MyMedR

Predictors of failure of nasal continuous positive airway pressure in treatment of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome

Boo NY, Zuraidah AL, Lim NL, Zulfiqar MA

J Trop Pediatr, 2000 Jun;46(3):172-5.

PMID: 10893920

A case-control study was carried out on 97 consecutive preterm (< 37 weeks) infants to determine predictors associated with failure of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Logistic regression analysis showed that only three risk factors were significantly associated with failed CPAP. These were: moderate or severe RDS (odds ratio: 5.9; 95 per cent confidence interval (CI): 2.2-16.0); septicemia during CPAP therapy (OR: 8.8; 95 per cent: CI 1.5-50.7); and pneumothorax during CPAP therapy (odds ratio: 6.9; 95 per cent: CI 1.1-41.7).

The urban poor and obstetric outcome

Leigh B, Ebrahim GJ, Lovell H, Yusof K

J Trop Pediatr, 1983 10;29(5):265-7.

PMID: 6644850 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/29.5.265

Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydia trachomatis Respiratory Colonization in Malaysian Preterm Infants

Ng KF, Kee Tan K, Chok MC, Zamil Mohd Muzzamil N, Choo P, Paramasivam U, et al.

J Trop Pediatr, 2017 Dec 01;63(6):447-453.

PMID: 28334949 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmx011

This prospective observational study aims to determine the incidence, predictors and clinical features of Mycoplasma hominis (MH), Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) respiratory colonization in infants <37 weeks of gestation. A total of 200 preterm newborns admitted to a tertiary center in Malaysia between 2013 and 2015 for increased breathing effort had their respiratory secretions tested for these bacteria by polymerase chain reaction. Fifteen of the 200 (7.5%) infants were detected to have these organisms in their respiratory tracts. Preterm prelabor rupture of membrane was associated with positive detection (odds ratio: 3.7; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-11.3). Seventy-three of the 200 (36.5%) infants were given macrolide for presumed infection but only 4.1% (3 of 73) were positive for these organisms. The incidence of UU respiratory colonization among preterm infants in our center is lower than other published reports, while the frequency of MH and CT isolation is comparable with many studies. There should be judicious use of empirical antibiotics for presumed UU, MH and CT infection in preterm infants.

Validation of the Subjective Global Nutrition Assessment (SGNA) and Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Paediatrics (STAMP) to Identify Malnutrition in Hospitalized Malaysian Children

Ong SH, Chee WSS, Lapchmanan LM, Ong SN, Lua ZC, Yeo JX

J Trop Pediatr, 2019 02 01;65(1):39-45.

PMID: 29514329 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmy009

Background: Early detection of malnutrition in hospitalized children helps reduce length of hospital stay and morbidity. A validated nutrition tool is essential to correctly identify children at risk of malnutrition or who are already malnourished. This study compared the use of the Subjective Global Nutrition Assessment (SGNA, nutrition assessment tool) and Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Paediatrics (STAMP, nutrition screening tool) with objective nutritional parameters to identify malnutrition in hospitalized children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in two general paediatric wards in a public hospital. SGNA and STAMP were performed on 82 children (52 boys and 30 girls) of age 1-7 years. The scores from both methods were compared against Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society of Parental and Enteral Nutrition Consensus Statement for identification of paediatric malnutrition. The objective measurements include anthropometry (weight, height and mid-arm circumference), dietary intake and biochemical markers (C-reactive protein, total lymphocytes and serum albumin). Kappa agreement between methods, sensitivity, specificity and cross-classification were computed.

Results: SGNA and STAMP identified 45% and 79% of the children to be at risk of malnutrition, respectively. Using a compendium of objective parameters, 46% of the children were confirmed to be malnourished. The agreement between SGNA and objective measurements (k = 0.337) was stronger than between STAMP and objective measurements (k = 0.052) in evaluating the nutritional status of hospitalized children. SGNA also has a 4-fold higher specificity (70.45%) than STAMP (18.18%) in detecting children who are malnourished.

Conclusion: SGNA is a valid nutrition assessment tool in diagnosing malnutrition status among hospitalized children in Malaysia. The discrepancy in specificity values between the two methods explains the distinguished roles between SGNA and STAMP. The use of STAMP will have to be followed up with a more valid tool such as SGNA to verify the actual nutrition status of the paediatric population.

