Prevalence and Correlates of Overweight and Obesity among School Children in Sohag, Egypt

Background: Continually rising prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents is a major public health concern. This is due to its various and serious health hazards on one side and its preventable nature on the other side. This study aims at identification of prevalence of overweight and obesity and its risk factors among children between 6 - 14 years of age in Sohag, Egypt. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted on 711 school children between 6 - 14 years in four months’ period from February to May 2016. Weight and height of the studied children were measured to calculate BMI, which was compared with standard Egyptian growth charts for determining overweight and obesity. Then a questionnaire containing data about socio demographic, parental obesity, early life and dietary risk factors was completed by the children’s parents. Result: Out of 711 studied children, 117 (16.5%) were overweight and 104 (14.6%) were obese. Residing in urban area, having an obese parent or both of them, low level of maternal education, being on formula feeding during early life and lack of fresh vegetables and fruits in diets were significant risk factors for overweight and obesity in the studied children (P value < 0.05). Conclusion: Improperly educated mothers together with sedentary life style manifested in obesity among the parents and lack of sport practice among children constituted the majors risk factors for childhood obesity. This emphasizes the need for increased health awareness of the community about the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome among Medical and Non-Medical Northern Border University Students, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Across Sectional Study

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID), characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort and alteration in bowel habits. Aim of the study: To determine the overall prevalence, prevalence of each type and risk factors of IBS among Northern Border University (NBU) students, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Material and methods: We use cross sectional, descriptive study with multistage cluster probability sample. Using Rome III criteria questionnaire of IBS;which is a self-administrated consists of ten questions assessing the current status of an apparently normal person. The questionnaire is administrated to Northern Border University students. Results: A total of 228 University students of them, 94 (41.2%) males and 134 (58.8%) females were included in the study. The overall prevalence of IBS according to Rome III criteria in northern border University was (32.5%). The disease prevalence was 33.6% in females and 30.9% in males. Among the study participants, the most common type of IBS was the mixed one 12.7%, followed by the constipation predominant type 10.5%, then the diarrhea pre-dominant type 5.7% while the least common was unsubtyped cases (3.5%). Statistically significant increase in prevalence of this disease was found among female students (60.8% vs. 39.2% in males) (p-value < 0.05), the students who experienced psychic stress and irritability (79.7%) (p-value < 0.05) and students who were obese (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study concluded the prevalence rate of 32.5% for IBS among the students studying in Northern Border University. Stress and high body mass index were significantly associated with IBS. In addition, this study concluded that IBS was not significantly associated with socio-demographic characteristics and smoking.

Acute diseases:An epidemiologic perspective

Many underdeveloped countries still struggle with the public health issue of acute illnesses,especially with the emergence of injuries as a major category of acute diseases.Control of the acute disease is challenging particularly when it occurs as an outbreak,either in isolation or as part of a wider epidemic.This narrative review summarizes the definition,epidemiologic transition,pattern and modes of spread,classification,epidemiologic measures,community burden,prevention,control,and future challenges of acute disease.This review is to provide a reference for epidemiologists,clinicians,researchers,and policymakers.

Health problems among street children seeking care in the Center for Social and Preventive Medicine in Egypt

Background:In Egypt,around 1 million children are on the streets.Street children's health is an issue that is not well researched.The objective of the current study was to determine the health problems of a targeted group of street children seeking medical care and to generate a hypothesis about the positive/negative role of street children care organizations.Methods:A cross-sectional study was done on 2169 street children who sought medical care at El-Basma clinic at the Center for Social and Preventive Medicine in Cairo University Children Hospital from January 2011 to July 2014.Results:Respiratory illnesses and skin problems were the most prevalent conditions,affecting 485 (22.4%) and 359 (16.6%) of the patients,respectively.Psychological issues and trauma were significantly higher among the adolescent group.Respiratory and gastrointestinal problems were significantly higher among children aged less than 2 years.Genital and cardiac problems were significantly higher among those referred from organizations whereas trauma was significantly higher among those coming directly from the streets.A significant proportion of children at the extremes of the studied age spectrum were coming directly from the streets.Sexually transmitted infections were rare problems.Conclusions:Respiratory and skin diseases were the major morbidity problems among street children,especially adolescent males.Organizations afforded opportunities for access to different health care services.

宫颈活检的数目和阴道镜检查的敏感性

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence that type of medical training and number of biopsies have on sensitivity of colposcopically guided biopsies. METHODS: Among 408 women with an adequate enrollment colposcopy and a diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3 or cancer (CIN 3+ ) over 2 years in the Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance/Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (ASCUS-LSIL) Triage Study, we evaluated factors influencing the sensitivity of the enrollment colposcopic procedure. We used contingency table analysis to examine confounding variables and χ 2 tests to ascertain statistical significance. RESULTS: Overall, 69.9% of women with a cumulative diagnosis of CIN 3+ had a “ true-positive” enrollment colposcopically guided biopsy result of CIN 2 or worse (CIN 2+ ), the threshold that would trigger excisional therapy. The sensitivity of the procedure did not vary significantly by type of colposcopist. However, the sensitivity was significantly greater when the colposcopists took two or more biopsies instead of one (P < .01), a pattern observed across all types of colposcopists. Independent of the severity of the colposcopic impression, the frequency with which colposcopists took two or more biopsies instead of one varied (in descending order) from nurse practitioners to general gynecologists to gynecologic oncology fellows to gynecologic oncologists (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Colposcopy with guided biopsy or biopsies detects approximately two thirds of CIN 3+ . Although the sensitivity of the procedure does not differ significantly by type of medical training, it is greater when two or more biopsies are taken.

Drug Abuse in Zagazig University Students, Egypt: Cross Sectional Study, 2018

Background: Drug addiction is a major public health and socioeconomic problem worldwide that annoys the Egyptian government, as it deals with youth within the age of productivity. Aim of the Work: To determine the prevalence of drug abuse among Zagazig University students. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted on 750 students in Zagazig University from the beginning of November 2015 to the end of November 2016, after an informed verbal consent. Data were collected through a self-administrated questionnaire and the results of screening urine samples. Results: The prevalence of drug abuse in general was 7.41%. The prevalence of drug abuse in descending order was tetrahydrocannabinol (3.9%) followed by tramadol (1.9%) then benzodiazepines (0.67%), while, opium and barbiturates each one of them (0.47%). 18% of them were Polydrug users and were only males. Tramadol was the commonest drug to use in polydrug users. The prevalence of smoking was 16.81% and strongly related to gender as in males 26.1% were current smokers while in females only 1.4%. The prevalence of abusing alcohols was 6%, and all of them were males. Conclusion: The prevalence of drug abuse in Zagazig university students is considered high and a very serious problem damaging the youth and the community. Recommendation: Future longitudinal studies should be conducted to investigate the risk factors of drug abuse and suggest the use of urine analysis for drugs of abuse for all students before joining the university.