Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

  Background and Objective: Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of emergency abdominal surgery in children. Diagnosis before surgery has always been a problem. One of the symptoms in dealing with patients with suspected appendicitis is dry and scaly lips. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship of this sign with appendicitis.

  Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a three-month period, all the patients under 18 admitted with complaints of abdominal pain were entered into the study. Possible diagnosis was appendicitis based on history, clinical examinations, laboratory tests and abdominal sonography. Alvarado score pediatric appendicitis score(PAS) and pathological results were recorded. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS software.

  Results: Out of 25 patients who entered the study, 11 patients (44%) were males and 14 patients (56%) were females with mean age and SD of 11.88± 4.77 years old. The pathology reports were as follows: 13 patients (52% ) acute appendicitis, 10 patient (40%) acute suppurative appendicitis with periappendicitis, one patient (4%) ruptured appendicitis and for one patients (4%) nomal appedix . Pain shifting in 20 patients (80%) and dry lips in 22 patients (88%) were observed. Alvarado average score of the patients was 7.04± 2.28 and PAS average score was 7.24± 1.71.

  Conclusion: Early diagnosis and appendectomy before gangrene or rupture of the appendix will reduce complications of this disease. Therefore, early diagnosis of this disease is important. Sign of dry lips in 22 patients (88%) compared with other signs and symptoms is important. Based on this study it is concluded that dry lips can be a diagnostic sign along with other signs . According to the findings of this study further studies are recommended.

  Key words: Dry lips, Acute appendicitis, Children

  Funding: This research was funded by Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences .

  Conflict of interest: None declared.

  Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences approved the study.

 How to cite this article : Amouei AH, Rezahoseini O , Rahnama A, Tavakoleian Ferdosieh V. Evaluation of Dry Lips as a New Sign in Clinical Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in Children: A Short Report . J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2013 12(9): 769-76. [Farsi]

Background and Objective: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) as a major health challenge has close relationship with high-risk behaviour. Patterns and changes in risk behaviour associated with HIV are important factors in creating a community-level HIV epidemic. The current study examined the prevalence and patterns of risky behaviour before and after the diagnosis of HIV-positive individuals.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 130 HIV-positive people were selected through census method in Rafsanjan health center 1 (n = 55) and Kerman behavioral diseases center (n = 75) in 2012. The patients were interviewed thrugh of checklist made by resercher by a psychiatrist and necessary information was collected before and after the diagnosis of HIV infection. Data were analyzed using chi-square, Fisher's exact, and McNemar's tests.

Results: The mean age of patients was 40.12 ± 8.20 years and most of them were male. Before HIV diagnosis, the frequencies of injecting drugs, the use of collaborative injection tools and unprotected sexual behavior were  61.5%, 43.1% and 40%, respectively.

Conclusion: According to findings, the probable cause of the high-risk behavior for HIV infection in this study was similar to the national pattern. Risky behavior had significant changes in different directions after diagnosis.

Key words: Frequency, Risky behavior, AIDS, HIV, Behavioral diseases center

Funding: This research was funded by Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, approved the study.

How to cite this article: Torkashvand F, Asadpor M, Sheikh Fathollahi M, Sheikhi E, Salehi Shahrbabaki M.H, Hoseini OR, Bakhtar M, Bidaki R. Frequency of High Risk Behaviour in HIV Positive Patients Referred to Centers for Behavioural Disorders of Rafsanjan and Kerman in 2012. J RafsanjanUniv Med Sci 2015 14(7): 587-98. [Farsi]