Pokhara mission 2008

Pokhara 2008
Sponsored by C.H.A.N.C.E for Nepal
I
Introduction
At the end of October 2008 a Medical Checks for Children team lead by Kees
Donkervoort head of the Bethesda Hospital of Hoogeveen and Thea Teertstra
paediatrician/ Intensivist checked and treated 830 children, free of cost, at 7 different
locations 100 miles west of Kathmandu around Pokhara.
The medical checks are organised in close co-operation with Chandra Bahadur Gurung,
an ex Gurkha and co-founder of the Pahar Trust in Nepal. Last year this mission was lead
by Barbara Datson, she is the founder of this mission around Pokhara, and because of
health problems she could not join us this year. Other doctors on the team where
Christine van Ingen paediatrician, Petra Tjalsma, Joost Overgaauw and Florentien de
Steenwinkel, Karin van Breemen and Janny Heeringa, both pediatric nurses and Juliet
Overgaauw.
The first half of the medical checks were conducted in the mountains staying at Kharpani
Eco Lodge where we stayed last year, there is no electricity, water or gas.
We arrived just before dark after trekking for 45 minutes after a bus could take the team
no further. On the first day we had a major problem as the Hemocue’s did not work so
we were unable to check the blood for anaemia, one of the biggest problems in Nepal. At the end of the first evening, two doctors managed to repair the Hemocue’s in candle light! Kerosene lights created a cosy atmosphere in the lodge and cooking stoves provided the team with excel ent meals prepared by the cooks. The fol owing morning we were rewarded with the most stunning panorama of Mount Fishtail with the fast running Seti River far below,! Like last year, word had gone around to vil ages within the vicinity that the MCC team would be arriving, and children with their families al converged to the lodge for a medical check. This year there where less children than before in this area, as many had to work on the land until the second week of November. This is important information for the mission in this area in fol owing years. Towards the end of November is best. The fol owing days we trekked to the Annapurna school, The Himalaya School and Sayapatri, a smal vil age. In each place we received a wonderful welcome. The other venues where around the city of Pokhara and consisted of schools, orphanages and a slum area. These were the Navadeep School; a Lion's Club sponsored Government School, Kanya M.V. School, and Hope for Himalayan Kids school/orphanage and Krishna tole the slum area near the airport of Pokhara. The medical cases we encountered and were given attention were anaemia, lice, scabies, growth abnormalities, caries, eye, ear and skin infections and worm infections. On each location the children stood in line for medical care. They were given a numbered form and were admitted to the first station where name, age and school number were written on the form by a local helper or translator. This paper was than given to the child who had to keep it until his/her treatment had been completed. After their weight and height had been taken, pulse and oxygenation of the blood were measured and on the third station the blood was checked for haemoglobin. Blood pressure taken when necessary. A complete physical examination was done by one of the doctors who subscribed treatment where needed. Afterwards the child was sent to the last station where the clinical forms were kept and medication was dispensed by one of the doctors with the help of translators who made sure the dosage was understood for those taking the medication. An anti worming programme was instigated where necessary. The majority of children were given multi vitamins to help them through the winter months. Many children were anaemic, and given iron suspension for the younger children, or in tablet form for the older ones. Some toothbrushes where handed out to the children along with a smal gift. As with most medical missions, we made efforts to include local medical workers and respected their vast knowledge in the care of the children. We would especial y like to thank our translators and medical helpers for their great support during the whole week. Every evening an analysis of the charts and diagnosis were made and referrals for the children for extra diagnostic procedures were completed. We also evaluated each evening how the day had been for each member of the mission. The medical checks where performed at the fol owing locations: Our second day after a one hour trek we medical y checked 38 children in the Annapurna school and children from the vil ages. Less then last year at this location, because of the harvest. Again with the great help of Chandra and a few very kind and helpful local people. Today we checked the children in the vil age of Sayapatri, in the youth club. This day was heavy we had to check with torches, there was no electricity because of the rain. The children where al very poor and belonged to the lowest caste. Their parents were tailors or working very hard in the fields. On two different days we checked 57 children on this location. 3. Himalaya School After a one hour walk in and around the fields we arrive in a very remote area at the Himalaya School. These children and their parents are very poor and real y dirty. They have to work in very difficult circumstances on the fields and we see this very hard way of making a living. As in 2007, we visited the Navadeep School, a governmental school with 400 children We checked 156 children at this location. This government school had over 500 students, we medical y checked 167 children. The teachers took care of the medicines because there where no caregivers. Al the medication was stored in the classrooms with e the child’s name, age and the times they had to take the medicines. One of the most impressive places for al of us was the school in this slum area near the airport. For us, one of the most poor places to work and almost impossible to teach and learn because of aircraft noise every 20 minutes. 