Respiratory Syncytial Virus is the most common cause of acute viral bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and young children. This study is designed to examine the presence of anti-RSV IgM and IgA antibodies in infants and young children aged between 2 months up to 5 years old. ELISA was used to examine the levels of IgM and IgA antibodies in the serum samples from 90 individuals (60 are with respiratory symptoms and 30 healthy as controls). The results were analysed by systematically dividing those individuals into two groups according to their age and clinical status. The age groups included infant between 2 months and 1 year of age and young children between 2-5 years whereas the clinical grouping includes the severity of infection of those hospitalized with acute respiratory symptoms and /or with chest pain from two main children hospitals in Baghdad. ELISA results revealed that anti-RSV IgM levels were 80% and 72% for those with acute infection and those with chest pain, respectively, whereas the levels of IgA were 45% for both groups. On the other hand, the level of IgM for individuals from group I and group II of age distribution were 63% and 35%, respectively; while the levels of IgA were only 27% for group I and 8% for group II. This study showed that the level of IgM antibodies for RSV is indicative of early detection of viral infection and it is more likely to be associated with the onset of recent infection with RSV regardless of the severity of infection. By including another test together with IgM detection may significantly improve early detection of RSV infections. These results may contribute for better understanding for the prevalence of RSV among infants and young children as well as the status of respiratory infection with RSV in children from Baghdad areas which may eventually lead to better rationale for the unnecessary prescription of antibiotics in community.
Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. People who know less about epilepsy tend to have negative ideas about the disease. KAP of parents on epilepsy is crucial, especially to children below 13, as the child in this stage mostly depends on parents to get the answers to their concerns. Still, the over-protection from their families will create insecurity and reduce their self-esteem when they grow older.
Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and measure their association with sociodemographic characteristics.
Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 107 parents with children who were diagnosed and received treatm
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Background: The oral cavity is considered as a complex ecological niche, its complex microbial community is reflected to it. Streptococcus mutans has been implicated as one of the major etiological factor of dental caries. Tooth surfaces colonized with Streptococcus mutans are at a higher risk for developing caries, while lactobacilli are considered as the secondary invaders, not initiators of the carious lesion. The main purpose of this study was to correlate the dental caries (for primary and permanent teeth) in the upper jaw with the streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli count in the dental plaque and saliva, also to correlate the dental caries (for primary and permanent teeth) in the lower jaw with the streptococcus mutans and lactobaci
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Background: Anti-RA33 antibodies and anti-CCP antibodies are highly specific markers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but are not detectable in all RA patients.
Anti-RA33 antibodies are directed to the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2 (hnRNP-A2),while anti-CCP antibodies are directed to modified epitope on proteins that undergo conversion of amino acid arginine to citrullin by citrullination.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to show the correlation between anti-RA33 antibodies, anti-CCP antibodies and rheumatoid factor (RF) in terms of sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in Iraqi patients.
Subjects and methods: This s
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Background: Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular tumor affecting young children.
Patients and Methods: A review of 32 children with retinoblastoma, diagnosed and treated at the Oncology Unit, Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad from 1999 to 2006.
Objectives: To review the clinical presentation and treatment outcome of retinoblastoma in children treated at the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Baghdad.
Results: Among 32 patients, 56.25% were males and 43.75% were females with a median age of 34.5 months. Unilateral disease was observed in 19 patients. Leukocoria was the most common presenting feature. Advanced s
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Back ground: One out of six children in the
world today is involved in child labor, doing
work that is damaging to his or her mental,
physical and emotional development.
Objective: Assessment of some health
problems among the studied working children.
Method; A cross-sectional study was
conducted in Al Amen Primary Health Care
(PHCC) during the period from January to
August 2009, a sample of 6048 children were
selected randomly(3218girls and2866 boys age
between 5-17 years ) and interviewed to collect
information using a structured questionnaire
form, information related to different aspects
of child labor prevention were included in the
form as well as a general medical examination
and lab
Background: The periodic review conducted of acute bacterial meningitis in children younger than 5 years of age in Baghdad to reflect changes in the epidemiological pattern of this infection.
Patients and Methods: Sixty patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of meningitis who were admitted to Central Teaching Hospital in Baghdad City were included in a prospective study started from the 1st October till the 30th of December 2009. By bacteriological study, biochemical and cytological study in the laboratory, WBCs in the blood with differential count was done to support the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.
Results: Present study revealed that from (60) patients (6) cases (10.0 %) showed posi
Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic endocrine disorders of childhood, growth impairment is one of its long−term consequences
Objective: To study the anthropometric indices among children with type 1diabetes.
Results: A total of 253 children with type 1diabetes were studied, 51.8% were females, 47.9% developed the disease at 5-9 years of age, and 52.6% presented with classical signs and symptoms. Stunting /sever stunting was 15% with male predominance, higher among older age group (10-20 y), wasting/ sever wasting was 19.4% with male predominance, higher among older age group (10-20 y), over weight/ obese was 3.6% with females predominant an
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