BackgroundDemographic features of dengue fever have changed tremendously in Pakistan over the past two decades. Small scale studies from all over the country have reported different aspects of individual outbreaks during this time. However, there is scarcity of data looking at the overall trend of dengue virus infection in the country. In this study, we examined annual trends, seasonality, and clinical features of dengue fever in the Pakistani population.MethodsDemographic information and dengue IgM status of all patients tested for dengue IgM antibody at Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2003 to December 2007 were analyzed to look for trends of IgM-positive cases in Pakistan. In addition, clinical and biochemical parameters were abstracted retrospectively from medical records of all patients hospitalized with IgM-proven dengue fever between January 2006 and December 2007. These patients were categorized into dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever according to the WHO severity grading scale.ResultsOut of a total of 15040 patients (63.2% male and 36.8% female), 3952 (26.3%) tested positive for dengue IgM antibody. 209 IgM proven dengue patients were hospitalized during the study period. During 2003, IgM positive cases were seen only during the months of July-December. In contrast, such cases were detected throughout the year from the 2004–2007. The median age of IgM positive patients decreased every year from 32.0 years in 2003 to 24.0 years in 2007 (p<0.001). Among hospitalized patients, nausea was the most common presenting feature found in 124/209 (59.3%) patients. Children presented with a higher median body temperature than adults (p = 0.010). In addition, neutropenia was seen more commonly in children while raised serum ALT levels were seen more commonly in adults (both p = 0.006). While a low total white cell count was more common in patients with dengue fever as compared to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (p = 0.020), neutropenia (p = 0.019), monocytosis (p = 0.001) and raised serum ALT level (p = 0.005) were observed more commonly in the latter group.ConclusionsDengue virus is now endemic in Pakistan, circulating throughout the year with a peak incidence in the post monsoon period. Median age of dengue patients has decreased and younger patients may be more susceptible. Total and differential leukocyte counts may help identify patients at risk of hemorrhage.
Pediatric urolithiasis remains endemic in low-resource countries where infants constitute 17-40% of all children with urolithiasis. This study reports socio-economic factors, medical history and chemical composition of urinary stones in 976 infants of up to 2 years of age. Between 1992 and 2016, 976 infants presented to our institute with 1038 stones. Chemical composition of stones was analyzed by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The mean age of infants was 19.5 ± 5.74 months with a M:F ratio of 5.5:1. Half (50%) of the infants were rural dwellers, 90% belonged to low socio-economic class and 70% were malnourished. A history of chronic diarrhoea was reported in 13% and urinary tract infections in 5%. The anatomic location was bladder in 487 (46.9%), kidney in 246 (23.6%), ureter in 142 (13.6%), urethra in 2 (0.2%) and 161 (15.5%) were passed spontaneously. Overall frequency of compounds in stones showed ammonium acid urate (AAU) in 772 (74.37%), calcium oxalate (CaOx) in 410 (39.5%). Uric acid (UA) in 119 (11.46%), calcium phosphate apatite (CaP) in 96 (9.25%), magnesium ammonium phosphate (Struvite) in 45 (4.34%), cystine in 12 (1.16%) and xanthine in 40 (3.85%). Frequency of compounds was similar in genders. Infants of age 0-6 months had higher frequency of UA (28%), CaOx (50%) and low AAU (61%) as compared to 11, 39 and 75%, respectively, in 7-24 months (p < 0.049) (p < 0.002) (p < 0.001). Nucleus of stones showed pure AAU in 63 and 43% on the surface due to addition of CaOx, struvite and CaP. Our study has shown that AAU is a major component of stones in infants where the main risk factors are poverty, malnutrition, diarrheal diseases and dehydration.
Most of still births were due to known causes such as hypertension, congenital anomalies, and fetal growth restriction. Improvement in the management of hypertension and diagnosis of congenital anomalies is necessary. Results of the analysis urge on the need for antenatal care and compliance for follow-ups.
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