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 ..........

Background: Malnutrition accounts for about 35% of under-five mortality, of which 4.4% is specifically because of severe wasting. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in malnourished children ranges from 31% to 61%. Addition of high dose vitamin D supplementation in children with severe acute malnutrition would be effective in elevating serum vitamin D concentration and thus improve weight gain. The association of vitamin D and malnutrition is well recognized but data are scarce. Objectives: To see the effect of vitamin D in the treatment of severe acute malnourished children. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial study was conducted among children 6 months to 5 years old with a diagnosis of SAM in the pediatric ward of Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital in Bangladesh from July 2018 to January 2020.Sample was collected through simple random sampling then randomized into two groups by lottery method. Finally, 50 patients were included in the study, among them 25 patients received 6 lac IU vitamin D orally in day 1 in addition to the standard treatment of SAM and the other 25 patients received only the standard treatment of SAM. Demographic data and other related information regarding clinical feature, laboratory feature, outcome variables were recorded and anthropometric measurement and Z-scoring was done to assess malnutrition. Collected data was checked manually and analyzed by computer-based program SPSS for Windows (version 20.0). Outcomes were: Length of hospital stay and average weight gain between the two groups. Comparison of parameters among the group were done by unpaired t-test and chi-square test. Results: There were no statistically significant difference in length of hospital stay (16.24 ±3.29 versus 15.34±2.64) days, p=0.291 but there was statistically significant difference in average weight gain (9.08±2.99 versus 7.52±2.06) gm/kg/day, p=0.037 and wasting (weight for height z score) improved significantly on follow ups (p=0.241 on first, p=0.039 on 2nd, p=0.009 on 3rd and p=<0.001 on 4th follow up). Conclusions: Vitamin D supplementation causes significant weight gain in children with severe acute malnutrition.

Background: Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is a common problem in children. Mostly it is functional, but due to recent advanced diagnostic technologies more organic causes are identifying. Among the organic causes Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is common, especially in developing countries. Early detection and treatment of this infection may prevent some serious gastrointestinal problems in later age. Objective: To evaluate the frequency of H. pylori infection as a cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among the children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in the pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition Department of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute in Bangladesh from January 2019 to December 2020. A total of 70 patients were included in the study. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters were recorded in a standard data sheet. All the participants underwent to upper GI endoscopy and gastric biopsy were taken in all the patients. Rapid urease test and histopathology of gastric biopsy samples were done to confirm H. pylori infection. Collected data were checked manually and analyzed by SPSS version 22.0. Association of parameters with infection were done by unpaired t-test, chi-square test and fisher’s exact test. Results: Helicobacter pylori infection in children with RAP was 35.7%. Mean age of the infected children was 9.49±2.47 years with male (52%) predominance. There was significant association of infection with lower socioeconomic class (p=0.003). Patients with RAP for>6 months’ duration were significantly associated with infection (p=0.003). Family size and source of drinking water had no effect on results. Most of the RAP patients with positive infection had poor growth (p=0.003). Pallor, abdominal tenderness or vomiting were not significantly associated clinical manifestations of H. pylori infection. Conclusions: Helicobacter pylori infection is ....