Objective: Intravenous labetalol and hydralazine are both considered first-line medications for the management of acute-onset, severe hypertension in pregnant and postpartum women. The study compared the efficacy and ...Objective: Intravenous labetalol and hydralazine are both considered first-line medications for the management of acute-onset, severe hypertension in pregnant and postpartum women. The study compared the efficacy and safety profile of intravenous labetalol and hydralazine in the control hypertension in severe pre-eclampsia. Materials and Methods: One hundred patients who presented with severe pre-eclampsia were randomized into two study groups. The fifty patients in each arm of the study received either intravenous labetalol or intravenous hydralazine for the control of blood pressure. Results: The mean age of the labetalol subjects was 28.6 ± 5.47 years while that of their hydralazine counterparts was 29.12 ± 5.77 years. The majority of respondents in both groups were primigravidae (76% vs. 78%) (P = 0.813). The number of doses of drug needed to significantly lower the mean systolic blood pressure was slightly lower in the labetalol group (2 doses) compared to the hydralazine group (5 doses) (t = 0.803<sup>Y</sup>, P = 0.977). The incidence of headaches which were the commonest complaints was comparable in both groups 8% and 10% of respondents respectively (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Although both intravenous labetalol and hydralazine are useful in patients with severe pre-eclampsia, the response to labetalol was better with comparable side effects.展开更多
Background: Significant iron deficiency anaemia is a major concern in children with helminthiasis, because it may eventually contribute to the growing health challenges of severe anaemia This descriptive cross section...Background: Significant iron deficiency anaemia is a major concern in children with helminthiasis, because it may eventually contribute to the growing health challenges of severe anaemia This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out to determine the association between serum ferritin levels and intestinal helminthiasis among school children. Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to collect the study population data. Stool specimens were obtained and examined on the same day using the sedimentation method for identification of the parasite. Blood samples were also obtained for full blood count and serum ferritin measurement. Results: A total of 246 school children were studied with a response rate of 82%. The prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis was 29.7%. The different helminthes identified included Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis. Of the population studied, 36.2% were anaemic, 15.9% had microcytosis, and 47.6% had hypochromia. The prevalence of ex-hausted iron stores was 3.7%. Serum ferritin levels were significantly lower in children with intestinal helminthiasis compared with controls. Conclusions: The findings in this study demonstrate an inverse re-lationship between intestinal helminthiasis and serum ferritin levels and this is more marked in pupils with hookworm infections. The control of intestinal hel-minthiasis and prevention of iron deficiency anaemia should be given high priority in the implementation of the school health programme.展开更多
文摘Objective: Intravenous labetalol and hydralazine are both considered first-line medications for the management of acute-onset, severe hypertension in pregnant and postpartum women. The study compared the efficacy and safety profile of intravenous labetalol and hydralazine in the control hypertension in severe pre-eclampsia. Materials and Methods: One hundred patients who presented with severe pre-eclampsia were randomized into two study groups. The fifty patients in each arm of the study received either intravenous labetalol or intravenous hydralazine for the control of blood pressure. Results: The mean age of the labetalol subjects was 28.6 ± 5.47 years while that of their hydralazine counterparts was 29.12 ± 5.77 years. The majority of respondents in both groups were primigravidae (76% vs. 78%) (P = 0.813). The number of doses of drug needed to significantly lower the mean systolic blood pressure was slightly lower in the labetalol group (2 doses) compared to the hydralazine group (5 doses) (t = 0.803<sup>Y</sup>, P = 0.977). The incidence of headaches which were the commonest complaints was comparable in both groups 8% and 10% of respondents respectively (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Although both intravenous labetalol and hydralazine are useful in patients with severe pre-eclampsia, the response to labetalol was better with comparable side effects.
文摘Background: Significant iron deficiency anaemia is a major concern in children with helminthiasis, because it may eventually contribute to the growing health challenges of severe anaemia This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out to determine the association between serum ferritin levels and intestinal helminthiasis among school children. Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to collect the study population data. Stool specimens were obtained and examined on the same day using the sedimentation method for identification of the parasite. Blood samples were also obtained for full blood count and serum ferritin measurement. Results: A total of 246 school children were studied with a response rate of 82%. The prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis was 29.7%. The different helminthes identified included Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis. Of the population studied, 36.2% were anaemic, 15.9% had microcytosis, and 47.6% had hypochromia. The prevalence of ex-hausted iron stores was 3.7%. Serum ferritin levels were significantly lower in children with intestinal helminthiasis compared with controls. Conclusions: The findings in this study demonstrate an inverse re-lationship between intestinal helminthiasis and serum ferritin levels and this is more marked in pupils with hookworm infections. The control of intestinal hel-minthiasis and prevention of iron deficiency anaemia should be given high priority in the implementation of the school health programme.
