scholarly journals Changing patterns of first medical contact management profile of corneal ulcers in a developing country: a hospital-based study

Author(s):  
Santosh Kumar ◽  
Vijay K. Sharma

Background: Infectious keratitis is a major cause of corneal blindness throughout the world. There are guidelines and protocols for management of infectious keratitis, but these are rarely practiced by the treating physician. The aim of this study is to find the first medical contact management profile in a tertiary care Centre in north India and compare it to the previous studies to see the changing patterns of first contact management in our country.Methods: The data for the study was collected by retrospective data review of 100 consecutive patients with infectious keratitis. Various parameters were studied and statistical correlation established, where it was felt necessary. The parameters were age and sex distribution, first medical contact, initial treatment prescribed, time interval for first medical contact, inciting factors for corneal ulcer, bacterial and fungal culture spectrum, visual recovery after medical and surgical treatment.Results: Data review of 100 consecutive patients with infectious keratitis was done. More than 70% of patients were above 40 years of age. In 54% of patients, no inciting agent could be identified. The first medical contact for majority of patients was ophthalmologists in independent practice (48%). Time interval for first contact to any health professional varied from one day to 75 days with mean 4.63 days. Moxifloxacin hydrochloride   eye drops was the most commonly used drug.   Staphylococcus epidermidis was the commonest isolate grown in the culture (38.9%).Conclusions: Early diagnosis and appropriate management of infectious keratitis is important and role of first medical contact of patient is most crucial in final outcome.

JMS SKIMS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-49
Author(s):  
Javaid Ahmad Bhat ◽  
Shariq Rashid Masoodi

Apropos to the article by Dr Bali, titled “Mupirocin resistance in clinical isolates of methicillin-sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a tertiary care centre of North India” (1), the authors have raised important issue of emerging antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious threat to global public health that requires action across all government sectors and society. As per WHO, AMR lurks the effective prevention and management of an ever-increasing spectrum of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, fungi and viruses. Novel resistance mechanisms are emerging and spreading globally, threatening the man’s ability to treat common infectious diseases.


Healthline ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-107
Author(s):  
Arti Agrawal ◽  
Vikas Kumar ◽  
Sanjeev Kumar ◽  
Neha K Mani

Introduction: Dengue virus infection is a major public health issue prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical countries all over the world mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. WHO estimates about 50-100 million dengue infections worldwide every year. The present study is aimed to assess the prevalence and seasonal distribution of dengue disease during three consecutive years from 2016-2018 at a tertiary care centre of North India. Method: This is an observational retrospective study conducted on total 6,481 clinical suspected cases referred from indoor and outdoor departments of Medicine and Pediatrics of one of the medical colleges of Agra during the period from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2018. Results: The maximum positivity was recorded in the year 2016 (16.66%), followed by 2017 (14.07%) and 2018(13.56%).Our study shows male preponderance with maximum cases in the year 2018 was recorded in the month of October (22.75%) whereas the lowest in the month of May (1.96%). Most of the cases were in the age group 0-30 years with a male preponderance. The outbreak occurred during the months of August to November indicating vector transmission in the monsoon and post-monsoon season. Conclusion: From the analysis, this study reflects that the numbers of dengue cases in 2016 were maximum and outnumbered the dengue cases among three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018. The peak in dengue positivity was observed during September to October. As this disease affects the population in the monsoon and post monsoon months therefore continuous monitoring of dengue infection is important during the post-monsoon season.


2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 726-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Grover ◽  
Nandita Hazari ◽  
Jitender Aneja ◽  
Subho Chakrabarti ◽  
Sunil Sharma ◽  
...  

Background and Aim: The goal of treatment in mental illness has evolved from a symptom-based approach to a personal recovery–based approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictors of personal recovery among patients with bipolar disorder. Methodology: A total of 185 patients with bipolar disorder, currently in remission, were evaluated on Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS), Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMIS), Brief Religious coping scale (RCOPE), Duke University Religiosity Index (DUREL), Religiousness Measures Scale, Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS), Young Mania rating scale (YMRS) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. Results: The mean age of the sample was 40.5 (standard deviation (SD), 11.26) years. Majority of the participants were male, married, working, Hindu by religion and belonged to extended/joint families of urban background. In the regression analysis, RAS scores were predicted significantly by discrimination experience, stereotype endorsement and alienation domains of ISMIS, level of functioning as assessed by GAF, residual depressive symptoms as assessed by HDRS and occupational status. The level of variance explained for total RAS score and various RAS domains ranged from 36.2% to 46.9%. Conclusion: This study suggests that personal recovery among patients with bipolar disorder is affected by stigma, level of functioning, residual depressive symptoms and employment status of patients with bipolar disorder.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 1906
Author(s):  
Ashna Kumar ◽  
Javid Ahmad ◽  
Pooja Bharti ◽  
Vasundhara Bakshi

Background: India has one of the highest TB burden globally. Children contribute a significant proportion of TB burden, in whom the diagnosis can be challenging because many childhood diseases mimic TB. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis to prevent poor outcome. Objectives was to evaluate the prevalence and profile of childhood tuberculosis cases and to determine the risk factorsMethods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 6 months at a hospital in north India and the prevalence and profile of the children admitted with the clinical suspicion of tuberculosis was studied. Case specific diagnostic approach was used for diagnosis and the appropriate treatment was instituted.Results: The prevalence of childhood TB was 2.3% among hospitalized children. Of these, 66.5% were males and 33.49% were females. The majority of cases were more than 8 years. The history of contact was present only in 31.1%. Tuberculin skin test was positive in 53.11%. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common type of childhood tuberculosis (45.45%) followed by neurological tuberculosis (42.8%), abdominal tuberculosis (6.45%), tuberculous lymphadenitis (2.63%), others (2.61%). Malnutrition was a potent contributing factor present in 91.86%. The mortality rate observed in the study was 9.56%.Conclusions: Owing to the high burden of tuberculosis among pediatric population in India, there is an alarming need to develop more economical and advanced diagnostic methods for better patient management and above all there is urgent need of the hour to educate the masses about the transmission and risk factors for this disease.


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