and the heights at final assessment were compared with the TH and TH range.
Results
IntroductionRecombinant human GH (r-hGH) has been used in the treatment of children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) since 1985 with a good safety profile [1,2,3]. Safety surveillance programme which included more than 60,000 children from 50 countries concluded that r-hGH was a safe and effective replacement therapy [4].Most of those diagnosed with GHD in Sri Lanka did not receive GH treatment until 2009 when it was made available free in state hospitals. This is the first report
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.Correspondence: KSHdeS, e-mail: . Received 12 November 2014 and revised version accepted 17 January 2015. Majority had isolated GHD and 8 patients had pituitary hypoplasia on neuro-imaging. The height SDS improved significantly with treatment from -4.438 (1.18) to -3.37 (0.81), p<0.001. When finally assessed at ages ranging from 15 years 10 months to 26 years 9 months, one patient had reached the TH while six were in the TH range.Conclusions Auxological response to therapy was significant although treatment was started late due to financial constraints.
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