Objective: To determine the prevalence of anaemia in children of 6 to 59 months old in Narayanganj, Bangladesh to help policy makers to formulate health and nutrition policies in national level. Methods: In 2009, a representative sample of 767 young children (age ranging from 6 to 59 months) had their haemoglobin concentration measured. The sampling process was in three stages: at first, 5 Upazila hospitals, 1 District hospital and a 200 bedded specialized hospital were randomly selected to represent the whole district and its 5 geographic urban and rural areas. Next, using census lists, 15 census sectors were randomly chosen. Finally, 767 children of 6-59 months were selected. Blood was collected by vein puncture and haemoglobin concentration was measured with a haemoglobin meter. Data were analysed to determine prevalence of anaemia. Results: The prevalence of anemia among the children of 5-59 months old was 40.9% for the district as a whole. Prevalence in the municipal region of Narayanganj was 40.9%. The rural areas had the highest prevalence of 66.9%. Prevalence was almost two times higher in children of 6-23 months in comparison to children of 24-59 months i.e. 61.8% and 31.0% respectively. The mean haemoglobin concentrations in the younger and older age groups were 10.4(±1.5) g/ dl and 11.4(±1.4) g/dl respectively. There is no difference found between the sexes. Conclusion: This is the first assessment of anaemia prevalence among young children in Narayangaj, Bangladesh. As there is very high prevalence of anaemia among the children studied in Fatulla upazila, especially those in the age group 6-23 months, public health interventions are needed here most. Key words: Anaemia; iron deficiency anaemia; haemoglobin; child heath; Bangladesh. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v19i2.7084J Dhaka Med Coll. 2010; 19(2) : 126-130

Poisoning is a common medico-social problem in our country causing around 300,000 episodes and around 2000 death per year. The number of poisoning cases is increasing in our country day by day. The common pattern of poisoning in our country is suicidal, homicidal/criminal and accidental. The incidence, nature, etiology, age group affected and the outcome of poisoning in our country is different from that of the western world. A prospective descriptive study of poisoning cases in Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital was attempted in 2004.Among 100 cases, age of the cases ranged from 15-65 years. Sixty four percent were male. Around 68 percent cases were found businessman, 48% were from low-income group and Fifty three percent cases were educated up to secondary level.Among male patients 57.81% of poisoning caused by suspected sedative poisoning (transport related poison), 28.12% by organophophorous, 3.12% by copper sulphate, 4.98 by benzodiazepines (attempted suicide), 4.98% by Acid and 1.56% by kerosene. Among female patients 41.66% of poisoning caused by organophosphorous compounds, 19.44% by rat killer, 11.11% by copper sulphate, 8.33% by benzodiazepines, 5.55% by acid, 5.55% by savlon, 5.55% by herpic and 2.77% by phenol.Transport related poisoning by short acting sedative-hypnotics for the purpose of hijacking the belongings of the travelers and agrochemicals-organophosphorous compounds for suicidal purpose are the most common poisoning in our country. The pattern and magnitude of poisoning are thus multidimensional and demanding multi-sectoral approach for facing the problem. The comprehensive patient care can improve the poisoning case management in our country. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v17i2.6593J Dhaka Med Coll. 2008; 17(2) : 111-115

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Background: Genetic defects of haemoglobin are the most common genetic disorders and affect around 7% of world Population, occur in tropical and sub tropical areas. â thalassaemia is more common in the Mediterranian region while á thalassaemia is more common in the Far East. Objective: To Find out the pattern of haemoglobin disorders and to evaluate and compare the diseases in study population. Methods: A total number of 210 subjects with age ranged from 2 to 72 years of both sexes were included in the study. The present study was conducted in out patient department (OPD) of Haematology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU,) Dhaka. Bangladesh. During the period of January 2007 to December 2007, patients were selected on the basis of morphological blood film examination and Hb- electrophoresis on cellulose acetate at PH 8.6. Results: Among the 210 Subjects, thalassaemia trait were (47.14%), HbE-beta thalassaemia were 30.47%, HbE Trait 13.3%, HbE disease (5.71%) and thalassaemia major were (3.33%). Conclusion: It is evident that, Hereditary Haemoglobin disorders are quite common in Bangladesh and this disorders are inherited as autosomal recessive Mendelian pattern affecting both male and female. Key words: Electrophoretic pattern; Haemoglobin disorders. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v19i1.6250 J Dhaka Med. Coll. 2010; 19(1) : 39-42.

An 18 years old female presented with several episodes of convulsions followed by unconsciousness. On admission, her Glasgow Coma Scale was 3, and other neurological and systemic examination revealed no abnormality. Initially it appeared to be a case of viral encephalitis with a background probability of glomerulonephritis. Differential diagnosis was uraemic encephalopathy and seizure disorder. However, finally it was diagnosed as a case of CNS Lupus - a rare presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Key words: Convulsion; glomerulonephritis; encephalitis; lupus. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v20i1.8588 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2011; 20(1) :82-85