Assessing the impact of a regulatory intervention in Pakistan.

In 1990 paediatric formulations of antimotility drugs were deregistered in Pakistan. Although preliminary research data suggests the incidence of paralytic ileus in children suffering from acute diarrhoea has fallen, cases continue to be recorded. A small-scale survey conducted in 1993 to assess the effectiveness of the regulatory intervention conclusively proved that while the deregistered products had been successfully withdrawn from the overwhelming majority of retail outlets, blackmarketing of a paediatric antimotility drug was taking place in one city. The results also indicated that throughout the country the deregistered formulations were being substituted by other irrational therapies, including the misuse of adult formulations. As a regulatory intervention, therefore, deregistration needs to be accompanied by efforts to change patient attitudes and physician prescribing habits.

Meconium aspiration in neonates: combined obstetric and paediatric intervention improves outcome.

All meconium aspiration syndrome cases admitted in the two neonatal units were compared to evaluate the antenatal and natal events including resuscitative measures and outcome of neonates and to confirm the beneficial effects of immediate combined obstetric and paediatric intervention on morbidity and mortality. Neonates managed in nursery at Mayo Hospital (Group 1, n = 44) were delivered at other hospitals and birth centres, underwent resuscitation by obstetricians and/or anaesthetists and then referred. Neonates admitted in the neonatal unit of Lady Willingdon Hospital (Group 2, n = 48) were inborn and resuscitated by paediatric residents. Both groups were comparable for weight, sex, booked status, maturity, history of prolonged labour, fetal distress and Apgar score at 5 minutes. Significant differences were proportion of C-section (62% in Gp 2 v 34% in Gp1), laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation (100% in Gp 2 v 9% in Gp1), time of arrival in the nursery (mean 0.14 hr in Gp 2 v 3.91 hr in Gp 1), persistent cyanosis (43% in Gp 2 v 68% in Gp1), earlier start of feeding (mean 2.4 days in Gp 2 v 3.2 days in group 1) and shorter stay in hospital (2.87 days in Gp 2 v 5 days in Gp 1). 27% cases died in group 2 compared to 47% in group 1 (pvalue = 0.04). Combined immediate obstetric intervention (C-section) and paediatric intervention (laryngoscopy, tracheal intubation, suction, immediate transfer to nursery) led to reduced severity of meconium aspiration syndrome and lower mortality.

Breast feeding: overview and breast milk immunology.

The transfer of host defence capacity to the human offspring provides a remarkable model of passive transfer of immunity. In fact it may also provide an example of active immunization. The transfer of mucosal protection via breast feeding offers many additional advantages for the mother and infant. Through its contraceptive effects it increases the spacing between births, thus diminshing the infant mortality and the burden on the mother. It also enhances bonding between mother and child, it seems to increase the IQ and school result of the infant and might decrease the risk of certain malignancies and perhaps of juvenile diabetes. A fully breast-fed infant receives as much as 0.5-1 g of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) antibodies daily, the predominant antibody of human milk. This can be compared to the production of some 2.5 g of SIgA per day for a 60 kg adult. These SIgA antibodies have been shown to protect against Vibrio cholerae, ETEC, Campylobacter, Shigella and Giardia. Furthermore, milk is rich in receptor analogues for certain epithelial structures which microbes need for attachment to host tissues as an initial step in infections. Thus the adherence of Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococci for example to retropharyngeal cells is efficiently inhibited by human milk. This may be one explanation for the fact that breast-fed babies have less otitis media than the non-breast-fed. Other milk factors like lysozyme and lactoferin may contribute to the host defence, but this has not yet been well defined. However, human milk also supports the well-being of the infant by being anti-inflammatory.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)