Out of 1,000 children (aged 3-12 years) screened in a paediatric outpatient department over a 3 1/2-year period, 112 were found to have attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH). The prevalence of ADDH increased with age, from 5.2% in those aged 3-4 years, up to 29.2% in those aged 11-12 years. There were four times as many boys as girls with ADDH. ADDH was most common in first born children and those from a lower social class. Children with ADDH had a higher rate of complications during pregnancy and delivery relative to a comparison group. Delayed development, temper-tantrums, enuresis, tics, broken homes, persistent parental discord and psychiatric illness in parents were all more common in children with ADDH than in the comparison group.

To determine the intellectual, psycho-educational and functional status of low birth weight (LBW) survivors (birth weight < or = 2000 gms) beyond 5 years of age and to compare their status with normal birth weight counterparts. This was cross-sectional study. On hospital based cohort on longitudinal follow-up at the High Risk and Well Baby Clinics of a teaching hospital. The demographic data of these children was recorded. A detailed physical examination was performed. The tests of cognition included the Stanford Binet and the Raven's Progressive Matrices. Academic achievement was evaluated by the Wide range achievement test-Revised (WRAT-R). Assessment of visuo motor integration was done by the Bender Gestalt Test. The proportion of children having soft neurological signs was determined. Vineland Social Maturity Scale was performed on all children. Fifty-nine LBW children and fifty-seven matched control children participated in the study. 27 of LBW children were examined at a mean age of 7.0 +/- 1.1 years (group I) and 32 were examined at a mean age of 10.6 +/- 1.2 years (group II). The LBW children as a group performed in the normal range on the tests of cognition and academic achievement, but were significantly disadvantaged (p < 0.005) as compared to controls. A higher percentage of LBW children had low scores on the Bender Gestalt. Test as compared to controls but the difference was not significant. A significantly higher proportion of LBW children of both the groups showed the presence of soft neurological signs as compared to controls. The social quotient as assessed by the vineland Social Maturity Scale was significantly lower in the LBW children as compared to controls. Thus, though the LBW children were performing in the normal range on various measures, comparison with the control group showed that they were clearly disadvantaged on nearly every measure tested, emphasizing the need for early detection and referral for special education.

Of a total of 800 children (aged 3-12 years) attending a pediatric outpatient department, 182 (22.8%) were found to be having temper tantrums (mean age, 4.7 years). Temper tantrums were found to be most common at 3-5 years (75.3%), less common at 6-8 years (20.8%), and least common at 9-12 years (3.9%). Children aged 3-5 years were more likely to be of a lower social class (p less than 0.01), whereas in other age groups (6-8 years and 9-12 years) children were more likely to be of an upper social class. Boys dominated the study significantly: the ratio of boys to girls was 3.1:1. Boys having temper tantrums were more likely to be of an upper social class (p less than 0.001) compared with girls, who tended to be of a lower social class (p less than .01). Children showed a higher incidence of history of postnatal trauma and seizure disorder compared with the control group (p less than 0.05). Parental overprotection and marital discord were found to be stress factors in a significantly higher number of boys than girls (p less than 0.01); parental negligence was a significant stress factor for girls (p less than 0.01). Associated behavioral problems, such as thumb sucking, enuresis, tics, head banging, sleep disturbances, and hyperkinesis were found to be significantly higher among children with tantrums.