Lactoferrin versus iron hydroxide polymaltose complex for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is common among children with cerebral palsy (CP), and studies on the efficacy of lactoferrin (Lf) in the treatment of IDA are limited. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of Lf with that of iron hydroxide polymaltose complex (IPC) in the treatment of IDA in children with CP. This randomized controlled study, conducted at Alexandria University Children's Hospital, enrolled 70 children aged 1-10 years with CP and IDA; 35 children randomly received IPC, whereas the other 35 received Lf. Four children withdrew from the study; thus, only 66 children were analyzed (32 in the IPC group and 34 in the Lf group). At baseline, the hemoglobin level and other blood parameters were similar between the two intervention groups. After four weeks of treatment, both the IPC and Lf groups showed significant improvements in hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin from baseline. Upon comparing the two treatment groups, adjusted mean Hb and SF changes in the Lf group were significantly higher than that of the IPC group (p =0.001and p= 0.033, respectively), and constipation was less likely to occur in the Lf group than the IPC group (p = 0.049 ).Conclusion: Lactoferrin is effective and superior to IPC as an oral iron replacement therapy in children with CP and IDA, as it has fewer side effects. What is Known: • Lactoferrin (LF) is a natural glycoprotein capable of treating iron deficiency anemia (IDA). • Studies on the efficacy of Lf in the treatment of IDA in children with cerebral palsy (CP) are limited. What is New? • This trial compared the efficacy of Lf and iron hydroxide polymaltose complex (IPC) as treatments of IDA in children with CP. • Lf is effective and even better than IPC as a treatment of IDA in children with CP, as it has fewer side effects.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes Towards Children with Epilepsy Among Egyptian Parents: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders affecting children. As a chronic disease, it affects not only the child but also the entire family. The attitudes towards the children suffering from epilepsy and the skills required to deal with acute seizures are influenced by the level of knowledge the parents have about that disease. AIM: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and skills toward epilepsy among parents of children diagnosed with epilepsy in comparison to parents of children without epilepsy. METHOD: Data collected through a structured questionnaire that was designed, translated into Arabic, and analyzed statistically in a cross-sectional study for a total of 534 Egyptian parents as two groups, group I (n = 223) consist of parents with children with epilepsy and group II (n = 311) of parents with children without epilepsy. Parents with children with epilepsy were recruited from the Paediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic of Alexandria University Children's Hospital (AUCH). Parents with children without epilepsy were recruited from other outpatient clinics or wards of AUCH. RESULTS: This study showed a poor knowledge score percentage of (89.7 %) among parents with children with epilepsy and (83.3 %) among parents with children without epilepsy. The difference between both groups was statistically significant with fewer knowledge scores among parents of children with epilepsy. Parents of both groups showed a negative attitude score percentage; (69.5 %) of group I and (62.7 %) of group II. The difference between both groups was statistically significant with a more negative attitude score percentage among parents with children without epilepsy. Parents of both groups had poor practice score percentage of (66.8 %) of group I and (74.3 %) of group II having poor practice skills needed for emergency management of acute seizures. A high level of education was significantly associated with fair knowledge score percentage and positive attitude score percentage. CONCLUSIONS: Poor knowledge, negative attitudes, and poor skills required for the management of acute seizures were found among both parents of children with epilepsy and those with children without epilepsy. Educational programs are needed to eliminate all the misconceptions and myths and to change attitudes of the Egyptian parents towards epilepsy.