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: Salivary immunoglobulin IgA plays an essential role in the immune response against dental caries. This studywas conducted to compare the salivary IgA levels and flow rate of stimulated saliva in caries active and caries free children. Materials and methods: The present study included sixty healthy children age 7-10 yearswho were divided into two groups. They were caries free and caries active children (30 children in each group). Assessment and recording of caries – experience were through the application of Decayed, Missing and Filled Tooth Index (DMFT) and (dmft) index, for permanent and deciduous teeth respectively. After dental examination, stimulated saliva samples were collected from the subjects and performed und
... Show MoreBackground: Toxoplasmosis is a very common infection caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. This parasite is called Toxoplasma gondii widely distributed around the world . Toxoplasma gondii can be vertically transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy and may cause wide range of clinical manifestations in the offspring.
Objective: To determine seroprevalence Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM ) to toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women and to identify the risk factors.
Type of the study: A cross-sectional study.
Methods: A total of 110 blood samples of pregnant women were collected from
... Show MoreBackground: Saliva plays an important role in oral health. Several salivary proteins are involved in the antimicrobial defence mechanism and are able to eliminate or inhibit bacterial growth in the oral cavity. Secretory IgA (SIgA) is one of the principal antibodies present in saliva, could help oral immunity by preventing microbial adherence, neutralizing enzymes and toxins. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between salivary Streptococcus Mutans (SM) count and S IgA in stimulated whole saliva in children with primary dentition compared to those with permanent teeth in relation to some oral hygiene parameters. Material and methods: Stimulated whole saliva was collected from 50 children (25 with primary dentation and
... Show MoreBackground: Non-nutritive sucking habits are common in infants and toddlers. One of the most common non-nutritive sucking habits is pacifier; its prevalence varies from one population to another. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of pacifier sucking habit among children aged 1-5 years old in Baghdad city and to assess its effect on the occlusion of primary dentition concerning posterior crossbite. Materials and methods: The study was carried out among 1222 children aged 1-5 years old, from which 50 children with continues pacifier sucking habit were chosen to be the study group, compared to 50 children without any sucking habit (control group) matching the study group in age and gender. Children were examined clinically t
... Show More230 stool samples were collected from 2 state homes for (males and females) to investigate
the infection of different intestinal parasites (pathogenic and non-pathogenic).
The infection rate was higher among males 15.7% than females 6%, these rates were
increased when concentration method was employed up to 54.8% for males and 8.7% for
females significantly.
Most infected orphans were found to harbor single parasite followed by double, triple
parasites.
The highest rate of infection was found among young age group (1-5) years old, while
the older age groups got lowest rates.
Of helminthes, the commonest parasite was Hymenolepis nana 5.7% and of protozoa, the
commonest intestinal parasite was Giardia lamblia
Background: Nosocomial respiratory infections in the intensive care is one of the challenging issues, competing with other major causes of morbidity and mortality, that’s why it needs to be studied thoroughly.
Objectives: To assess the prevalence of colonization of respiratory tract by Gram-negative rods (GNRs) for critically ill patients in Baghdad teaching hospital, and to determine antimicrobial resistance of the isolated strains.
Patients and Methods: A cross sectional study conducted on critically patients at the ICU/Baghdad teaching hospital during the period from December 2012-june 2013. thirty four adult patients on mechanical ventilator with e
... Show MoreThis study was designed to determine the percentage and the main causative agent causing bacteremia among children aged up to 12 years and complaining from different types of infections (Respiratory, intestinal, and urinary tract infection) in Baghdad. Results showed that the percentage of infection was 46.19 % the main causative agents were Enterobacteriaceae including (E.coli , Pseudomonas , Salmonella.typhi .Serratia , Enterobacter , Klebsiella )and other than Enterobacteriaceae which includes(Staph.aureus , Staph.epidermidis , Streptococcus.Pneumonia and ?-hemolytic streptococci ) .Regarding the age factor ,results showed that the highest infection rate was among the age group (1 day-12 month ) and (12 -36month ) (64.89%)an
... Show MoreType-1 diabetes is defined as destruction of pancreatic beta cell, virus and bacteria are some environmental factor for this disease. The study included 25 patients with type-1 diabetes mellitus aged between 8 – 25 years from Baghdad hospital and 20 healthy persons as control group. Anti-rubella IgG and IgM, anti-Chlamydia pneumonia IgG and IgM were measured by ELISA technique while anti-CMV antibody were measured by immunofluorescence technique. The aim of current study was to know the trigger factor for type-1 diabetes. There were significant differences (P<0.05) between studied groups according to parameters and the results lead to suggest that Chlamydia pneumonia, CMV and rubella virus may trigger type-1 diabetes mellitus in Iraqi pat
... Show MoreVisceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic infection caused by an intracellular growth of Leishmania spp. in macrophage cells. The autoimmune disorder is a condition takes place when the immune system produces antibodies which incorrectly attacked its own body tissues. VL has been involved as an effect or on the autoimmune aspect. This study was conducted to identify the auto antibodies profile in patients infected with VL. The presences of auto antibodies in 21 Iraqi children infected with VL were tested for laboratory autoimmune aspect. The highest percentage of seropositive in Leishmania patients was observed for anti-ds DNA, anti-Mi-2, anti-Ku and anti-PCNA antibodies (90.5%, 90.5%, 90.5% and 61.9%) respectively, while the lowest percen
... Show More