Numerous factors are known to affect the academic performance of students. These include prenatal conditions, birth conditions, postnatal events, nutritional, socio-economic factors and environmental factors. This paper examines the nutritional status and its relationship with academic performance of 9-10 years old primary school children recruited randomly in Selangor, Malaysia. A standard self-administered questionnaire was utilized to obtain pertinent information and a face-to-face interview was also conducted with the parents. Results of the academic performances were extracted from the students' report cards. The intellectual performance was assessed using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices. Physical examination was also conducted on these students by doctors. Overall 1,405 students and 1,317 parents responded to the survey. Of these 83.6% were Malays, 11.6% Indians, and 4.2% Chinese. The majority of them (82.9%) were from urban areas. The female: male ratio was 51:49; mean age was 9.71 years. The mean height and weight were 32.3 kg and 135.2 cm respectively. Their mean BMI was 17.42 kg/cm2, with 0.9% underweight, 76.3% normal BMI, 16.3% overweight, and 6.3% obese. Academic performance was significantly correlated with breast feeding, income and educational level of their parents, BMI, and whether they have been taking breakfast. There was a weak correlation between presence of anaemia and intellectual performance. Improving the socio-economic status of the parents will lend a helping hand in the academic performance of the students. Since breast feeding is associated with better academic and intellectual performance it must be emphasized, particularly to expectant mothers in the antenatal clinics.
This paper investigates the nutritional status of a randomly selected cohort of school children and the factors affecting it. This random survey was conducted in the state of Selangor, involving 1,405 primary students (aged 9-10 years from 54 national primary schools). Physical examination was carried out on all the students. Information on the students was also obtained from the parents. Blood samples were taken by using the finger pricking technique. Body mass index (BMI) was used as a measure of physical growth. The students were mainly from urban areas (82.9%). The mean age was 9.71 years and a higher proportion was females (51%). Malays constituted 83.6%, Indians 11.6% and Chinese 4.2% of the study population. The mean weight and height were 32.30 kg and 135.18 cm respectively. The mean BMI was 17.42 kg/m2, with 1.2% of the students underweight, 76.3% normal BMI, 16.3% overweight and 6.3% were obese. Nutritional status was significantly related to blood pressure, history of breast feeding, eating fast food, taking canned/bottled drinks, income and educational level of parents. Significant differences in nutritional status between sexes and locations (rural/urban) were also found. The prevalence of overweight and obese children was of concern. There is thus an urgent need for the School Health Program to periodically monitor the school children's eating habits and physical growth. Appropriate counselling on nutritional intake and physical activities should be given not only to schoolchildren but also to their teachers and parents or caregivers.
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the seroprevalence of acute dengue in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Centre and its correlation with selected haematological and biochemical parameters.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2015. A patient was serologically diagnosed with acute dengue if the dengue virus IgG, IgM or NS-1 antigen was reactive.
RESULTS: Out of 1,774 patients suspected to have acute dengue, 1,153 were serologically diagnosed with the infection, resulting in a seroprevalence of 64.9%. Dengue-positive patients had a lower mean platelet count (89 × 10(9)/L) compared to the dengue-negative patients (171 × 10(9)/L) (p<0.0001). The mean total white cell count was also lower in the dengue-positive cases (4.7 × 10(9)/L vs. 7.2 × 10(9)/L; p<0.0001). The mean haematocrit was higher in patients with acute dengue (42.5% vs. 40.0%; p<0.0001). Likewise, the serum alanine transaminase level was also higher in patients with acute dengue (108 U/L vs. 54 U/L; p<0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS: Dengue is very prevalent in UKM Medical Centre as most patients suspected to have acute dengue had serological evidence of the infection. The platelet count was the single most likely parameter to be abnormal (i.e. low) in patients with acute dengue.
