Background Hepatitis A is the most common form of acute viral hepatitis in developing countries. In children < 6 years of age, most infections are asymptomatic, and if illness does occur, it is usually anicteric. This study aimed to determine the frequency of HAV in Egyptian children under 5 years presenting with gastroenteritis-like manifestations and to associate the frequency of HAV with social, demographic, and various risk factors. Results Among 450 children aged from 6 months to 5 years of both sexes, presenting with gastroenteritis-like manifestations and anicteric hepatitis, 200/450 children had elevated transaminases (ALT, AST) and were recruited in the study. A total number of 24 (12%) out of 200 children were found to have HAV IgM antibodies. Lower maternal and paternal education, poor sanitary and hygienic conditions, crowding, contaminated water, and lack of sanitary facilities were significantly higher in HAV-positive group (p-value < 0.05). ALT and AST were significantly higher in HAV IgM-positive group (p-value < 0.01). Conclusion HAV infection is common in Egyptian children with gastroenteritis-like manifestations and anicteric hepatitis. Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease.

Background: Prompt management of respiratory distress (RD) among neonates is lifesaving. Electric cardiometry (EC) is not suitable for diagnosis, but its value in monitoring changes in cardiac parameters over time is in need of verification. Aim of the Work:To study EC hemodynamic parameters predictive ability of outcome in fullterm newborns with RD. Materials and Methods: using electric cardiometry (EC) hemodynamic parameters were studied among 30 full term neonates with RD within the first 10 minutes of life and 2 hours later compared to another 30 without RD. The studied parameters were heart rate variability (HRV), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV), stroke index (SI), thoracic fluid content (TFC), stroke volume variation (SVV), index of contractility (ICON), left ventricular (LV) pre-ejection period (PEP), ejection time (ET), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Results: The mean ± SD gestational age of the studied group was 38.20 ± 1.19 weeks, weight was 3.03 ± 0.51 kilogram, females were 15 (50%), and males were 15 (50%) which was comparable to the control group (p=0.584), (p=0.284) and (p=0.436) respectively. The mean Apgar score was less among the RD group; at one minute it was 6 and at 5 minutes was 8 (p=0.0001) and (p=0.002). Initial HRV, CO, CI, SV, SI, TFC, SVV, ICON, LV, PEP, ET, and SVR were not different among both groups but there was a significant decrease in CI (p=0.033), HRV (p=0.030), SI (p = 0.017), and SV (p= 0.016) in the RD group after 2 hours. Those with RD, 20 (66.6%) improved and 10 (33.3%) were admitted to the neonatal intensive unit. Both groups with RD had comparable HRV, CI, CO, SV, SI, TFC, SVV, PEP, ICON, LVET, or SVR in initial and the 2 hour of life assessment (p= 0.860), (p= 0.071), (p= 0.932), (p= 0.260), (p= 0.548), (p= 0.338), (p= 0.744), (p= 0.488), (p= 0.392), (p= 0.983), (p= 0.066) respectively. Conclusion: Hemodynamic parameters assessed by electric cardiometry of full term neonates within 10 minutes of birth was not different among those with RD and those without. Electric cardiometry at 2 hours of life of those with RD was not predictive of outcome.