Background: A confirmed case of influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an influenza-like illness with laboratory confirmed influenza A (H1N1) virus infection by real-time RT-PCR or viral culture.
Objectives: To identify demographic and clinical predictors, and outcome of proved cases of H1N1 influenza epidemic in children.
Patients and methods: This study was conducted in Children Welfare Teaching Hospital/ Medical City/ Baghdad on 67 hospitalized patients aged 1 month to 18 years with signs and symptoms suggestive of influenza during the period of outbreak of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) from 1st of October 2009 to 1st of January 2010. Demographic aspect, clinical coarse, laboratory investigations, treatment and outcome were reported. For each patient 2 nasal, 2 throat swabs and single blood sample were collected, and sent to Central Health Laboratory. All suspected patients received Oseltamivir for 5 days. The data were analyzed statistically by Chi-square (χ2) test and Fisher’s Exact Test.
Results: The median age for the studied patients was 7.7 years with a range of 1 month -18 years. 39 patients out of 67 (58.2%) were PCR positive. 34 out of 39 (87.1%) were <6-18 year old while 5 out of 39 (12.9%) were >3-6 years old. No case was reported in age group 1 month-3 years. Twenty eight patients out of 67 (41.8%) were PCR negative. 17/28 (60.7%) were <6-18 years old. 5 out of 28 (17.9%) were >3-6 years old. 6 out of 28 (21.4%) were 1 month -3 years old. Female: male ratio in PCR positive patients was 1.05:1 while it was 1.54:1 in PCR negative patients. Most of the children came from urban area in both PCR positive and negative results. Cough and fever had a higher frequency in both PCR positive and negative patients while
headache was more in epidemic influenza. All PCR positive and 26 out of 28 (92.8%) of PCR negative patients improved while 2 out of 28 (7.2%) of PCR negative patients died.
Conclusions: Children at school age were more prone to acquire epidemic influenza. Both genders were equally affected. Frequency was more in urban area .Cough and fever was the most frequent presentation. Headache was a more common presentation in H1N1 influenza than in seasonal influenza.
Background: H1N1 influenza pandemic or swine flu was an influenza pandemic first described in Iraq in October 2009 .The virus appeared to be anew strain of H1N1 causes wide range of morbidity and mortality among different genders and age groups as part of worldwide pandemics.Seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.
Objectives: Is to determine the morbidity and mortality in different age groups in patients with H1N1 influenza versus those patients with seasonal influenza who were admitted at the same time to AL-kindy
... Show MoreBackground: Lumbar puncture is a procedure that is frequently performed in the pediatric practice.
Objective: To review some (patient, provider and technique- related) characteristics of lumbar puncture performed at the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Baghdad / Iraq.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the period from April to September, 2017. A self-prepared questionnaire was used to collect the data. It included 32 items, which were divided into three sections: Residents doctors' information (3 items), patient's information (2 items) and procedure’s information (27 items).
Results: The total number of performed procedures was 103, of which 51 (49.5%) were performed in the oncology ward. About ha
Background: Kala-azar is an important parasitic disease that affects children of all age groups with fatal outcome if left without treatment.
Objectives: Children admitted with Kala-azar were studied for evaluation of Indirect Immunoflorescent Antibody Test and Bone Marrow examination validity.
Results: The majority (94%) of studied children were less than 5 years age group. Males were more than females with a ratio of 1.63:1. Sixty percent of patients were from Diyala governorate and 23% from Baghdad. The main clinical features were prolonged fever and hepatosplenomegaly (100%). Bone marrow examination was positive in 45% of suspected Kala-azar cases. IFAT was positive i
... Show MoreBackground: The annual incidence of stroke in children after the newborn period is approximately 2.3 per 100000. Half are ischemic, and half are non-traumaticintracerebral and subarchnoidal hemorrhages.
Objectives: To study the etiologic factors, clinical presentation andoutcome of stroke among children admitted to children welfare teaching hospital/Baghdad.
Patient and methods: A prospective study was carried out in Children Welfare Teaching Hospital;Children age ranged between 1 month -13 years and was admitted to pediatric neurology ward between 1st of November 2013 and 1st of November 2014. After carful clinical history, physical and neurological examinations, the diagnosis of brain stroke was confirmed in all patients by compu
Summary:
Background: Pneumonia is a common form of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children under five years of age and it is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this age group. Early management is important in decreasing its complications and mortality.
Methods: A cross sectional study of 100 patients, their ages ranged from 2 months to 5 years. They were admitted to Children Welfare Teaching Hospital Medical City–Baghdad in a period from 7th of November 2010 to 5th of May 2011, suffering from Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (fever, cough and tachypnea) and classified into two groups according to chest radiograph (CXR) findings, those with a patch (pneumonia) and others with normal or hyper inflated CX
Background: Neonates who are admitted to hospitals will need various drugs. The use of unlicensed or off-label drugs without scientific evidence makes this exposure unsafe.
Aim of study: We aimed to assess the use of drugs for neonates based on the British National Formulary for Children and IBM Micromedex Neofax.
Patients and methods: This is a descriptive study which reviewed the clinical files of enrolled neonates who have stayed in the hospital for more than 24 hours and received at least one drug. It was conducted in the neonatal care unit of the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital/ Medical City Complex in Baghdad during the period from 1st of January to 30th of June/20
... Show MoreBackground:Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has a poor prognosis, and novel therapies are needed. The FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitorsrepresents a promising target in pediatric AML.
Objectives:This study was done to estimate the frequency of FLT3- ITD mutation in childhood acute myeloid leukemia using conventional PCR & correlate this mutation with the clinical presentation and response to induction therapy.
Patients, Materials &Methods: Twenty children with AML, and 16 children with reactive bone marrow as negative control were enrolled in this study. Those patients were attending Child Welfare Teaching Hospital in Baghdad from March 2010 to July 2011 .For each patient hematological investigations including complete b
Objectives: The present study aims at detecting the depression among nurses who provide care for infected patients with corona virus phenomenon and to find out relationships between the depression and their demographic characteristics of age, gender, marital status, type of family, education, and years of experience of nurses in heath institutions, infection by corona virus, and their participation in training courses.
Methodology: A descriptive study is established for a period from October 10th, 2020 to April 15th, 2021. The study is conducted on a purposive (non-probability) sample of (100) nurse who are providing care for patients with COVID-19 and they are selected from the isolation wards. The instrument of the study is develope
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
... Show MoreBackgroun1d: Polycythemia is defined as a central Hematocrit of at least 65%. Its` incidence is increased in babies who have intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), are small for gestational age (SGA), and are born post term. Many infants with polycythemia are asymptomatic. However, it may be associated with feeding problems and lethargy.
Objectives: This work aimed to study the polycythemic neonates admitted to neonatal care unit in children welfare teaching hospital, medical city complex, Baghdad, including demographic features, risk factors, management and early outcome.
Patients and Methods: A descriptive study was carried out over
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