Clinical Profile of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children attending Child Development clinic

Aims: To study 1) the clinical profile of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children attending child development clinic(CDC) and 2) the relationship between ADHD and sociodemograpic and cultural factors.Design: Cross sectional study.Setting: CDC of the Department of Pediatrics, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical sciences and Research Centre -a tertiary care medical college hospital.Methodology: Children 7yrs to 15 yrs referred to the Child Development Clinic of the Department of Pediatrics for symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity were taken as subjects after careful analysis.Conners' Parent Rating Scale -revised (s) was used for selection.Control group was taken from the children visiting the Pediatric outpatient department for minor diseases and immunization.52 children were analysed during a period of one year (March 2010 -Feb 2011).Results: All children belonged to the combined group of ADHD.Statistically significant factors promoting ADHD were nuclear families, children living abroad, family disharmony, and substance abuse in parents.Excessive television viewing and sibling rivalry, junk food c o n s u m p t i o n w e r e o b s e r v e d i n a f f e c t e d c h i l d r e n .N e o n a t a l hyperbilirubinemia with phototherapy and pregnancy induced hypertension were the other significant factors observed.Conclusion: All children had combined ADHD.Children from nuclear families and non resident Indians were significantly affected with ADHD.Pregnancy induced hypertension and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy were other significant factors observed.