Background: Acute rotavirus diarrhea is one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children younger than 5 years. Nitazoxanide, an antiparasitic agent, acts by inhibiting the maturation of rotavirus viral protein 7 thus interferes with viral morphogenesis. Aim of the study: was to evaluate the role of nitazoxanide in the treatment of acute rotavirus diarrhea in 6 months to 2 years aged children. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 2018 to July 2020. A total of 70 children with acute onset diarrhea of <48 hours. duration was included in this study. All the studied patients were divided into two equal groups (group I and group II) by lottery, each comprising 35 children. The groupI represented the study group who received standard treatment of diarrhea plus oral nitazoxanide (15mg/kg/day) twice daily for 3 days and the group II is the control group received standard treatment only. Results: Study demonstrated that maximum number of patients 22 (31.4%) were between 14-17 months of age group and 36% patients came from rural, 64% from urban areas. Study showed before commencement of treatment most of the patients in both groups experienced some dehydration, vomiting, fever, & abdominal distension. At 48 hours’ improvement was observed in both groups, comparatively higher in group I. Difference of some dehydration and vomiting improvement between two groups were statistically significant (p <0.05). After 3 days’ treatment normal stool consistency was found in 24(68.5%) patients in group I & 10 (28.5%) in group II patients. The difference was also statistically significant (p=<0.05). Mean time of resolution of diarrhea 62.5 hours in Group-I and 96.5 hours in group-II. Compared to the group II, group I showed decrease in mean time of resolution of diarrhea (p= 0.001). The mean duration of hospital stay was prolonged in group-II (86.5 hours vs. 102.5 hours in group I & II respectively), the difference was statistically significant (p˂0.05). Conclusion: In the present study, oral nitazoxanide was found effective in the treatment of acute rotavirus diarrhea in 6 months to 2 years old children.

Background: Thalassemia patients who are conventionally treated by regular transfusion regimen are at a risk of acquiring transfusion transmitted infections, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Getting blood transfusion in different places makes them vulnerable to these blood borne infections. It is important to assess and update the prevalence of these infections along with their contributing factors for ensuring optimum preventive measures and further strengthening of the screening program. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in repeatedly transfused thalassemia patients and to determine the risk factors for acquiring these infections. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital& Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period July 2018 to December 2019. Total 73 thalassemia patients of 2 to 18 years were enrolled into the study following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic data and other related information were recorded in a standard data sheet. Hb%, SGPT, HBsAg, Anti-HBs titre, Anti-HCV were done in all patients. Collected data was checked and analyzed by computer based program SPSS version 26.0 for Windows. Results: Out of total 73 thalassemia patients, 44 were male and 29 were female. Mean age was 8.3±3.45 years where maximum number of patients belonged to 6-10 years. 2(2.7%) patients had positive HBsAg and 11(15.1%) had positive Anti-HCV antibody at the end of study. Prevalence of hepatitis B infection was associated with lack of immunization against it which was statistically significant (P<0.001). Hepatitis C virus infection in thalassemia patients was significantly associated with increasing duration of transfusion (P=0.043), frequency of transfusion (P<0.001) and elevated SGPT level (P<0.001). Comparing Anti-HBs titre, it is also found that there was decreased level of immunity against ..........