Objective: To study the serum sodium levels in patients of lower respiratory tract infections admitted in the paediatric intensive care unit with their prognosis. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from Jan to Jun 2018. Methodology: Eighty patients suffering from lower respiratory tract infections who were admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit were selected at consecutive sampling. The outcome was recorded in the form of discharge or mortality. Serum sodium was done at the time of admission and then periodically after every 24-48 hours. The Association of patients’ serum sodium with their prognosis was studied using chi-square test and p-value was calculated. Results: A total of 80 patients were enrolled in our study out of which 50 (62.50%) were males and 30 (37.50%) were females. Out of the total, 48 patients suffered from hyponatremia. These 48 patients had a mean serum sodium concentration of 131.24 ± 3.31 mEq/L. The mean age of patients suffering from hyponatremia was 5.78 ± 3.4 years. Mortality occurred in 5 (80.12%) of patients suffering from severe hyponatremia. Conclusion: There was a significant association of hyponatremia with mortality in children admitted in paediatric intensive care settings with lower respiratory tract infections. Therefore, proper management hence correction of serum sodium levels can improve survival in, particularly children admitted in a pediatric intensive care setting.

Objective: To find out the electrocardiographic changes among beta thalassemia major patients as the marker of cardiac complications at later stages of life. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi from Jul 2018 to Dec 2018. Methodology: One hundred and thirty patients of age 5-20 years with beta thalassemia major were included in the study. Patients were attending the thalassemia centre regularly. Results: Out of total 130 patients, 70 (53.84%) were males and 60 (46.15%) were females. Out of 81 (56.92%) patients showed at least one electrocardiographic change while 49 (37.69%) patients showed normal electrocardiography. Remarkable electrocardiographic changes were sinus tachycardia, arrhythmias, T-wave inversions, long QTc interval and sinus bradycardia. There was statistically significant association in the increased serum ferritin levels, electrocardiographic changes, number of blood transfusions and occurrence of ECG changes (p<0.05). Conclusion: Regular electrocardiographic monitoring has significant role in cardiac evaluation of beta thalassemia major patients as an indicator of evolving cardiac complications that can arise from iron overload secondary to multiple blood transfusions.