Browsing by Author "Adhikari, C."

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Constipation in children: an epidemiological study in Sri Lanka using Rome III criteria
(British Medical Association, 2012) Rajindrajith, S.; Devanarayana, N.M.; Adhikari, C.; Pannala, W.; Benninga, M.A.
Constipation is a common paediatric problem, but its prevalence in Asia is unknown. A cross-sectional survey using a previously validated, self-administered questionnaire was conducted in randomly selected children aged 10-16 years, in five randomly selected schools in Sri Lanka. Two schools were in Eastern Province, which has been affected by the separatist war. Constipation was defined using Rome III criteria. Of 2694 children included in the analysis, 416 (15.4%) had constipation. Symptoms independently associated with constipation were straining (71.6% vs 28.4% of controls), bleeding per rectum (14.2% vs 2.2%) and abdominal pain (55% vs 35.2%). The prevalence of constipation was significantly higher in those with a family history of constipation (49% vs 14.8%), living in a war affected area (18.1% vs 13.7%) and attending an urban school (16.7% vs 13.3%). In conclusion, chronic constipation is a significant problem affecting 15% of Sri Lankan school children and adolescents.
Deterrent effects of some Sri Lankan essential oils on oviposition and progeny production of the cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)(Coleoptera; Bruchidae)
(2003) Paranagama, P.; Adhikari, C.; Abeywickrama, K.P.; Bandara, P.
Essential oils extracted from five plant materials were tested on oviposition and progeny production of F1 adult of cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus on cowpea seeds. All oils tested showed a significant inhibition of oviposition and F1 adult emergence compared to the control during no-choice tests. Cymbopogon citratus and C. nardus showed higher effect on oviposition and F1 adult emergence than the essential oils of Alpinia calcarata, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Murraya koinigii. In the choice test, the percentage ovipositions in all oils treated samples (except 10 mg of M. koinigii) were significantly lower than that of the control and ethanol treated samples. The percentage eggs deposited decreased with increasing doses of the oils ranging from 10 to 160 mg. The percentage of eggs laid was zero in samples treated with 40 mg of C. nardus or A. calcarata, 80 mg of C. citratus and 160 mg of C. zeylanicum. The essential oils of M. koinigii showed the lowest effect on oviposition when compared to other four essential oils.
Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal diseases in a cohort of Sri Lankan adolescents: comparison between Rome II and Rome III criteria
(Oxford University Press, 2011) Devanarayana, N.M.; Adhikari, C.; Pannala, W.; Rajindrajith, S.
Little is known about the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGDs) in adolescents, especially in developing countries. This cross-sectional survey conducted in a semi-urban school in Sri Lanka, assessed the prevalence of whole spectrum of FGDs in 427 adolescents (age 12-16 years) using a validated self-administered questionnaire. According to Rome III criteria, 123 (28.8%) adolescents had FGDs. Of them, 59 (13.8%) had abdominal-pain-related FGDs [irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 30, functional dyspepsia 15, functional abdominal pain 13 and abdominal migraine 1]. Prevalence of functional constipation, aerophagia, adolescent rumination syndrome, cyclical vomiting syndrome and non-retentive faecal incontinence were 4.2, 6.3, 4, 0.5 and 0.2%, respectively. Only 58 (13.6%) adolescents were found to have FGDs when Rome II criteria were used. In conclusion, FGDs were present in more than one-fourth of adolescents in the study group, of which IBS was the most common. Rome III criteria were able to diagnose FGDs more comprehensively than Rome II.