The MPA regrets to inform members that despite our efforts in organising 2 case presentations in Kuala Lumpur, the turnout by members (especially private practise paediatricians) has been poor. This programme is thus no longer on our activities until further notice. We welcome suggestions. Thank You.

*Newsflash (July 2001) The MPA will try again at UMMC - details to be announced soon!*

The 2nd (and last??) MPA Paediatric Clinical Case Discussion Report

This time it was hosted by Paediatric Department HKL on 10th January 2001, 6pm at the Auditorium. It was attended by 26 people majority medical officers from Paediatric Instittue and University Malaya Medical Centre.

Except for the Director of HUKM (our current president), the UKM MOs are sorely missed as well as our colleagues from the Private Practice. It must be the Hari Raya mood that was still running high or the millenium celebration that took away the excitement of this meeting: but we hope that more people would be able to come the next time. Two clinical cases and a radiological quiz was conducted. The clinical cases were conducted in a grand round approach with participation from the audience for the final diagnosis.

The first case was a child with chronic cough and abnormal stools. By the time the child presented in Paediatric Institute, she had established bronchiectasis and failure to thrive. She had symptoms of maIabsoption syndrome with steatorrhoea. The sweat test chloride and sodium was elevated le 140 nmo/l in 100 gram of sweat. The faecal fat excretion was also elevated. This supports the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, a rare disease among Asians. Currently there are six Cystic Fibrosis patients in Malaysia predominantly Malays. The take home message is that it is important in a child with chronic cough to take a complete history that involves other systems. Any investigation that is equivocal may need to be repeated particularly when the clinical symptoms does not seem to improve over time.

The second case was a child with hypotonia and cardiomyopathy. This was extensively discussed by Dr Sofia Ali. It may seem that the cases brought for discussion are rare. But again one needs to be aware that such cases will turn up in our clinical practice and in meetings such as this would expose us to such cases.

Finally Dr Zaleha Abdul Manaf had organised a radiology quiz. Four interesting x-rays i.e. a calcification in the abdomen, a hilar enlargement, a long bone xray with-a brain CT-scan were shown. The medical officers were called to participate as this was also good practice for their exam preparation.

Dinner was sponsored by AstraZeneca. Credit had to be given to the choice of food. We had nasi beryani with six different dishes ranging from lamb, crabs, prawns, fish, chicken and the list goes on. This was superb replenishment for the depleted brain fuel after the discussion and quiz. And of course the sudden surge of cholestrol levels! But nobody seemed to complain.

The next meeting will be organised by our colleagues in Damansara Specialist Hospital. We hope to see more participants at that meeting. Once again thank you to all those who attended the meeting.

Dr Norzila Mohd Zainudin, Asst Hon. Secretary 2000-01