Browsing by Author "Jansz, M."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Epidemiology of acute poisoning among children in urban Sri Lanka: the experience of two tertiary care hospitals in Colombo district
(The Jaffna Medical Association, 2023) Dayasiri, K.; Thadchanamoorthy, V.; Jansz, M.; Dassanayake, S.; Anand, G.
Acute poisoning in children is an important public health problem and one of the leading causes of emergency department admissions following childhood injuries. Although most paediatric ingestions are accidental, children are at a higher risk for serious complications following ingestion of a similar toxic dose compared to adults. The current study evaluated the recent patterns and trends in acute poisoning among children in two tertiary care centers in urban Sri Lanka: Lady Ridge Hospital for Children, Colombo and North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama. Out of 200 cases, the majority were between 1-5 years and male children outnumbered female children. The most common poisons included kerosene oil, paracetamol and “Good Luck” plants. Complication rate was low, and no mortalities were reported. Deliberate poisoning accounted for 1% of total poisonings. The current trends in poisoning among children living in urban Sri Lanka showed decreasing incidence of pesticide poisonings and increasing incidence of pharmaceutical poisonings and poisoning with ornamental plants.
An islandwide hospital based epidemiological survey of haemoglobinopathies and an assessment of standards of care in 23 centres
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2017) Premawardhena, A.P.; Mudiyanse, R.M.; Jifri, M.N.; Nelumdeniya, U.B.P.; Silva, D.P.S.I.; Nizri, A.H.M.; Rajiyah, M.O.F.; de Silva, T.U.N.; Pushpakumara, K.R.C.; Dissanayake, D.M.R.; Jansz, M.; Rifaya, M.I.; Navarathne, N.M.U.S.B.; Arambepola, W.W.M.M.; Thirukumaran, V.; Mendis, D.; Weerasekara, K.P.; de Silva, N.N.; Vaidyanatha, U.S.de.S.; Mettananda, D.S.G.; Oliveri, N.F.; Weatherall, D.J.
INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: There is no database for haemoglobinopathy patients in Sri Lanka resulting in imprecise knowledge about the distribution and standards of care among patients managed in different centres in the island. The prevention programme commenced in 2007 is not centrally monitored. METHODS: We carried out centre-wise visitation and data gathering of patients with haemoglobinopathies in 2015. 23 centres were visited by researchers who gathered information from patient records. RESULTS: Data was obtained of 1768 patients. Three centres had over 200 patients each and another three centres had between 50-100 patients. There were 8 centres with less than 10 patients each. Beta thalassaemia major (BTM) accounted for 1207 (68.26%) patients. There were 363 patients (20.53%) with Haemoglobin E-β thalassaemia. Sickle cell-β thalassaemia accounted for 51 patients (2.88%). The mean age of BTM patients was 13 years (range 2-44). Ethnic distribution of the haemoglobinopathies (82.5% Sinhalese, 12% Muslims and 5.2% in Tamils) was discrepant to the national ethnic data. Islandwide mean number of new births of all thalassaemics recorded showed a reduction from 66/year between 2004 - 2009 to 48/year between 2010 to 2015.Clinical record keeping was not systematic in most units thus complication rates were hard to obtain. Death data were available only in two units. CONCLUSION: This study identified significant inconsistencies in haemoglobinopathy care between centres. Existence of small centres needs to be recognized by the Ministry of Health. A reducing trend of new births over the last decade was observed.
A nationwide survey of hospital-based thalassemia patients and standards of care and a preliminary assessment of the national prevention program in Sri Lanka
(Public Library of Science, 2019) Premawardhena, A.P.; Mudiyanse, R.; de Silva, S.T.; Jiffry, N.; Nelumdeniya, U.; de Silva, U.; Lamabadusuriya, S.P.; Pushpakumara, K.; Dissanayaka, R.; Jansz, M.; Rifaya, I.; Navarathne, U.; Thirukumaran, V.; Arambepola, M.; Bandara, W.D.; Vaidyanatha, U.; Mendis, D.; Weerasekara, K.; de Silva, N**.; Kumara, D.K.S.; Amarasena, S.D.; Hemantha, K. K.; Refai, M.A.C.M.; Silva, I.; Hameed, N.; Rajiyah, F.; Mettananda, S.; Allen, A.; Weatherall, D. J.; Oliveri, N. F.
OBJECTIVES:Our aim was to describe the numbers and distribution of patients with different types of thalassemia and to assess the standards of care in all thalassemia treatment centers throughout Sri Lanka and the success of the ongoing prevention programme.METHODS:This cross-sectional island-wide survey was conducted by two trained medical graduates, who visited each thalassemia center to collect data from every patient, using a standardized form. Data was collected through review of patient registers and clinical records.RESULTS: We collected data on 1774 patients from 23 centers. 1219 patients (68.7%) had homozygous β-thalassemia, 360 patients (20.3%) had hemoglobin E β-thalassemia, and 50 patients (2%) had sickle β-thalassemia. There were unacceptably high serum ferritin levels in almost all centers. The annual number of births of patients with β-thalassaemia varied between 45-55, with little evidence of reduction over 19 years. CONCLUSIONS:Central coordination of the treatment and ultimately prevention of thalassemia is urgently needed in Sri Lanka. Development of expert centers with designated staff with sufficient resources will improve the quality of care and is preferred to managing patients in multiple small units.