PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

I T Hay

Publications and source records attributed to I T Hay.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Paraffin ingestion--the problem.

Paraffin ingestion is the commonest cause of accidental childhood poisoning in South Africa. Children from the lower socio-economic group are affected most. They drink paraffin in the summer months from bottles or intermediate containers, mistaking it for water or cold-drink. The children are predominantly male with a mean age of 24 months. The clinical picture is one of respiratory distress with a hospital case fatality rate of 0.74%. The use of paraffin as a source of household energy in South Africa is on the increase. Based on a modernisation index it would seem that this trend will continue into the next century. It can therefore be expected that the number of cases of paraffin ingestion will steadily increase if no active steps are taken to address the problem. Prevention should entail a wide spectrum of measures, the basis of which should be a child-resistant container. An effective durable, low-cost child-resistant container which is easy to pour from should be made available by petroleum companies and/or entrepreneurs and distributed through their network. This should be combined with health education on the danger of paraffin. Health care workers and administrators should be made more aware of the problem and become involved in health education and prevention. Further research should be undertaken on the effect a change in the colour of paraffin and the use of child-resistant caps would have on the incidence of paraffin ingestion in South Africa.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1994

The impact of child-resistant containers on the incidence of paraffin (kerosene) ingestion in children.

The commonest cause of accidental poisoning in the South African black paediatric population is paraffin ingestion. In this intervention study a specifically designed child-resistant container (CRC) was introduced to evaluate whether its use would decrease the incidence of paraffin ingestion. CRCs were distributed to 20,000 households in the study area (Gelukspan district). No CRCs were distributed in the control area (Lehurutshe district). Health education about paraffin poisoning prevention was given in both the control and the study areas. The monthly incidence rates of paraffin ingestion were monitored during the 14-month intervention period after the distribution and were compared with the pre-intervention incidence rates in the study and control areas. The main finding was that the incidence of paraffin ingestion dropped by 47% in the study area during the intervention period. The circumstances surrounding the cases of paraffin ingestion that still occurred in the study and control areas were investigated by means of a questionnaire. We recommend that paraffin be sold in CRCs, and suggestions are made for improving health education to prevent paraffin poisoning.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1991

Diagnosis-related groups--application in a paediatric department.

The Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) system is used in the USA to classify patients on the basis of diagnosis into medically meaningful groups. The system was developed for evaluation of resource utilisation for peer review purposes. It has become better known through being utilised by Medicare, the medical insurance system for the poor in the USA, for prospective determination and payment of patient's hospitalisation costs. A pilot study to compare the costs of hospital care in a sample of the paediatric patient population at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital with the DRG weightings was undertaken to assess its application locally. A poor correlation was found. The costing studies conducted for this purpose were also used to compare resource use between units in the Department of Paediatrics, and substantial unexplained variations were found. It is concluded that the weightings used in the US DRG system cannot be directly applied to the patients at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital for billing purposes. The DRG principle, however, is feasible and has important management benefits; it is recommended that locally determined DRG weightings be developed, and that other hospitals explore their use in peer review of resource management, costing and pricing.

Diagnosis-Related Groups↗
PubMed1990

Schistosomiasis of the spinal cord--underdiagnosed in South Africa?

Schistosomiasis is endemic in many areas of South Africa, particularly the northern and eastern Transvaal. At Ga-Rankuwa Hospital in the northern Transvaal, 30 km north-west of Pretoria, spinal cord disease is common. In a substantial proportion of these cases no obvious cause for the condition can be found. In an attempt to draw attention to schistosomiasis as a possibly underdiagnosed cause of spinal cord disease, 3 cases of schistosomiasis of the spinal cord seen over a period of 3 years are reported. These 3 patients had histological evidence of spinal schistosomiasis. Because myelography of the spinal cord is often non-contributory in schistosomal involvement, it is suggested that patients with 'myelopathy of unknown origin' who come from an endemic area be given a therapeutic trial of praziquantel, especially if the serological findings are positive for schistosomiasis and the lower cord is involved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of the sodium contents of six commonly recommended oral rehydration solutions.

The sodium contents of six differently prepared oral rehydration solutions (ORS) were measured. A total of 452 solutions were prepared in our gastro-enteritis unit. The finger-pinch-and-cup method produced sodium values that were too high and too variable. The most acceptable sodium level was achieved using half a 5 ml medicine teaspoon or 1 level common household teaspoon of salt in 1 litre of water. Half a commonly available household teaspoon of salt caused sodium levels to be low but still acceptable and safe. We recommend that half a teaspoon of salt in 1 litre of water be used when preparing an ORS.

Fluid Therapy↗
PubMed1989

Age and admission weight as predictors of mortality in gastro-enteritis.

The age and weight of 2,095 children admitted to the Ga-Rankuwa Hospital outpatient rehydration unit were analysed with regard to death as an outcome. Age was not a good predictor of death as an outcome. Weight, expressed as a percentage of expected weight for age, was a good predictor of death and should be utilised as an important inpatient admission criterion.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Breast-feeding practices in a private maternity hospital.

An interview questionnaire study of 51 breast-feeding mothers was conducted to assess the stated policy of breast-feeding promotion in a private maternity hospital. A mean period of 20.6 hours elapsed after delivery before initiation of breast-feeding, and 39.9 hours elapsed before rooming-in took place. At least 47.1% of babies received prelacteal feeds, 94.1% were routinely test-weighed, and 56.9% received complementary feeds. A patient-administered questionnaire is proposed to provide hospital management and attendant medical practitioners with essential feedback that could assist them to close the gap between policy and practice.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1986

Hospital information systems--a need to re-evaluate the roles of management.

Hospital information systems are now entering a third generation, not only as regards new technology but more significantly with regard to the role of those involved in their design and implementation. This new emphasis requires a re-evaluation of the roles of the designer and user. In the design of a hospital information system, its unique nature--relating central management to a number of independent clinical specialties--must be recognized. One way to achieve this is the establishment of a minimum basic data set dictated by the specific needs of top management interacting with independent clinical subsystems.

Hospital Administrators↗
PubMed1986

Rotavirus-associated gastro-enteritis at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital. A pilot study.

During 1982 a pilot study was initiated to investigate the prevalence of rotavirus-associated gastro-enteritis among the infants and young children admitted to the Gastro-enteritis Unit at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital. The seasonal parameters of the area were included in the study. From March to December 1982 rectal swabs were randomly collected from 256 of the more than 3 000 admissions to the unit. The swabs were stored at -20 degrees C until assayed in duplicate by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Overall 32.8% of the patients tested were found to have a rotavirus-associated illness with a definite seasonal pattern emerging, which is not in accordance with other data published for the black population in the RSA.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis in black infants in South Africa.

From March 1983 to February 1985, rectal swabs were collected from the black infants admitted to the gastroenteritis unit at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, to investigate the prevalence of rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis. Overall, 23.1% of the patients tested were found to be positive for rotaviral illness; a definite seasonal pattern emerged, showing a marked increase in the number positive during the autumn. Other factors of importance in terms of rotaviral illness included the age distribution of the patients, the presence of vomiting, and duration of illness.

Black People↗
PubMed1984

Acute poisoning with Jatropha curcas (purging nut tree) in children.

During the first 3 months of 1983 8 children were admitted to Ga-Rankuwa Hospital with marked nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea after ingesting the seeds of Jatropha curcas. Five patients needed intravenous rehydration but all made a rapid and uneventful recovery.

Acute Disease↗