7. Nicki Holt’s Hope for Himalayan kids and Rainbow vil age At this location we checked 71 children, more than last year. The children looked healthy and it was very special to see that these children lived with foster families at this time. Main diagnosis in percentage on the different locations *NB: Interpretation drawn from percentages need to be correlated with the different There where only 10 referrals and no serious il nesses where detected. One child was already diagnosed with a VSD and seen by a specialist . They had no money for the operation that had to be done. Anaemia is the most prevalent micronutrient disorder; it is not a diagnosis, but a symptom of an underlying nutritional problem or disease. In Nepal no national policy has been implemented to provide iron supplements to pregnant women or young children. While iron deficiency is frequently the primary factor contributing to anaemia, it is important to recognise that the control of anaemia requires a multi faceted approach which, through integrative interventions, addresses the various factors that play a significant role in producing anaemia in a given community. In addition to iron deficiency, infectious diseases such as worm infections, other chronic infections, particularly HIV-AIDS and tuberculosis, malaria, as wel as other nutritional deficiencies, are especial y important. We treated the children with anaemia with iron supplements, including folate and vitamin B12 for three months (3 mg elemental iron/kg/day). Children whose haemoglobin value was only slightly (less than 0.5 mmol/l) below the normal range for age were treated with á three months course of multivitamins. Due to the relationship between helminth, Ascaris lumbricoides, T. trichiura and anaemia the children were simultaneously treated with Albendazol. In the last years a de-worming program was established in Nepal where there is a high prevalence of A. Lumbric, helminth, Hookworm and T. Trichiura in school-aged children. We treated children who were not in the de-worming program on the spot with Albendazol and left medication for repeating the treatment after six months. Health education was aimed at increasing awareness of worm transmission, the disabilities caused by intestinal helminth and the importance of the de-worming program every half year. age children, adolescent girls and women of childbearing age. Of the children we checked 161 were underweight and another 243 showed the prevalence of stunting. Diagnostics in evaluating children with stunting included specific urine analysis with stick method on glucose and albumen where performed. Percentages of stunting indicating moderate to severe growth retardation is correlated with living conditions, showing higher prevalence in poor squatters and street children versus rural and urban children in middle class schoolchildren. During clinical assessment of the children checked by MCC main parameters of malnutrition were skin, hair, nails, month, subcutaneous tissue, muscle bulk and abdomen. Al the stunted children were managed by correcting possible nutritional deficiencies by a three months multivitamin treatment, next to counsel ing of the care giver regarding child nutrition parasite infections. Due to high food prices, Nepal has the highest levels of malnutrition in South-East Asia. A study conducted in 2006 by the Ministry of Health and Population shows that 49 percent of children under the age of five are stunted, reflecting chronic malnutrition. A recent report of the World Bank shows that one percent decrease in adult height due to childhood stunting correlates with 1.4 percent loss of productivity. The report shows furthermore the fact that stunting in general is associated with as much as eleven points decrease in Intel igence Quotient (IQ). According to UNCCA the two major causes of malnutrition are poor feeding practices and inadequate childcare. Adequate food intake and education programs addressing nutritious food need to be provided nationwide. The few children with a severe acute respiratory infection (ARI) were treated with appropriate antimicrobials and home treatment advice. “Pneumonia”, “sannipat”, “fast/difficult breathing”, “chest indrawing” and “inability to suck milk” are the key words used by care-takers indicating a (severe) ARI. The MCC carrousel includes a cardial examination. We referred two children suspected of having a heart disease to the hospital in Pokhara for evaluation by a cardiologist. In Nepal the prevalence among school age children in Kathmandu of rheumatic heart disease is 1.2/1000 and 1.3/1000 for congenital heart disease. Mitral regurgitation and atrial septal defects being the most common heart problems (Indian Heart J 2003;55:615-618). MCC is planning a special. 