Journal/Magazine Articles
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This collection contains original research articles, review articles and case reports published in local and international peer reviewed journals by the staff members of the Faculty of Medicine
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Item Effects of hospitalization in children of parents working in foreign countries(SAARC Psychiatric Federation, 2013) Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.; Wijeratne, L.T.; Gunasekera, D.P.S.; Karunasekera, K.A.W.INTRODUCTION: Increasing number of females in Sri Lanka leave their families to work in the Middle East. This leads to disruption in the family structure and the attachment process. Effects of this can be long lasting and is likely to be seen at events that can be considered stressful in a child’s life. Admission to hospital has been shown to be a stressful experience for children. METHODOLOGY: Behavioural problems in hospitalized children who have one or more parent working in the Middle East were compared with hospitalized children who are not separated from their parents. The prevalence of deteriorating school performance and failure to gain weight were also compared in the two groups. RESULTS: Behaviours such as irritability, aggression, poor sleep and low mood were seen more in children who had one or more parent working in the Middle East. Deteriorating school performance and weight loss were also seen more in this group. CONCLUSION: Long term separation from a parent results in acute behavioural problems seen at times of stress as well as more long-term effects.Item Effect of mebendazole therapy in pregnancy on birth outcome(Lancet Publishing Group, 1999) de Silva, N.R.; Sirisena, J.; Gunasekera, D.P.S.; Ismail, M.M.; de Silva, H.J.BACKGROUND: In areas endemic for hookworm, routine antenatal mebendazole therapy could greatly reduce the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy. At present, however, this is not a widely accepted control strategy because of a lack of data on the safety of the drug. We assessed the effect of mebendazole therapy during pregnancy on birth outcome. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done in Sri Lanka, where prescription of mebendazole to women in the second trimester of pregnancy is recommended. Two hospitals were chosen for the study, and women who gave birth there between May, 1996, and March, 1997, were recruited. We compared the rates of major congenital defects, stillbirth, perinatal death, and low birthweight (less or equal 1500 g) among babies of mothers who had taken mebendazole during pregnancy with those whose mothers had not taken an anthelmintic (controls). FINDINGS: The rate of major congenital defects was not significantly higher in the mebendazole group than in the control group (97 [1.8 percent] of 5275 vs 26 [1.5 percent] of 1737; odds ratio 1.24 [95 percent CI 0.8-1.91], p equal 0.39). Among 407 women who had taken mebendazole in the first trimester (contrary to medical advice), 10 (2.5 percent) had major congenital defects (odds ratio vs controls 1.66 [0.81-3.56], p equal 0.23). The proportions of stillbirths and perinatal deaths were significantly lower in the mebendazole group (1.9 vs 3.3 percent, 0.55 [95 percent CI 0.4-0.77]), as was the proportion of low-birthweight babies (1.1 vs 2.3 percent 0.47 [95 percent CI 0.32-0.71]). INTERPRETATION: Mebendazole therapy during pregnancy is not associated with a significant increase in major congenital defects, but our results indicate that it should be avoided during the first trimester. This therapy could offer beneficial effects to pregnant women in developing countries, where intestinal helminthiases are endemic.