KEYWORDS: DENV; Dengue; IgG; IgM; NS1; Seroprevalence
This study aims to determine the prevalence of and risk factors associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. All premature VLBW infants, admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit of the University Hospital Kuala Lumpur, were screened from 4 weeks of life. Perinatal and neonatal data were retrieved from the infants' medical notes. Between August 1994 and July 1996, 100 infants had their eyes examined serially. Of the 15 (15%) infants with ROP, all were less than 31 weeks gestation, and only 1 infant had birth weight above 1250 g. Five (5%) infants had severe ROP; 4 infants underwent cryotherapy for stage 3 threshold disease. Infants with ROP, as compared to infants without ROP, had lower birth weight [mean (SEM) 993 (50) g versus 1205 (22) g, P < 0.001], lower gestational age [mean (SEM) 28.0 (0.4) weeks versus 30.1 (0.2) weeks, P < 0.001], higher rates of patent ductus arteriosus and chronic lung disease, greater number of radiographic examinations and episodes of late-onset suspected/confirmed sepsis, and required longer duration of supplemental oxygen, ventilation, xanthine, antibiotics and intralipid use, but were slower to establish full enteral feeds. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, birth weight < or = 1000 g [OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.25, 4.55, P = 0.009] and gestational age < or = 28 weeks [OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.47, 5.56, P = 0.002] were significant predictors of increased risk of this disease. In conclusion, ROP is strongly associated with smaller, more immature and sicker neonates. Prevention of prematurity would help reduce the incidence of this disease.
Between January 1984 and December 1994, 30 cases of early neonatal group B streptococcus (GBS) septicaemia were managed in the Neonatal Unit, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Two neonates were outborn and 28 were inborn, giving an average annual incidence of neonatal GBS septicaemia of 0.4/1000 livebirths among inborn babies. In a separate survey over a three-month period, GBS genital carriage rate among 196 parturients was found to be 9.7%. Of the infants with GBS septicaemia, the mean gestational age was 37.5 +/- 3.8 weeks and the mean birthweight was 2540 +/- 716 g. Twelve (40%) were preterm infants and 14 (47%) were low birthweight infants. Male and female infants were almost equally affected. Prolonged rupture of membranes and maternal pyrexia accounted for only 5 (17%) and 3 (10%) of the cases respectively. Twenty-four (80%) neonates had onset of symptoms within 6 hours of life and respiratory symptoms were observed in 24 (80%) of the cases, while meningitis was uncommon. Six (20%) neonates died. Preterm and low birthweight infants had higher mortality than their term counterparts: 42% versus 6% and 36% versus 6% respectively. Of those who died, 4 (67%) required respiratory support right from birth and the mean time of onset of symptoms was 4 hours (range 0 to 21 hours) and the duration of survival was only 28.8 hours (range 12 to 38 hours). As the incidence of neonatal GBS septicaemia was low, mass screening and chemoprophylaxis for GBS were not recommended. All the GBS isolates were sensitive to penicillin and ampicillin, thus one of these antibiotics should be included in the antimicrobial therapy of septic neonates.
Large ovarian cysts in the fetus are uncommon. Ultrasonography has helped in the detection of these cysts antenatally and in the newborn female infant. A case of bilateral ovarian cysts in a newborn is presented. The choice of management between conservative measures and surgical approaches remains controversial.
Despite the numerous changes made in accordance with the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, the low rates of breastfeeding have persisted. This study aims to examine the current trend in infant feeding, and the influences of some perinatal and sociodemographic factors on breastfeeding. Five-hundred mothers with singleton pregnancies and healthy infants were interviewed at 6 weeks post-partum. Only 124 (25 per cent) mothers were practising exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), and 132 (26 per cent) mothers were using exclusive infant formula feeding (EIF). On logistic regression analyses, mothers who followed EBF were more likely to have had antenatal plans to breastfeed (Odds ratio 2.44, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.75-3.45), not in paid employment post-natally (OR 1.76, 95 per cent CI 1.31-2.36), of older age group (> 27 years) (OR 1.48, 95 per cent CI 1.13-1.93), had female infants (OR 1.38, 95 per cent CI 1.05-1.80) and of Indian ethnicity (compared to Chinese) (OR 3.87, 95 per cent CI 2.16-6.89). Breastfeeding difficulties were associated with decreased odds of EBF (OR 0.21, 95 per cent CI 0.13-0.34). Parental education, fathers' ages and incomes, primigravida status, Caesarean section, present of episiotomy, late first breastfeed, phototherapy, and length of hospital stay were not significant predictors of failure of EBF. In comparison, predictive factors for increased use of EIF were mothers who have had breastfeeding difficulties, < or = 9 years of schooling, and of Chinese descent. In conclusions, the overall rate of EBF by 6 weeks of age in infants born in this urban hospital had remained poor. The adverse factors for EBF identified in this study warrant further in-depth studies to determine effective ways of improving EBF rates.
