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Biomedical subjects

W Varavithya

Publications and source records attributed to W Varavithya.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The role of parents and medical auxiliaries in oral rehydration in Thailand.

Parents and medical auxiliaries should participate in the oral rehydration programme to reduce diarrhoeal diseases mortality. Integration of this programme into the national health programme will require a system of education and training that can reach everyone involved in the delivery of health care. A pilot study carried out at a province in northeast of Thailand showed that only 0.6% of diarrhoeal cases had to be referred for treatment to the provincial hospital. The benefit of oral rehydration at periphery by local health officers could be appreciated by the reduction in admission of diarrhoeal cases to the provincial hospital and significant reduction of mortality rate. The role of parents and medical auxiliaries in practice and promotion of oral rehydration is the key to the success of control of diarrhoeal diseases in the context of primary health care.

Acute Disease↗

Clinical profile of diarrhoea at Ramathibodi Hospital during 1977.

Restrospective clinical profile of diarrhoeal disease in children admitted to the Pediatric Department, Ramathibodi Hospital during January to December 1977 was studied. A total of 144 medical records (55.6%) could be analysed; Rectal swab culture yielded enteropathogenic organisms in 47.2% of the cases consisting of 26.3% Salmonella, 16.0% sero typing positive E. coli and 3.5% Shigella. Clinical presentation of each group was presented which with the exception of neurological symptoms was in concordant with previous observations of several authors. Convulsion was more frequent in the Salmonella group, although dehydration and frebuency of stools were less severe. These cases seem to be highly infectious and tend to be more chronic with recurrences. It could be seen in all age group. Shigella was seen in infants 6 months old and older. Isolation of Rota-virus was not done, in none specific diarrhoeal groups (52.8%) many of which might have been due to Rota-virus. White blood count and differential count were of little value in differential diagnosis of the aetiology. Stool examination was helpful especially in Shigellosis and E. coli but there were no characteristic findings in Salmonella and non-specific groups. The overall mortality rate was 4.1%.

Child↗

Zinc status in normal Thai infants and children.

Serum zinc levels in Thai infants and children from newborn to 14 years were studied. Data showed that serum zinc levels of infants were significantly lower than that of children (P less than 0.0005) although serum zinc levels in infants were low. They appeared to have normal growth and development. Beyond one year of age serum zinc levels increased with increasing age and there was no reduction in serum zinc level in pubertal subjects. Serum retinol binding protein was also studied. It was found to be low at birth and started to increased in the age of 1--5 months, the relationship between serum zinc and serum RBP was not apparent either in the younger age groups or in adult population.

Adolescent↗

Lactose malabsorption in Thai infants and children: effect of prolonged milk feeding.

More than one-third of Thai infants were lactose malabsorbers soon after birth and the percentage of lactose malabsorption increased with age. Beyond 4 years of age, all Thai children studied were lactose malabsorbers. Continued milk supplementation over the study period did not affect the ability to digest lactose in the amount given in the load test. Since the milk-supplemented group of children tended to have better weight gain and few undesirable gastrointestinal symptoms, it seems milk feedings can be used to advantage even among populations with a record of high lactose intolerance.

Animals↗