Fulltext Characterisation of beta-globin gene mutations in Malaysian children: a strategy for the control of beta-thalassaemia in a developing country

Thong MK, Tan JA, Tan KL, Yap SF

J Trop Pediatr, 2005 Dec;51(6):328-33.

PMID: 15967770 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmi052

beta-thalassaemia major, an autosomal recessive hemoglobinopathy, is one of the most common single gene disorders in multi-racial Malaysia. The control of beta-thalassaemia major requires a multi-disciplinary approach that includes population screening, genetic counselling, prenatal diagnosis and the option of termination of affected pregnancies. To achieve this objective, the molecular characterisation of the spectrum of beta-globin gene mutations in each of the affected ethnic groups is required. We studied 88 consecutive unrelated individuals and their respective families with beta-thalassaemia (74 beta-thalassaemia major, 12 HbE-beta-thalassaemia, 2 with HbE homozygotes) and four individuals with beta-thalassaemia trait that contributed a total 180 alleles for study. Using a 2-step molecular diagnostic strategy consisting of amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) to identify the 8 most common mutations followed by other DNA-based diagnostic techniques, a total of 177 (98.3 per cent) of the 180 beta-thalassaemia alleles were characterised. One out of 91 (1 per cent) of the Chinese alleles, one out of 46 (2.2 per cent) Malay alleles and one out of two Indian alleles remained unknown. A 100 per cent success rate was achieved in studying the Kadazandusun community in this study. A strategy to identify beta-globin gene mutations in Malaysians with beta-thalassaemia is proposed based on this outcome.

Rice-starch oral rehydration therapy in neonates and young infants

Iyngkaran N, Yadav M

J Trop Pediatr, 1998 08;44(4):199-203.

PMID: 9718904 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/44.4.199

Rice-starch based oral rehydration solution (ORS) has been shown to be a suitable alternative to glucose-based ORS in the treatment of both choleragenic and non-choleragenic dehydration in older infants and children. However, in young infants, the wider use of rice-starch ORS has been impeded because of theoretical concern about the poor digestibility of starch. The present study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of rice-starch ORS in the rehydration of acute diarrhoeal dehydration in infants below 6 months of age. Sixty-three infants with clinical features of acute gastroenteritis were randomly allocated to two groups. Group A, comprising 31 infants, received a rice-starch ORS and group B, comprising 32 infants, received a glucose-based ORS. The response to treatment was monitored by weight gain, stool frequency, and decrease in vomiting. The mean weight gain in moderately dehydrated and mildly dehydrated infants in both groups A and B were closely similar at 12, 24, and 48 h after treatment with the respective ORS solution. The infants without dehydration receiving rice-starch ORS had significantly greater weight gain at 12 h compared to those receiving glucose ORS. However, this difference was not observed at 24 and 48 h. The results of this study show that rice-starch ORS is as safe and efficacious as glucose-based ORS in young infants.

Infant mortality in rural Malaysia: an analysis and their causes (1970-1984)

Yadav H

J Trop Pediatr, 1986 10;32(5):244-8.

PMID: 3795334 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/32.5.244

Fulltext Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Children: A Study of Contacts of Index Paediatric Cases in India

Gupta N, Saravu K, Varma M, Pm A, Shetty S, Umakanth S

J Trop Pediatr, 2021 01 29;67(1).

PMID: 33280033 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmaa081

The susceptibility of children to coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and transmission of COVID-19 from children to others is a relatively unexplored area. The aim of this study was to understand the transmission dynamics of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in children. This was a retrospective observational study where a total of 19 paediatric index cases (including a set of twins) with COVID-19 and 42 primary contacts (adults-36, paediatric-6) from the immediate family members were included. All the index cases and four of the five positive contacts were asymptomatic. Despite adults staying with positive children in the same vehicle, same room in the quarantine centre and the same ward, only four of the parents became positive.

Fulltext The accuracy of mother's touch to detect fever in children: a systematic review

Teng CL, Ng CJ, Hanafi NS, Zailinawati AH, Tong SF

J Trop Pediatr, 2008 Feb;54(1):70-3.

PMID: 18039678 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmm077

Universally, mothers often use touching to detect fever in their children. We perform a systematic review of published diagnostic studies evaluating the ability of mothers to detect fever in their children by touching. We found 10 studies satisfying our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed a summary sensitivity of 89.2% and summary specificity of 50%-maternal touch is perhaps more useful to exclude fever rather than to 'rule in' fever. However, due to significant heterogeneity in the included studies, interpretation of the summary data is difficult.

