Introduction: Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis (AR) are among the most prevalent diseases worldwide and they frequently persist throughout life. These have significant effect on physical, financial and mental wellbeing of patients and caregivers. There have been few attempts previously, assessing quality of life in affected families suffering from these diseases. However, data from developing countries are scarce. Quality of life (QOL) assessment in children and caregivers of patients suffering can help in symptomatic management and provide inputs for better utilization of resources to achieve optimal treatment. Methods: Patient and caregiver QOLs were ascertained using mPAQLQ and PACQLQ respectively in the study and correlated with disease severity and chronicity using parametric and non-parametric statistical tools. Results: There were 246 pairs of children diagnosed with Asthma and/or AR and their caregivers attending the Pediatric Allergy and Asthma clinic. Symptom score, emotional domain and activity limitation in children did not validate a statistically significant difference in QOL in various grades of AR/Asthma (p=0.632)(p=0.772), (p=0.496) (p=0.918) and (p=0.384), (p=0.561) respectively. Additionally there was no significant correlation between the severity of asthma and caregiver emotional disturbance (p=0.594) or caregiver activity limitation (p=0.446). Conclusions: Quality of life in children and caregivers where children are suffering from either AR or Asthma, or both has not shown any significant difference as per the disease severity or chronicity in various domains. There was no significant difference in quality of life noted as per change in age group, gender of patients or education status of caregivers.
Tracheobronchial Foreign Body Aspiration (FBA) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children less than three years of age. High index of suspicion leads to early diagnosis and treatment thus preventing further deleterious complications. This case report is about a 15-month-old female child who presented with intermittent low-grade fever, cough, cold for 20 days and rapid breathing since one day. On examination, she had pallor, grade 3 protein energy malnutrition according to Indian Academy of Paediatrics classification, heart rate was 128/min, respiratory rate was 44/min, oxygen saturation was 88% on room air with nasal flaring, intercostal and subcostal retractions. Bilateral rhonchi with reduced air entry was present in all areas of the lung. Bilateral bronchopneumonia was seen on chest X-ray and tuberculosis work up was negative. Child was started on oxygen, antibiotics, nebulisations and intravenous fluids. On day two of admission child developed rigorous bouts of cough associated with hypoxia, bradycardia, cyanosis and listlessness which improved on bag and mask ventilation. Following a strong suspicion of obstruction in the tracheobronchial tree, a Computed Tomography (CT) neck and chest was done which was suggestive of either an intratracheal or intrabronchial foreign body. Child was urgently taken up for rigid bronchoscopy and a ground nut was found in the right main bronchus. The FBA as a differential diagnosis of chronic cough in children should always be ruled out.
Spastic paraplegias are characterised by progressive rigidity and weakness of the lower limbs. Spastic paraplegia is a standard differential diagnosis for spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias (HSP) are genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders causing paraplegias. Eighty forms of HSP have been noted and 64 genes have been identified. The Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 18 family member A1 (ALDH18A1) gene is located at 10q24.1 and it encodes delta-1-Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Synthetase (P5CS), a mitochondrial bifunctional enzyme which is used for catalysing various amino acids. Mutations in this gene causes P5CS deficiency, which is responsible for neurodegenerative diseases. One should suspect neurometabolic conditions when no definite history of birth asphyxia is present in a case of cerebral palsy. Hereby, the authors report a case of a one-year-old male child with heterozygous mutation in ALDH18A1 gene resulting in spastic diplegia.
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is still one of the most common cause of acquired heart disease in school age group children. Though there has been a decline in the past few decades, resurgence of ARF cases have been noted in developing countries. We are hereby reporting a 7 year old male child who presented to us with ARF without any cardiac complications and absence of any serological evidence of recent streptococcal infection. The child however had a history of throat infection prior to joint involvement with this case we want to emphasize the importance of history taking and the fact that even if there is no serological evidence of streptococcal infection, the case has to be treated as ARF with the fulfilment of major and minor criteria to prevent mortality due to cardiac complications.
Tracheobronchial Foreign Body Aspiration (FBA) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children less than three years of age. High index of suspicion leads to early diagnosis and treatment thus preventing further deleterious complications. This case report is about a 15-month-old female child who presented with intermittent low-grade fever, cough, cold for 20 days and rapid breathing since one day. On examination, she had pallor, grade 3 protein energy malnutrition according to Indian Academy of Paediatrics classification, heart rate was 128/min, respiratory rate was 44/min, oxygen saturation was 88% on room air with nasal flaring, intercostal and subcostal retractions. Bilateral rhonchi with reduced air entry was present in all areas of the lung. Bilateral bronchopneumonia was seen on chest X-ray and tuberculosis work up was negative. Child was started on oxygen, antibiotics, nebulisations and intravenous fluids. On day two of admission child developed rigorous bouts of cough associated with hypoxia, bradycardia, cyanosis and listlessness which improved on bag and mask ventilation. Following a strong suspicion of obstruction in the tracheobronchial tree, a Computed Tomography (CT) neck and chest was done which was suggestive of either an intratracheal or intrabronchial foreign body. Child was urgently taken up for rigid bronchoscopy and a ground nut was found in the right main bronchus. The FBA as a differential diagnosis of chronic cough in children should always be ruled out.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.