The retrospective data on childhood poisoning from eight regional hospitals in India has been reviewed. The demographic features and types of poisonings encountered have been compared. The analysis of the data indicated that pediatric poisonings constituted 0.23-3.3% of the total poisoning. The mortality ranged from 0.64-11.6% with highest being from Shimla. Accidental poisoning was common involving 50-90% of children below 5 years of age and males outnumbered the females. Suicidal poisoning was seen after 13 years of age and was due to drugs and household chemicals. One of the hospitals in Delhi recorded a very high incidence (66.6%) of drug poisoning in children. The drugs consumed belonged to phenothiazines, antiepileptics and antipyretics. Iron poisoning was seen in younger children. Kerosene was one of the causes of accidental poisoning at all hospitals except Shimla and rural Maharashtra were probably wood charcoal is widely used. Pesticide poisoning was more prevalent in Punjab and West Bengal whereas plant poisoning was very common in Shimla. Significant number of snake envenomation has been recorded from rural Maharashtra. Other less common accidental poisonings in children included alcohol, corrosives, heavy metals, rodenticides, detergents and disinfectants. Thus various regions in the country showed some variation in types and frequency of childhood poisoning which could be attributed to different geographical and socio-economic background.

SUMMARY There is conflicting evidence about the effect of parental consanguinity on fetal growth. Previous studies have not always allowed for other factors that are known to affect birth weight, in particular, gestational age, parity, and maternal height. We have therefore studied this question in the Pakistani Moslem population in Birmingham. Babies born to parents who were first cousins were on average 80 g lighter than those born to unrelated parents, but this difference was not significant for the size of the sample studied. Nor were there any differences in the other measurements of the babies. After expressing birth weight in terms of centiles for gestational age, sex, parity, and maternal height, however, while there was no difference in the overall distribution of centiles, there were more poorly grown babies-that is, weight below the 10th centile-in the first cousin group. We conclude that parental consanguinity is associated with an increase in the number of poorly grown babies but that the overall effect on mean birth weight is small.While some studies have shown that parental consanguinity retards intrauterine growth,' 2 others have not found this effect.3 4 Even in the studies that found a reduction in birth weight, it was not apparent whether the difference in birth weight was explained by differences in gestational age, parity, maternal height, etc, and not all of the studies controlled for all of these factors when comparing birth weight from different types of marriages.In this hospital there have been increasing numbers of births to Pakistani mothers who are Moslems, followers of the Islam faith in which consanguinous marriages, particularly among first cousins, are preferred. In previous studies from this hospital it was suggested that environmental factors, such as the mother's health and nutrition in pregnancy, were more important in affecting intrauterine growth than genetic factors..In view of the conflicting evidence described above about the possible growth retarding effect of parental consanguinity, however, this study was designed to consider the effect of consanguinity on fetal growth after allowing for the major factors that affect intrauterine growth-for example, sex of baby, gestational age, maternal height, and parity. Patients and methodsBabies born to Pakistani mothers between November 1982 and May 1983 at our hospital were studied.The mothers were interviewed after the birth by an Asian interpreter who obtained details of the parental relationship, their place of birth, and obstetric history. Further maternal details were ascertained (by MH or LB) from the obstetric notes. The babies were examined within 48 hours of birth (by either MH or LB): any abnormalities were noted, gestational assessment made (Dubowitz method), and length measured by neonatometer, head circumference with a paper tape measure, and skinfold thickness with Harpenden calipers at the left triceps. The birth weight from the labour ward was recorded as measured by the attendant midwife on a spring balance and...

Serum zinc level in cord blood of 159 neonates was estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The cases were classified according to birth weight and gestation of babies as Term appropriate for date (TAFD), Term small for date (TSFD), Term large for date (TLFD), Preterm appropriate for date (PAFD), Preterm small for date (PSFD) and Preterm large for date (PLFD). The zinc level were also estimated in mothers of these groups at the time of delivery, and compared with cord blood levels of those in non-pregnant mothers. Mean serum zinc level in infant born full term AFD, full term SFD, full term LFD, preterm AFD, preterm SFD and preterm LFD were 79.6 +/- 17.8 micrograms/dl, 58.2 +/- 13.4 micrograms/dl, 84.1 +/- 21.1 micrograms/dl, 81 +/- 25.2 micrograms/dl, 51.2 +/- 51.7 micrograms/dl and 76 +/- 14.7 micrograms/dl respectively. The maternal zinc levels in respective groups were 67 +/- 9.6 micrograms/dl, 56.5 +/- 7.5 micrograms/dl, 63.6 +/- 14.4 micrograms/dl, 62.7 +/- 21.1 micrograms/dl, 54.5 +/- 5.4 micrograms/dl, and 58.2 +/- 2.7 micrograms/dl. The mean serum zinc values in mothers and babies in birth weight group ranging from 1500-2000 gm were 55.3 +/- 4.3 micrograms/dl and 60 +/- 23.1 micrograms/dl, 2001-2500 gm were 59.5 +/- 11.3 and 65.8 +/- 17 micrograms/dl, 2501-3000 gm were 69.2 +/- 9.5 and 84.7 +/- 14 micrograms/dl, 3001-3500 gm were 65.8 +/- 12.7 micrograms/dl, 82.2 +/- 20.8 micrograms/dl and 3501 and above were 70.5 +/- 8.2 micrograms/dl and 85 +/- 14.3 micrograms/dl respectively. Statistically significant low zinc levels were observed in SFD babies and their mothers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Background: Nepalgunj Medical College is a tertiary care centre in western Nepal. This part of Nepal is under privileged with high rate of illiteracy and poverty leading to various morbidities including pediatric problems. This study is carried out as there have not been many studies with this regard especially from this part of the country.Methods: This is a retrospective study done in patients admitted in pediatric ward of Nepalgunj Medical College, Kohalpur, for six months from June to November 2014.Results: Out of 949 patients admitted in Nepalgunj Medical College, Kohalpur, 604 (63.6%) were male and 345(36.4%) were female. Age range 1-5 years had the maximum number of patients 342(36%) of the total hospital admissions. Respiratory tract infections were the most frequent cause of childhood morbidity 266 (28%) followed by central nervous system illness 138 (14.5%) and gastrointestinal system illness 122(12.9%). Mean hospital stay was 4.3 days.Conclusions: Respiratory tract infections were the most frequent cause of childhood morbidity 266(28%) followed by central nervous system illness 138(14.5%) and gastrointestinal system illness 122(12.9%).JNGMC Vol. 12 No. 2 December 2014, Page: 20-23

Two cases of trichobezoar with unusual presentation in rural female children are described. The first one in a healthy asymptomatic child with no abnormal psychological behaviour and other one in an emotionally disturbed child with history of trichotillomania. Both were treated surgically with no recurrence. A physical sign of indentibility is discussed and literature is also reviewed.