Browsing by Author "Balasooriya, B.L.H."

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Epilepsy and outcome of pregnancy
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2005) Gunatilake, S.B.; Senanayake, A.E.S.; Mapa Pathirana, T.S.L.; Balasooriya, B.L.H.; Mettananda, K.C.D.
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy in women with epilepsy is associated with increased obstetric risks and adverse fetal outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of epilepsy and its treatment on pregnancy and the offspring. Methods: All females with epilepsy who had given birth or had a miscarriage were included in the sample. Two medical officers using a questionnaire, elicited from them their obstetric history, the presence of any noticeable mental or physical defects in their children, and the antiepileptic drugs they have been taking during the pregnancy. RESULTS: Forty five mothers were enrolled to the study. Their mean age was 32.8 years (SD 9.5). Forty of them had idiopathic epilepsy. The 45 mothers have given birth to 73 children. Nine mothers have had abortions but two were not on medication during the pregnancy, and five have had pre-term deliveries. None of the children had any congenital abnormalities. Two'children were having epilepsy and one had speech delay. Five mothers have not taken the drugs during the pregnancy. Commonly prescribed drug was carbamazepine (55%), and sodium valproate was taken by 12% and a combination of carbamazepine and valproate was taken by 21%. CONCLUSIONS: The adverse effects of epilepsy and drugs on the pregnancy are negligible in this sample. It appears that the prevalent fear of a bad pregnancy outcome is exaggerated and further larger studies are needed to confirm this.
Factors determining antibiotic prescription for patients with febrile illness among first contact doctors in Gampaha District
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2005) Premaratna, R.; Premaratna, K.; Mettananda, K.C.D.; Balasooriya, B.L.H.; Rodrigo, N.; Ranepura, S.; Jayasooriya, I.; de Silva, H.J.
BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are being over-prescribed in general practice. Gaining insight into the actual reasons for prescribing remains important for the design of effective strategies to optimise antibiotic prescribing. Illness (e.g.: presence of high fever), and consumer (e.g.: patients' demand) and prescriber (e.g.: hope patient expects) related factors have been identified for over prescription of antibiotics. The factors-influencing antibiotic prescription for patients with febrile illness among first contact doctors in Sri Lanka has not been documented before. METHODS: We conducted a pre-tested questionnaire based survey among 100 randomly selected first contact doctors (45 full time GPs) from 6 different areas of the Gampaha District to identify the factors influencing antibiotic prescription in patients with febrile illness. Questionnaires were distributed to be filled in and handed over the same day by 6 selected pre-intera doctors. RESULTS: Out of the 100 selected doctors, 81 (21 females) participants could be visited during the study period. Thirty four were in full time general practice (GP), 47 were working in a hospital in addition to GP. Mean duration of practice was 10.2 years (SD 9).The mean number of febrile patients seen per week 159 (SD 153). The mean duration of illness at the time of presentation was 2.5 days (SD 0.5), The % of doctors who would have a >50% chance of prescribing an antibiotic in patients with; mild fever 19%, fever body aches 23%, high fever 52% and fever with cough 68%, yellow sputum 73%, sore throat 83%, and who looks very ill 84%, due to fear of no improvement 52%, loosing patient 14% and on patients demand 10%. CONCLUSIONS: The antibiotic prescription among first contact doctors in Gampaha District seems to depend more on doctor's knowledge based illness related factors rather than on non-illness related factors.
Family study of epilepsy in first degree relatives
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2005) Gunatilake, S.B.; Senanayake, A.E.S.; Mapa Pathirana, T.S.L.; Balasooriya, B.L.H.; Mettananda, K.C.D.
OBJECTIVE: Genetic factors play a role in the aetiology of epilepsies. This study was designed to evaluate the family history of epilepsy in the first degree relatives of probands with epilepsy. METHODS: A sample of 434 patients with epilepsy attending the Neurology Clinics of the North Colombo Teaching Hospital was interviewed by two medical officers using a standard questionnaire during a period of three months starting August 2004. Type, and cause of epilepsy, and whether or not any of their family members had seizures were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 434 patients 237 were females and 198 were males. The mean age was 28 years (SD 14). 404 patients (93.7%) had idiopathic epilepsy. 57 (13%) patients had a family history of epilepsy and their mean age of onset was 15.9 years (SD 11.7). Of them 56 were having idiopathic epilepsy. First degree relatives affected were arents~30, siblings-25 and offspring-1. Seventeen probands gave a history of consanguinity in the parents and of the ones with a family history of epilepsy only one proband had parental consanguinity. Five patients had more than one family member affected. CONCLUSIONS: A family history of 13% is significantly high when compared with normal population figures of around 5 to 8 per 1000. This provides strong evidence that in our population also genetic factors play an important part in the aetiology of epilepsy.
Subcutaneous local recurrence of parathyroid carcinoma
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2006) Fernando, R.; Mettananda, K.C.D.; Balasooriya, B.L.H.; de Silva, H.J.
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