Intestinal parasites in Malaysian children with cancer

Menon BS, Abdullah MS, Mahamud F, Singh B

J Trop Pediatr, 1999 Aug;45(4):241-2.

PMID: 10467838

In this prospective study, we examined stool specimens from children with cancer receiving chemotherapy who were admitted for fever to the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kota Baru, Kelantan. Stool specimens were examined for ova and cysts of parasites. Over a period of 15 months, there were 129 febrile episodes in 50 children with cancer and, in all, 237 stool specimens were examined. Sixty-six per cent of febrile episodes were associated with neutropenia and 9 per cent were associated with diarrhoea. Stool parasites were found in 42 per cent of children. The most common were helminths, followed by protozoa. Trichuris trichiura was the most common parasite (24 per cent), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (22 per cent). Hookworm was found in 2 per cent. Giardia lamblia was found in 6 per cent of children, Blastocystis hominis in 4 per cent, and Cryptosporidium parvum in 2 per cent.

Risk factors associated with hearing loss in term neonates with hyperbilirubinaemia

Boo NY, Oakes M, Lye MS, Said H

J Trop Pediatr, 1994 Aug;40(4):194-7.

PMID: 7932930

A study of 128 jaundiced term neonates showed that 28 (22 per cent) had hearing loss based on brain stem-evoked response. There was no significant difference in the percentage of neonates with hearing loss between those with peak serum bilirubin levels of less than 340 mumol/l (16 per cent) and those with hyperbilirubinaemia > 339 mumol/l (33 per cent) (P = 0.11). Logistic regression analysis showed that severe jaundice which required exchange transfusion and earlier age of onset of hyperbilirubinaemia were statistically significant risk factors associated with hearing loss (P = 0.038 and P = 0.012, respectively).

Objectively measured habitual physical activity and sedentary behaviour in obese and non-obese Malaysian children

Wafa SW, Hamzaid H, Talib RA, Reilly JJ

J Trop Pediatr, 2014 Apr;60(2):161-3.

PMID: 24213306 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmt093

The present study examined objectively measured physical activity in Malaysian children and compared the differences in physical levels between obese and healthy weight children. Eighty-six obese children were matched for age and sex with 86 healthy weight children with median age 9.5 years. Habitual physical activity and sedentary behaviour were measured over 5 days using Actigraph accelerometers. Time spent sedentary was significantly higher in the obese group (90% vs. 86% of daytime; p = 0.001). Moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity was significantly higher in the healthy weight group (1.2 vs. 0.7% of daytime, p < 0.001). In both healthy weight and obese children, physical activity levels were exceptionally low, although moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity was significantly lower in the obese group than the healthy weight group. Efforts to prevent and treat obesity in Malaysian children will need a substantial focus on the promotion of reductions in sedentary behaviour and increases in physical activity.

Neonatal anthropometry in relation to ethnic distribution of birthweight in Singapore

Bhan A, Viegas OA, Huang HS, Ratnam SS

J Trop Pediatr, 1985 04;31(2):124-8.

PMID: 4009779 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/31.2.124

Belief in traditional healers amongst Malaysian parents of children with cancer

Ariffin H, Abdullah WA, de Bruyne J, Lee CL, Peng LH

J Trop Pediatr, 1997 12;43(6):375-6.

PMID: 9476465 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/43.6.375

Septicaemia in paediatric cancer patients: a 5-year surveillance study in university hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ariffin H, Ariffin W, Peng LH, Parasakthi N

J Trop Pediatr, 1997 10;43(5):279-81.

PMID: 9364125 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/43.5.279

Infectious complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in children with malignancy. Empirical antimicrobial therapy in the management of fever of unknown origin should be tailored to local bacteriological data and antibiotic sensitivity patterns. Five-hundred-and-fifty-nine cases of culture-proven septicaemia occurring in pediatric cancer patients between 1990 and 1994 were retrospectively analysed and compared with a similar study done in our centre between 1976 and 1979. A wide spectrum of organisms was isolated. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common and consistent bacteria isolated during the 5 year period. More than 70 per cent of the staphylococci were sensitive to methicillin and universally sensitive to vancomycin. However, a worrying trend of ceftazidime-resistance amongst gram-negative organisms was found. In these situations, the use of imipenem is recommended as resistance to this antimicrobial agent was exceedingly rare.

