The Ceylon medical journal
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We conducted a cross sectional descriptive study to describe the factors associated with the degree of malnutrition among hospitalised malnourished children in General Hospital, Vavuniya. All hospitalised children from January to June 2012 (n=1210) were screened and the nutritional status assessed using WHO growth standards for weight for height/length. A total of 179 children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) (14.8%) and 105 children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) (8.7%) were detected during this period. ⋯ Prevalence of anaemia among 284 malnourished children was mild 32.4% (n=92), moderate 22.2% (n=63) and severe 0.7% (n=2). Anaemia was highest among infants and prevalence decreased with increasing age. Social determinants played an important role in degree of malnutrition and anaemia among malnourished children admitted to the General Hospital, Vavuniya.
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Late onset fetal growth restriction is often missed and is responsible for most intrauterine deaths. Ultrasound fetal biometry is routinely used to calculate estimated fetal weight (EFW). The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of established ultrasound EFW formulae to identify small and large for gestational age fetuses when used after 35 weeks gestation. ⋯ This study found that all routinely used EFW formulae would either over or under estimate the fetal weight. Until an optimum EFW formula that suits the Sri Lankan population is determined, interpretation of ultrasound EFW should be done cautiously, especially in small for gestational age babies.
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The effect of dermatological disease on patients' quality of life is a minimally addressed issue in Sri Lanka. One reason is the unavailability of a standardised measuring tool. This study was done to produce and validate a Sinhala version of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), which is an internationally accepted quality of life measuring instrument. ⋯ The DLQI (Sinhala) version is a simple, acceptable and reliable tool to measure the effect of dermatological diseases on quality of life.