Observations on nutritional marasmus in a newly rich nation

A study was performed in a pediatric hospital in Tripoli, Libya where the familial backgrounds of 50 marasmic infants were compared with those of a group of 50 essentially healthy infants of similar age. Families with marasmic infants had more children but lived in smaller homes than the comparison families. Total income was similar in both sets of families and major consumer items such as television sets, cars, and refrigerators were widely present in both groups. Families with marasmic infants, however, had less literate mothers who tended to breastfeed for shorter periods and to feed purchased pureed baby foods more frequently. The causation of marasmus in these circumstances is probably unhygienic infant feeding despite the availability of clean water and modern kitchen facilities. All 3 factors, adequate housing, adequate income, and an adequately educated mother appear to be necessary simultaneously before infantile marasmus can be prevented.

Hereditary sideroblastic anaemia in 4 siblings of a Libyan family--autosomal inheritance

Most of the hereditary sideroblastic anaemias are inherited as x-linked recessive traits and are often pyridoxine responsive. The present paper describes the classical features of sideroblastic anaemia in 2 male and 2 female siblings of a Libyan family. All 4 children had severe anaemia and moderate hepato-splenomegaly. The equal severity of the disease in all 4 family members suggests autosomal inheritance.

Some metal ion changes in plasma and erythrocytes following ether anaesthesia and surgery in bilharzial patients

Eight bilharzial patients with hepatosplenomegaly who underwent splenectomy under ether anaesthesia were studied. The levels of iron, zinc, titanium, aluminium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were determined in the plasmas and RBCs both preoperatively and up to four days postoperatively. Preoperatively the bilharzial patients were found to have subnormal levels of the studied elements except aluminium in plasma. The effect of ether anaesthesia and surgery (splenectomy) was marked on the second postoperative day. All the elements displayed a tendency towards reaching preoperative levels by the fourth day except titanium which was still elevated. Metal ions particularly zinc and magnesium should be monitored in bilharzial patients in general and in the advanced cases in particular, who are undergoing major surgery. This should be done as a precautionary measure especially since these patients have subnormal metal ion levels.