Risk factors associated with unconjugated neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Malaysian neonates

Wong F, Boo N, Othman A

J Trop Pediatr, 2013 Aug;59(4):280-5.

PMID: 23640907 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmt023

To investigate the risk factors associated with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Malaysian neonates.

Genetic Factors and Delayed TSB Monitoring and Treatment as Risk Factors Associated with Severe Hyperbilirubinemia in Term Neonates Admitted for Phototherapy

Boo NY, Sin S, Chee SC, Mohamed M, Ahluwalia AK, Ling MM, et al.

J Trop Pediatr, 2020 12 01;66(6):569-582.

PMID: 32577754 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmaa016

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine whether maternal-fetal blood group isoimmunization, breastfeeding, birth trauma, age when first total serum bilirubin (TSB) was measured, age of admission, and genetic predispositions to hemolysis [due to genetic variants of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme], and reduced hepatic uptake and/or conjugation of serum bilirubin [due to genetic variants of solute carrier organic anion transporter protein family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1) and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1 (UGT1A1)] were significant risk factors associated with severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (SNH, TSB ≥ 342µmol/l) in jaundiced term neonates admitted for phototherapy.

METHODS: The inclusion criteria were normal term neonates (gestation ≥ 37 weeks). Parents/care-givers were interviewed to obtain data on demography, clinical problems, feeding practice and age when first TSB was measured. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used to detect common G6PD, UGT1A1 and SLCO1B1 variants on each neonate's dry blood specimens.

RESULTS: Of 1121 jaundiced neonates recruited, 232 had SNH. Logistic regression analysis showed that age (in days) when first TSB was measured [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.395; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.094-1.779], age (in days) of admission (aOR = 1.127; 95% CI 1.007-1.260) and genetic mutant UGT1A1 promoter A(TA)7TAA (aOR = 4.900; 95% CI 3.103-7.739), UGT1A1 c.686C>A (aOR = 6.095; 95% CI 1.549-23.985), SLCO1B1 c.388G>A (aOR = 1.807; 95% CI 1.242-2.629) and G6PD variants and/or abnormal G6PD screening test (aOR = 2.077; 95% CI 1.025-4.209) were significantly associated with SNH.

CONCLUSION: Genetic predisposition, and delayed measuring first TSB and commencing phototherapy increased risk of SNH.

Pediatric appendicitis in a developing country: what are the clinical predictors and outcome of perforation?

Ngim CF, Quek KF, Dhanoa A, Khoo JJ, Vellusamy M, Ng CS

J Trop Pediatr, 2014 Dec;60(6):409-14.

PMID: 25063462 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmu037

This study explored the risk factors and outcomes associated with perforation in children who underwent emergency appendicectomies.

Susceptibility pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae among pre-school children in Kota Bharu, Malaysia

Malik AS, Ismail A, Pennie RA, Naidu JV

J Trop Pediatr, 1998 02;44(1):10-4.

PMID: 9538599 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/44.1.10

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media, with the highest incidence among young children and the elderly. S. pneumoniae was once routinely susceptible to penicillin, but since the mid-1980s the incidence of resistance to penicillin and other antimicrobial agents has been increasing all over the world. To optimize empirical regimens and initial therapy for S. pneumoniae infections, clinical healthcare providers must be informed about the prevalence and pattern of drug resistance among the isolates in their communities. No such data are available for the Malaysian population. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of S. pneumoniae among colonized pre-school children in Kota Bharu, Malaysia. Pharyngeal swabs were collected from children 1 month to 6 years of age. S. pneumoniae isolates were identified according to the standard and tested for penicillin resistance with a 1-microgram oxacillin disk by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion methods. Of 355 nasopharyngeal specimens obtained from kindergarten students, in-patients and pediatric clinics over a period of 1 year, S. pneumoniae was isolated from 36 (10 per cent). All isolates, except one, were susceptible to penicillin. The resistant isolates was susceptible to erythromycin, chloramphenicol and cephalosporins.
Study site: kindergarten, schools, pediatric outpatients clinics, and in-patient wards of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan, Malaysia.

Human rotavirus infection in Malaysia. II. A study on the influence of living standard on the prevalence of rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis in children hospitalized with diarrhoea

Yap KL, Sabil D, Muthu PA

J Trop Pediatr, 1984 10;30(5):269-71.

PMID: 6512912 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/30.5.269

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