INTRODUCTION: The trend of childhood obesity is on the rise and hence leading towards the increase in obesity related complications. Early recognition of obesity in children and accurate parental perception of the status of the weight of their children is vital. Furthermore, identification of sociodemographic risk factors contributing to obesity is crucial in order to identify children who are in the risk group and thus prevent potential complications. This study is aimed to establish the parental perception of the status of the weight of their children. Secondly, the study also to identify the sociodemographic risk factors associated with obesity in children.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 245 children from 5 to 12 years of age. Following informed consent, the children were classified into either normal (body mass index (BMI) >5th to <85th percentile), overweight (BMI >85th to <95th percentile) or obese (BMI >95th percentile) groups. Parents responded to questionnaires which assessed their perception and sociodemographic factors.
RESULTS: A total of 157 participants (64.1%) had normal BMI while 41(16.7%) were overweight and 47(19.2%) were obese. More parents of overweight and obese group had misperceptions of their children's weight status (p=0.001). Families with higher household income, children with higher birth weight, higher education of mothers and family history of obesity and type 2 diabetes had increased risk of higher BMI among their children (p=0.029, p=0.013, p=0.041 and p=0.001 respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: Most parents of either overweight or obese children had inaccurate perception of the status of weight of their children. Higher household income, birth weight and education level of the mothers as well as history of diabetes and obesity in the family are associated with increased risk of childhood obesity.
INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common bacterial infection affecting children and therefore, prompt recognition and accurate antimicrobial management are vital to prevent kidney damage. This study aims to determine the bacterial pathogens and their patterns of antimicrobial resistance in children presenting with UTI.
METHODS: A retrospective study of 721 cases, involving children between the ages of 1-day old to 13 years old with culture-proven UTI in Selayang Hospital, Malaysia between January 2007 and December 2011. The bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance patterns in the total population, prophylaxis and no prophylaxis groups were studied.
RESULTS: The 3 most common organisms isolated in the total population were E.Coli (41.6%), Klebsiella spp. (21.2%) and Enterococcus spp. (11.0%). With regards to the antibiotic resistance, E.Coli resistance rates to ampicillin, cefuroxime and gentamicin were 67.7%, 15.3% and 7.3% respectively. Ampicillin-resistance was also highest in Klebsiella spp. (84.3%), Enterococcus spp. (15.5%) and Proteus spp. (55.5%).
CONCLUSION: E.coli remains to be the leading bacterial pathogen causing UTI in children, with ampicillin-resistance occurring in more than half of these cases. Therefore, accurate choice of antibiotics is important to ensure optimal outcome. In our study, cefuroxime and gentamicin have lower antibiotic resistance rates and can be used in the treatment of UTI in children.