Browsing by Author "Weerasooriya, L."

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    Profile of paediatric respiratory diseases requiring hospital admission
    (Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2012) Subasinghe, V.; Karunasekera, W.; Fernando, A.D.; Lakmini, C.; Weerasooriya, L.; Hathagoda, W.
    INTRODUCTION: Respiratory tract disorders cause significant mortality and morbidity in children worldwide. OBJECTIVES: To study the pattern of respiratory diseases and its seasonal variation among children. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted at University Paediatric Unit, Colombo North Teaching Hospital in 2010 and 2011. All children below 12 years admitted with respiratory tract diseases (ICD-10 classification) were recruited into the study. Data collection forms were filled by medical officers using patient records. RESULTS: Total of 2651 (1370 in 2010; 1281 in 2011) were admitted with respiratory diseases. In respective years, 53% (2010) and 55%(2011) were males. Highest number of admissions was during infancy (27.2%). During consecutive years 2010 and 2011, 43.0% and 45.2% had unspecified lower respiratory tract infections (LRT1); 29.9% and 29.4% had upper respiratory tract infections (URTI); 10.7% and 12.4% had bronchial asthma; 1.8% and 2.2% had pneumonia; 5.9% and 8.9% had bronchiolitis. Stabilization at ETU was needed in 8.5%. Median duration of hospital stay was 3 (range 1-60) days. No follow-up was required in a majority (82.5%). Admissions due to respiratory diseases peaked in June (2010-20.1% and 2011-16.0%) and were mainly due to LRTI-52.0%, URTI-28.4%. Admissions with bronchial asthma were higher during the first half of the year (2010-86.3% and 2011-80.5%). Deaths were 18 (1.3%) in 2010 and 6 (0.5%) in 2011. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory tract infections peak in June whereas asthma is precipitated in early months of the year. Over one-fourth of patients had URTI and was unnecessarily admitted.
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    Quality of life and somatic symptoms in children with constipation: a school-based study
    (Elsevier-Mosby, 2013) Rajindrajith, S.; Devanarayana, N.M.; Weerasooriya, L.; Hathagoda, W.; Benninga, M.A.
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the health related quality of life (HRQoL) and somatization in school children with constipation. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in children aged 13-18 years, in 4 schools in Gampaha district of Sri Lanka. Data were collected using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire with questions on bowel habits, somatization, and HRQoL.Constipation was diagnosed using Rome III criteria. RESULTS: A total of 1792 children were included in the analysis (males 975 [54.4%], mean age 14.4 and SD 1.3 years). One hundred thirty-eight (7.7%) fulfilled Rome criteria for constipation. Children with constipation had lower HRQoL scores for physical (83.6 vs 91.4 in controls, P < .0001), social (85.0 vs 92.7, P = .0001), emotional (73.6 vs 82.7, P =.0001), school functioning (75.0 vs 82.5, P < .0001), and lower overall scores (79.6 vs 88.0, P = .0001). HRQoL scores were lower in those with fecal incontinence and constipation compared with constipation alone (70.0 vs 81.1, P = .004). Patient perceived severity of abdominal pain (r = -0.22, P = .01) and severity of bowel symptoms (r = -0.22, P = .01) showed significant negative correlation with total HRQoL scores. Total somatization score also found to be negatively correlated (r = -0.47, P < .0001) with HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Children with constipation have lower HRQoL scores than controls in physical, social, emotional, and school functioning. They also have a wide range of somatic symptoms. These issues need to be addressed during clinical evaluation of children with constipation to understand the impact of the disease on the life of affected children and to provide optimal care.