1. INTRODUCTION By the end of 2006 there were estimated 2.3 million children globally below 15 years of age living with HIV with an estimated half a million new infections occurring in children for the year 2006.1 In addition, of the estimated 10 000 new infections that occurred daily worldwide among adults in 2006, 50% were among women. In…
1. INTRODUCTION Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) affects both children and adults. It is an autoimmune disorder characterised by persistent thrombocytopenia (peripheral platelet count of less than 150 x109/L) due to autoantibody binding to platelet antigen(s) causing their premature destruction by the reticuloendothelial system, in particular the spleen. In childhood, the peak age is 2-4 years, girls and boys are…
1. Introduction Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a retinal disorder of low birth weight premature infants. It can be mild with no visual defects, or it may become aggressive with new vessel formation (neovascularisation) and progress to retinal detachment and blindness.1 The stimulus for the abnormal growth of blood vessels comes from the peripheral immature…
1. INTRODUCTION Technological advances in modern medicine have had a great impact on the care of critically ill patients, saving many children’s lives, but also leaving others with chronic diseases and disabilities. The increased ability to sustain life with intensive care may lead, unfortunately, sometimes only to prolonging suffering when treatment is unsuccessful, and prolonging the dying process, attached…