Acute renal cortical necrosis (ACN) is a potentially fatal renal condition. Our objective is to report a case of ACN in a young man who had developed premature atherosclerotic vascular disease and required intermittent hemodialysis support. His renal biopsy showed diffuse cortical necrosis. Subsequently, 2 weeks after the renal insult, he developed a cardioembolic stroke and was anticoagulated with low-molecular-weight heparin. Thrombophilia screen revealed elevated serum homocystein and he was treated with folate supplement and vitamin B12 injection. With these treatments, he had partial renal recovery and became dialysis independent. In conclusion, this is a rare case of ACN, which may have occurred as a complication of hyperhomocysteinemia.
This study was designed to develop language-specific stimuli for the assessment of resonance and to obtain nasalance scores using the newly developed speech stimuli in Mandarin. Gender and age influences on nasalance scores for each of the stimulus were also examined. Participants recruited were typically developing Mandarin-speaking ethnic Chinese children aged 6;00-7;11 growing up in Malaysia. Perceptual ratings of nasality were made based on the GOS.SP.ASS.'98 (revised) for children while nasalance scores were recorded for each stimulus using the Nasometer II (Model 6400). Fifty Mandarin-speaking children (24 males and 26 females) were recruited. None of the participants were perceived with abnormal nasality on the three stimuli. The mean nasalance scores for the Mandarin stimuli were 16.08% (SD = 2.57, 95% CI = 15.35-16.81) for the Oral passage, 25.20% (SD = 3.63, 95% CI = 24.17-26.23) for the Oral-Nasal passage and 55.44% (SD = 4.17, 95% CI = 54.25-56.63) for the Nasal passage. No significant age- and gender-related differences were observed for all the three stimuli. This is the first set of Mandarin stimuli and nasalance norms for Mandarin-speaking children in Malaysia. The influence of phonetic content on nasalance is supported. Findings call for language-specific normative nasalance data and careful selection of stimuli for the assessment of resonance.
Thirty preterm infants weighing > or = 800 g with clinical and radiological evidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) requiring mechanical ventilation with FiO2 of > or = 40% were given modified bovine surfactant (Survanta). They were compared with equal number of historical controls. Infants who received surfactant showed prompt and highly significant improvement in FiO2, mean airway pressure, arterial/alveolar oxygen tension ratio and ventilatory index. There was significant improvement in mortality rate (10% vs 33%; p = 0.03). Among the survivors, surfactant-treated infants required shorter duration of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) (3.4 vs 9.6 days; p = 0.04). For survivors with birthweight of > 1000 g, surfactant-treated infants required shorter duration of ventilatory support (intermittent positive pressure ventilation + CPAP) (7.5 vs 18.9 days, p = 0.02). Overall, surfactant-treated infants achieved full enteral feeds sooner (15.7 days vs 24.6 days; p = 0.03) and required shorter duration of total parenteral nutrition (13.9 days vs 25.6 days; p = 0.02). We concluded that surfactant replacement therapy was effective in the treatment of preterm infants with RDS.
Between February 1990 and May 1993, 13 cases of early congenital syphilis (ECS) were managed in the Paediatrics Unit, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Twelve mothers were unbooked with 10 inborn babies. Only one mother had antenatal booking at this hospital but she defaulted antenatal follow-up. Several risk factors associated with ECS were identified: inadequate or no prenatal care (5/13), failure to repeat a serological test for syphilis in the third trimester when it was tested negative at first booking (5/13), sexual promiscuity, substance abuse and a past history of contracting sexually transmitted disease. All 10 mothers who had their serological test repeated at delivery were found to have a positive VDRL and TPHA. Adequate antenatal care early referral of infected, expectant mothers for treatment, and a repeat serological test for syphilis could have prevented these cases of ECS.
Three cases of neonatal chylous ascites (CCA) were managed in the neonatal unit, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, over the past 9 years. Fetal ascites and polyhydramnios were the sole abnormalities detected in all three babies by antenatal ultrasonography. They were born at 36 weeks' gestation and their birth weights ranged from 3.0 kg to 3.8 kg. All three infants had abdominal distension at birth. Milky ascitic fluid was obtained after starting enteral feedings. Analysis of the ascitic fluid revealed a raised white blood cell count (predominantly lymphocytic) and triglycerides (1.4 - 3.8 mmol/l), cholesterol (1.6 - 2.8 mmol/l), and protein levels (25 - 41 g/l). Conservative management with skimmed milk and medium-chain triglycerides in one infant and Pregestimil in another was instituted. these two infants with CCA were clinically normal when reviewed at 19 months and 3.5 years of age. The third infant had a gut malrotation and associated pyloric septum; he died from complications of a laparotomy. The literature on this rare condition is reviewed.
