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Background: Paraphenylene diamine (commonly known as Kala Pathar in Pakistan) poisoning is a common presentation in adults as well as pediatric patients in Southern Punjab. The study was carried out to assess paraphenylene diamine poisoning in pediatric cases. Patients and methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out at Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur. All the pediatric cases (<15 years age) of paraphenylene diamine poisoning reported during April 2021 to April 2022. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS. Results: Total 84 children presented at pediatric department of the hospital. Out of these, 43 (51.2%) were males and 41 (48.8%) were females. Age range was between 02 months and 15 years, mean age being 9.4 + 4.49 years. Majority of cases (46.6%) ingested paraphenylene diamine accidentally, followed by suicidal intention (29.8%), homicidal intent (21.4%) and unknown motive in 2.4% cases. Of all, 49 (58.3%) died of poisoning and 35 (41.7%) survived. Of all the cases, 44 (52.4%) underwent emergency tracheostomy. Conclusions: Paraphenylene diamine poisoning in children is an alarming trend. Although majority of the cases ingested it accidently but intake due to suicidal or homicidal reason were also high. Positive outcome was associated with higher age, carrying out early tracheostomy and mode of poisoning (homicidal cases had poorest outcome whereas accidental and suicidal pediatric cases had more chances of survival).

Objective: To determine the association of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) with febrile seizures (FS). Study Design: Case Control study. Setting: Department of Pediatric Medicine, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. Period: January 2022 to July 2022. Material & Methods: A total of 30 children of both genders of age 1 to 5 years with febrile seizure and 30 children in control group (febrile without seizures) were included. Three ml blood sample of each patient was taken as sent to the institutional laboratory for assessment of iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin < 11.5 g/dl). Association of IDA with FS was calculated. Results: Out of 60 patients, 28 (46.7%) were boys and 32 (53.3%) girls with boy to girl ratio of 1:1.1. The mean age in case group was 2.93 ± 1.23 years and in control group was 3.0 ± 1.31 years. Majority of the patients 39 (65.0%) were between 1 to 3 years of age. Frequency of IDA in case group (febrile seizure group) was found in 11 (36.7%) while in control group (febrile disease without seizures) it was found in 4 (13.3%) children (p=0.037, odds ratio=3.76).

Objective: To determine the frequency of rickets among children ≤ 5 years of age presenting with poor growth visiting a tertiary care facility. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Pediatric Unit-2, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. Period: July 2021 to January 2022. Material & Methods: A total of 261 patients with poor growth and ≤5 years of either gender were included. A written consent was taken from the parents/guardian of all study participants after explaining them the nature of this study. All demographic data along with outcome variable (frequency of rickets) was noted on a predesigned proforma. Results: Mean age was 3.34 ± 1.41 years. Majority of the patients 136 (52.11%) were between 4 to 5 years of age. Out of the 261 patients, 153 (58.62%) were male and 108 (41.38%) were females with male to female ratio of 1.4:1. Mean sunlight exposure time was 25.67 ± 11.72 minutes/day. Mean age of start of weaning was 8.13 ± 4.33 months. Frequency of rickets among children ≤ 5 years of age presenting with poor growth was found in 18 (6.9%) patients. Conclusion: The frequency of rickets among children ≤ 5 years of age presenting with poor growth was high (6.9%).

Objective: To know the status of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in children admitted in Pediatric ward of Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur. Study design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and duration of study: Pediatric unit-1 Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur over a period of 2 months and 15 days. Material and methods: This study was conducted over 500 children admitted in children ward-1 of Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur. Children of 1-15 years of age were included in the study. The blood samples of these children were taken at the time of admission and serum was tested for HCV with ICT method and later on confirmed by ELISA. Children having HCV infection were tested for SGPT level. Different risk factors for transmission of HCV infection were also studied. Results: Out of 500 children 43 were HCV positive by ICT method. Out of these 43 ICT positive children 38 were confirmed by ELISA. In this way 7.6% children were found positive for HCV. In 23 cases (60.5%) SGPT was raised (>40). Statistically significant risk factors for transmission of HCV infection found in this study were past history of blood transfusion and history of injections in past. Conclusions: HCV infection is quite common in children. Safe blood transfusions and use of disposable and sterilized syringes is important for prevention of this infection.