6. Stomach ache and other gastrointestinal complaints During our health checks we encounter a rising percentage of (older) schoolchildren with complaints of stomach pain and gastric pain. In the absence of weight loss, bloating or fever these pains could be stress induced. Pressure on adolescents to succeed academical y is wel known in Nepal, along side with problems at home. Data on milk products sensitivity, gastritis or peptic ulcers are currently lacking. as wel as the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria. One study done in Nepal reported an overal higher rate of infection with H. pylori in an urban population compared with a rural population (25.8 % versus 10.2 %) (Eur J Gastroenterology 1998;10:47-49). MCC wil expand their medication list with omeprazol treatment in 2009, with triple theragy for H. Pylori. Acute diarrheas disease tends to be self limiting. We treated 6 children with antibiotics, bleedy gastro-enteritis; we didn’t find a critical y il child with severe The prevalence of acute ear infections and tonsil itis was comparable with the prevalence in the Netherlands. Chronic or recurrent ear infections are a common condition encountered by the ENT surgeons in Nepal. Effective initiatives for better hygiene and nutrition wil play a part in diminishing chronic ear infections and their complications. Treatment of middle ear infections with antibiotics has a big impact in preventing deafness too. Itching, pain and discharge was often seen with otitis external and treated with antibiotic / steroid eardrops. Recurrent nose bleeds were associated with chronic rhino-sinusitis. Among the skin diseases the fol owing disorders are the most common in children in Nepal: impetigo, tinea capitis, scabies, viral skin disorders (mainly moluscum contagiosum) pedicolosis capitis, dermatitis and reactions due to insect bites. A peak of prevalence for pyoderma was observed among 5-9 year olds and in the orphanage children in the Triple Gem School. The superficial mycosis showed a peak in older children, Pyoderma, scabies and tinea capitis are more common in overcrowded households, orphanages or refugee camps. The role of traumatic sores as a predisposing factor for pyoderma is also common. Especial y legs and less commonly ears (because of septic ear piercing in girls) were common of posttraumatic pyoderma. The children were treated with Fusidic crème and/or macrolides for pyoderma. Antifungal cream (eventual y in combination with hydrocortisone) was given for fungal infections and hydrocortisone crème was given for different forms of dermatitis. We did not treat the children with tinea capitis with griseofulrine as there were limited supplies and the great majority heals spontaneously when in puberty. We also saw depigmentation of the face in a lot of children around Pokhara. Apart from post inflammatory hypo-pigmentation fol owing healing and especial y certain inflammatory disorders such as dermatitis, burns and skin infection, pityriasis versicolor and/or alba could be reason for de-pigmentation. Another cause is a lack of Vitamin A, Zinc or Vitamin B 12. Treatment with multivitamins for three months was given for the children with hyo/hyper pigmentation. Especial y in the group of children above five years of age a rather common complaint was dry and/or painful eyes. Xerophtalmia can be attributed to Vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency effect growth, the differentiation of epithelial tissues and immune competence. The most dramatic impact, however is on the eye and includes night blindness, xerosis of the conjunctiva and cornea and ultimately corneal ulceration and necrosis of the cornea. Vitamin A deficiency occurs when body stores are exhausted and supply fails to meet the body's requirements, either because there is a dietary insufficiency, requirements are increased, or intestinal absorption, transport and metabolism are impaired as a result of conditions such as diarrhoea. The most important step in preventing Vitamin A deficiency is insuring that children's diets include adequate amounts of carotene containing cereals, tubers, vegetables and fruits. We performed urine screening test in the children with fever and in some of the children with underweight and stunting to exclude a kidney disease. Some protein wil appear in the urine if the level of protein in blood becomes high (infections) even when the kidney is functioning properly. Antibiotics, severe emotional stress and strenuous exercise can interfere with the test. We only found 4 children with signs of a urinary tract infection, they were treated with antibiotics 11. Neurological disorders
In a few children, other wise wel , there was a positive history suspicion of epilepsy; they were referred for EEG, neuron imaging and possible treatment. This Medical Check for Children mission to Nepal did not include a dentist. The number of cases mentioned probably underestimates the prevalence of dental disease in the children we checked with severe toothaches and caries. We gave out toothbrushes and we educated the parents, teachers and children on brushing the teeth. One of the important tasks of MCC is to encourage the continuation of education of the caretakers and older children. During our week we had teaching sessions on common diagnoses of frequent il nesses and medication. We especial y focused on anaemia and malnutrition, on balanced diet, infection, parasites and failure to thrive. Our information mainly consisted of knowledge and practical advice about nutritious food and vitamin supplements, as wel as hygienic and health promotion issues. We wish to work with local health workers and nurses next year, maybe Chandra can help us with this. We also wish to work with the local hospital and doctors in Pokhara.
Future medical needs
On al the locations visited, there is a strong need for comprehensive and systematic health promotion and preventive measures. Special emphasis needs to be put on personal hygiene, dental care, good eating habits and nutritious food. It is important to stress, over and over again, the importance of regular (half yearly) de-worming of al children up to fourteen years. The Pokhara mission was a wonderful experience. This area showed us again how fantastic this work is. Volunteers and doctors working together as a good medical team in a carousel, giving every child special care and attention. We intend to return in 2009. Thea Teertstra Groningen
Medical Checks for Children

Source: http://chancefornepal.org/download/pokhara_mission_2008.pdf