Most muscular dystrophies manifest as peripheral muscular weakness commencing at various age, however, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare hereditary disorder presenting in middle age with progressive dysphagia and bilateral blepharoptosis rather than peripheral muscular weakness. In the medical literature, OPMD has been well described in Canadians of French descent. So far, there is no publication of OPMD in the Malaysia-Singapore medical literature. This article documents this condition in a Chinese patient. A review of the literature is presented and the management of OPMD is discussed.
A preterm baby was born to a multiparous mother by emergency caesarean section at 36 weeks of gestation. Apart from a depression on the right temporo-parietal region measuring 3 cm x 3 cm x 0.5 cm, no other abnormality was noted. A CT scan of the brain excluded the presence of intracranial haematoma and pressure effect on the brain. Spontaneous reduction of the fracture without any adverse neurological sequelae suggests that these fractures can be managed conservatively in some instances.
Meconium ileus, rare in Malaysia, accounts for 3.7% of all neonatal intestinal obstructions (excluding imperforate anus) seen in the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, from 1980-1990. This paper retrospectively reviews our clinical experience with 5 cases of meconium ileus seen over a 12-year period from 1980-1991 in the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Three of the neonates were Malays, and two were Punjabis. Four of them were full-term and one preterm. The birth weights ranged from 1900 to 3700 g, with a mean of 2670 g. One of them also had a sibling with meconium ileus. Two of them were found to have foetal ascites and one had intestinal obstruction, antenatally by ultrasonography. The remaining two were symptomatic soon after birth. Extensive calcification was observed on plain abdominal radiographs in three babies and dilated bowels in the other two. All of them underwent laparotomy and uncomplicated meconium ileus was confirmed in two cases, meconium peritonitis in two and one meconium pseudocyst in addition to meconium peritonitis. There was one intraoperative death, and one long-term survivor who did not have cystic fibrosis. The remaining three did not have additional features suggestive of cystic fibrosis, and finally succumbed to respiratory infection. Sweat test was not done to confirm the diagnosis for logistic reasons. The management of such patients proved to be a challenge to clinicians because of the rarity of this condition.
A set of twins born to a 24-year-old primigravida had evidence of sepsis 24 to 60 hours after birth and were treated empirically with penicillin and gentamicin. A non-encapsulated H. influenzae biotype IV strain was isolated from the blood cultures of both and from the CSF of twin II. The isolates were beta-lactamase positive and hence showed resistance to ampicillin and therapy was changed to chloramphenicol only. Twin II recovered but Twin I developed a brain abscess in the left occipital region which resolved with extended antibiotic treatment. Although ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae have been reported in Malaysia, invasive disease by such strains are rare.
Congenital chylothorax is rare in preterm infants. While most cases respond to conservative treatment, a few require surgery. Treatment with intravenous octreotide has been reported to have varying success in preterm infants. A fetus was diagnosed with bilateral hydrothoraces at 29 weeks of gestation and repeated thoracocentesis was performed antenatally to allow growth of the lungs. She was delivered electively at 32 weeks by caesarean section. Hydrops fetalis was confirmed and chest tubes were inserted bilaterally soon after birth. Intravenous octreotide was commenced on day 4 of life, titrated to a maximum of 10 μg/kg/hr for a total of 28 days. Hydrothorax resolved at day 30 and total parenteral nutrition was given for a total of 37 days. She was successfully extubated on day 40 of life and discharged on day 80. On review at 6 months of age, she was thriving and developing normally.
Extensive haemangioma with platelet consumption (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome) is rare. The lesion is usually a single cutaneous cavernous haemangioma similar to that found in our patient. Multiple superficial strawberry naevi were also seen all over the rest of the body. This condition was diagnosed antenatally in this patient with the use of colour Doppler. There is one recent report where the thrombocytopaenia was diagnosed by cordocentesis. Unfortunately the baby developed heart failure with intractable coagulopathy and died 2 days later.