Pediatric Education and Research

Rabies is severe encephalitis transmitted to humans by the bite of a rabid animal, usually a dog or various wild mammals that form natural reservoirs. Exposure to certain species of bats, even without a known bite, can also lead to rabies. Rabies is a fatal viral disease transmitted from animals to humans. It causes more than 35,000 human deaths per year. Among the diseases of viral origin, rabies is unique in its distribution and range of victims since it can afflict all warm-blooded animals. Children are particularly susceptible to get rabies as of their small stature and they have no fear of animals, so they are bitten easily. The interaction between the virus and the host population has facilitated the survival of the disease. The rabies virus (RV) has not changed in any significant way and has been capable of taking advantage of conditions suited to the continuance of rabies. Infection by RV is invariably lethal in the absence of protective immune response which, however, can contribute to the pathogenesis of rabies. Pro- inflammatory cytokines might affect, directly or indirectly, the levels of neurotrophins, growth factors, neurotransmitters and neurotoxins in the brain by activating glia, neurons, and vascular and immune cells. 

Keywords: Rabies; Vaccine; Post exposure prophylaxis.  

Background: The effect of low carbohydrate diet on oxidant-antioxidant status in morbid uncomplicated obese children is very limited. Aim: The present study was designed to evaluate the activities of antioxidant enzymes and oxidant products in obese Saudi children and matched age and genders control subjects before and after low carbohydrate diet. Subjects and Methods: A prospective study has done on 105 Saudi children. They were classified into two groups; uncomplicated morbid obesity, and matched age control. All subjects underwent anthropometric measurements and estimation of the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSSG-R), the concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox LDL) in blood of obese and normal weight children before and after restriction carbohydrate diet. Results: The obese children had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) and waist-tohip ratio (WHR) compared with controls. The activities of enzymes and GSH levels were significantly reduced in obese children. The mean values of Ox LDL, MDA, and AOPP were significantly elevated in obese children compared to that of normal weight children. Oxidant-antioxidant status improved after 6 months of carbohydrate-restricted diet, which was associated with a reduction of BMI and WHR. Conclusion: Oxidantantioxidant status is changed in morbid obese children and is returned to baseline levels after another 6 months of low carbohydrate diet which should be maintained over time in this age. 

Keywords: Obese children; Body mass index; Malondialdehyde; Superoxide dismutase; Catalase; Glutathione peroxidase; Glutathione reductase; Reduced glutathione, Dietary-restriction of carbohydrates. 

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Disorders of sex development (DSD) include a hetero-geneous group of heritable disorders of sex determination and differentiation. This includes chromosomal aswell as monogenic disorders, which inhibit or changeprimarily genetic or endocrine pathways of normal sex development. However, in many patients affected, nodefinitive cause for the disorder can be found. Therefore,the birth of a child with ambiguous genitalia stillrepresents an enormous challenge. For the structuringof diagnostic procedures, decision making and alsotherapeutic interventions, a highly specialised team of physicians of different subspecialties and experts for psychosocial care is needed to counsel parents andpatients accordingly. This article focuses on the genetic and molecular origins of DSD, the new DSD nomenclature, the consecutive classification, and steps fordiagnosis. Furthermore, we discuss the approach to the family for comprehensive counselling in decisionmaking for their child 

Keywords: Ambiguous genitalia; Chromosome; Congenital heart disease; Pseudohermaphroditism.

The paper explores the influence of mothering mode of parenting on self esteem and adjustment of adolescents. The study attempted to find out differences among mothering variables with self esteem and adjustment. The parameters included in the study were rejection-acceptance, carelessness-protection, neglect-indulgence, utopian expectations-realism, lenient standard-moralism, freedom-discipline, faulty role expectations-realistic role expectations and marital conflict-marital adjustment mothering. Independent variables are self esteem, general adjustment with family,health,personal,social and academic adjustment. 120 adolescents within the age group of 15-18 years were selected using stratified random sampling. Statistical techniques used in this study were Correlation, ANOVA and Duncan technique. Results revealed that adolescents develop their self esteem more fast in acceptance mode of mothering and academic adjustment is more influenced with freedom mothering. 

Keywords: Mothering; Self esteem; Adjustment.