Knowledge, attitude and practices for dengue fever prevention

The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge regarding dengue fever prevention among general population and whether preventive measures are being practiced in the community in response to various campaigns on media by the government. A cross-sectional descriptive study. Population residing near Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore. Oct 2006-Dec 2006. Two hundred six respondents, both male and female, were interviewed. Respondents were selected by non-probability convenient sampling. Almost 69.9% of respondents were aware and had knowledge about dengue fever. A strong correlation of knowledge was observed with gender, education, employment, marital status and socioeconomic status [p<0.05]. The main source of information [59.3%] was television [Health Ministry's advertisement]. Regarding knowledge of symptoms, 28.6% recognized high grade fever for three to five days as symptom, 12.9% recognized skin rashes, 8.3% severe headache, 7.6% muscular and joints pain, 5.3% recognized nausea and vomiting as symptoms of dengue. 53.2% of respondents were satisfied with government efforts in providing information about recent dengue fever epidemic. The most frequently used preventive measures were mosquito coil and mats [38.1%], mosquito spray 14.8% mosquito repellents 7.8% and closing of the windows and doors 34.7% in the evening time and 36.7% used long sleeved shirts and trousers to save themselves from mosquito bite. Health education through media increased public awareness about the dengue fever and effectively motivated them to implement the preventive measures. This change in attitude has helped control the disease in the community

Efficacy of immunoassay chromatography test for hepatitis-C antibodies detection

To assess the efficacy of commercially available tests device method for anti HCV detection. Total 2000 blood samples for detection of anti HCV were screened initially by immunochromatographic method. Those found positive on initial screening were re-tested by ELISA method at the Biochemistry Laboratory of the Pakistan Medical Research Council, Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore. Out of a total of 2, 000 blood samples, 177 were found to be initially reactive/positive for anti-HCV with immunochromatographic method. When these reactive/positive samples were retested for confirmation with ELISA, 47 blood samples were found to have tested false positive for anti-HCV by immunochromatographic device method. Immunochromatographic device method test is rapid and simple, which can be used in setting with limited facility when rapid testing is required. However it should not be used as sole criteria for diagnosis but should serve the purpose of initial screening only. Further research is required to establish the reliability of such devices for their specificity and sensitivity

ENT Mnifestations of wegener's granulomatosis

The purpose of this study was to find out the presenting features, diagnostic problems, treatment, and prognosis of Wegener's granulomatosis [WG], with special reference to ENT manifestations. It was a prospective descriptive study. The study was conducted at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences [PIMS], Islamabad, from 1st March1999 to 30th Sep 2001. The ten patients included in this study comprised of six males and four females, with a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. The age of patients ranged from 16 years to 55 years with an average age of 38.5 years. The most common presentation in our patients was due to nasal involvement of disease. Nasal obstruction, epistaxis, and rhinorrhoea was seen in 80% of patients with WG. Next common symptom was headache [60%] followed by other symptoms Two patients had ear pain and conductive deafness along with nasal symptoms. One patient in addition to nasal symptoms mentioned presented with saddle nose deformity. One patient presented with hoarseness and progressive stridor, having subglottic stenosis as an isolated finding. Most common symptoms in WG localized to ENT region are nasal obstruction, rhinorrhoea and epistaxis. Biopsy and c-ANCA have key role in diagnosis of WG. ESR has a good prognostic relevance

Prevalence of congenital duplication of collecting system in Pakistan

The urogenital system is more likely to have birth defects than any other system. Of all the urinary tract anomalies, Double ureter is the most common one. It may be incomplete [bind ureter] or complete duplication. In order to collect data for this various medical colleges were approached and 120 cadaveric kidney pairs were examined for the presence or absence of double ureters. It was found that 02 out of all examined kidney pairs were showing this anomaly. One pair was having bilateral double ureters while other was showing right sided ureteric duplication