The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
-
At the Mubarak Al-Kabeer University Hospital of Kuwait (Arabian Gulf), 77 episodes of acute renal failure were collected prospectively over 2 years, yielding a mean annual incidence rate of 9.5/100,000 population. Forty-four episodes occurred in hospital, a rate of 1.3 per 1000 admissions. In this group, acute tubular necrosis was the commonest cause (27 episodes). ⋯ In contrast to hospital-acquired renal failure there was a tendency for increased incidence of community-acquired renal failure in the summer months. A more striking observation was the lower mortality in the community-acquired form. The mortality was not related to severity of renal failure even within the group with acute tubular necrosis.
-
Of 1321 patients with intracranial (IC) infection studied, the infection occurred as a direct result of middle ear disease in 36 (3%). The presenting clinical symptoms were those of diffuse meningeal irritation in 23 and of localized infection in the remaining 13. ⋯ The final diagnosis in the 13 patients with localized meningeal inflammation was, brain abscess in seven, extradural abscess in four, lateral sinus thrombosis in two. All these patients underwent surgery, and except for one patient who died 3 days post-operative all recovered without sequelae.
-
Comparative Study
A study of the pattern of breast feeding in Ibadan, Nigeria.
The patterns of breast feeding and the effect of health education on the practice among three groups of women, namely a rural poor group, an urban poor group and an urban elite group were studied. Although the rural poor had the least knowledge about the advantages of breast feeding, the median duration of breast feeding was longest in this group and only 32% of them had introduced supplementary feeds by the end of the first month. Health education did not appear to be a critical factor in motivating these mothers to feed their children the right way. Rather, socio-economic factors particularly poverty appeared to be the compelling factor with regards to duration of breast feeding and time of introduction of supplementary feeds.
-
An analysis is presented of data on all 30 129 inpatient admissions to a mission hospital in the West Nile District of Uganda in the 27 year period from July 1951 to August 1978. For most of this period the hospital was staffed by the same two doctors. For each patient admitted, a record was made of their age (adult or child), sex, place of residence, duration of stay in hospital, diagnosis and vital status at discharge. ⋯ Despite the limitations of hospital-based data, it is argued that the data analysed provide a reasonable indication of the important causes of severe morbidity and mortality in the district. Furthermore, some of the changes in admission patterns over time are likely to represent true changes in disease rates rather than artefacts of diagnosis or referral. The analyses presented indicate the value of simple record systems, carefully maintained.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Does oral rehydration therapy alter food consumption and absorption of nutrients in children with cholera?
In order to estimate consumption of food and absorption of nutrients, a metabolic balance study was conducted in 47 children between 1 and 5 years old, suffering from acute cholera. Twenty-two of the children were treated by intravenous solution (IV) only and 25 others by oral rehydration along with intravenous solution (ORS/IV) when necessary. After initial rehydration a nonabsorbable charcoal marker was fed to the patients followed by a typical Bangladeshi home food of known composition offered ad libitum. ⋯ Absorption of nitrogen was significantly lower in the ORS/IV group, but absorption of fat was not significantly impaired. Vomiting was significantly higher in the ORS/IV group. The differences in the consumption and absorption of nutrients between the two groups were transient and came to the same level within 2 weeks after recovery.