History and Objectives: Use of non-sanitary water may lead to various health problems. Stagnant water is a source of drinking water that is more susceptible to contamination. In the city of Kashan, in addition to the water piping system, there are many water reservoirs are filled with water brought from surrounding villages by tanks and studies on the microbial flora of water from these villages have shown various levels of contamination. Therefore, the present study was conducted in 1995 to determine the microbiological characteristics of coli-forms in these reservoirs.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 3 separate samples were obtained from each active reservoir in Kashan using a standardized method. Each sample was tested in 2 separate steps at the Environmental Health Laboratory of Kashan University of Medical Sciences by a health faculty member. In the first step, samples were studied to identify coli-forms using the three-tube method and the MPN was calculated. In step 2, fecal coli-form positive samples were determined, based on the World Health Organizations standard chart.

Results: Of the 35 active water reservoirs in Kashan, 8 reservoirs (22%) had standard drinking water and 8 (22.8%) were recognized to be completely unsafe. The remaining reservoirs (54.4%) had various levels of contamination.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of this research, we suggest further analytical studies be performed to identify the causative factors leading to the contamination of these reservoirs. In addition, we recommend that the 8 unsafe reservoirs be temporary shut down.

History and Objectives: Due to hepatitis B prevalence and complications resulting from the infection and the fact that prevention of the disease through vaccination has prime importance and because of reported discrepancy concerning the effectiveness of intradermal vaccination of hepatitis B, this study was conduced to compare the effectiveness of intradermal and intermuscular injection of the hepatitis B vaccine among female high school students of Kashan in 1996-1997.

Materials and Methods: In a clinical double-blind randomized trial on 200 students, HBsAg and HBSAb were measured by ELISA method before vaccination and positive cases were eliminated. Hundred and ninety students were randomly divided into two groups based on age and high school grade. In the experimental group, 0.1 ml of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Herber Biotech S.A Cuba) was injected by health center technicians intradermally at the three intervals of 0, 1 and 6 months in the flexor surface of forearm intradermally. In the control group, 1ml of the same vaccine with the same time intervals was injected intermuscularly by the same health technicians at the same deltoid region. Three weeks after the last injection, the effect of the vaccination was assessed by ELISA method by laboratory technicians who were unaware of the student group designations. Statistical Fischer test was conducted.

Results: The prevalence of HBsAg and HBSAb in population was 4.5 and 0.5% respectively. Experimental and control groups were matched on the basis of age and high school grade. The control group displayed 97.6% positive response, 1.2% weak positive response and 1.2% negative response, whereas the experimental group displayed 93.7%, 2.1% and 4.2% respectively. The differences were statistically significant.

Conclusion: It seems that due to a very small difference in the effectiveness of 2 methods and low cost of vaccination of intradermal injection, a larger size clinical trial is recommended. A study on the effectiveness of the time intervals for vaccination is also recommended.

History and Objectives: Seizure is a definitive sign of neurological diseases in children. Irreversible neurological damages can be prevented by rapid diagnosis and proper treatment. The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of neonatal seizure among newly born and other newborn patients hospitalized in Kashan hospitals in 1995-1996.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was carried out on 5526 newborns and 770 newborns admitted to the hospitals. Diagnosis of seizure was on bases of patient’s record and examination by staff of neonatal unit and pediatric residents. The underlying causes of the seizure were determined on the basis of patient’s profile, physical and neurological examination, laboratory data and CT-SCAN records.

Results: The prevalence of the seizure was 1.3% and 11% among newly born patients and newborn admitted to the hospitals respectively. Hypoxic encephalopathy ischemia (Asphyxia) was the most prevalent cause of seizure (41%). Metabolic (18%), infectious (15%), cerebral hemorrhage (11%) and other cause (15%) were among other cause of seizure among newborns.

Conclusion: Since hypoxic encephalopathyic ischemia is the most prevalent cause of neonatal seizure, further research is needed in order to find out the reason for its appearance and its prevention.

History and Objectives: Since epidemiology of Tuberculosis is unclear in the country and in Kashan and due to presence of high numbers of Afghan refugees in the region, this study was conducted to determine the epidemiology of the disease on patients referred to the Tuberculosis Center in Kashan in 1993-1996.

Materials and Methods: Patient’s records during the 1993-1996 period were studied. Patient’s profile including age, sex, nationality, skin reaction to tuberculin, method of diagnosis of the disease and pulmonary and non-pulmonary complication were recorded.

Results: 183 patients were diagnosed for having Tuberculosis. 33% of patients were in the 10-30 age group and 33% were in the 50-70 age group. Female and male patients were 107 (58.8%) and 76 (41.5%) respectively. Housewives and carpet weaving were the main female carrier groups (90%). One third of male patients were general laborers. 67% of patients were Iranian and 33% were Afghan refugees. Urban dwellers and rural residents formed 55% and 45% of the population. 53.5% of the patients were suffering from pulmonary Tuberculosis and the rest were suffering from non-pulmonary Tuberculosis. Pulmonary Tuberculosis were diagnosed in 60% of patients by direct examination and throat culture and 70% of non-pulmonary Tuberculosis were detected by pathological examination. Negative Tuberculin test was observed in 10% of pulmonary and 30% of non-pulmonary Tuberculosis patients.

Conclusion: Non-pulmonary Tuberculosis is higher in Kashan compared to other regions in Iran and other countries. Along with pathological finding, microbiological studies seem necessary and the cooperation of surgical department is needed. Due to the prevalence of the infection in the region, especial attention should be given to contain the disease.