ABSTRACT
Background: This study was carried out with the objectives to study the clinical profile and to find the outcome of children admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Kurnool medical college and hospital, Andhra Pradesh.Methods: A retrospective study was carried in children aged more than 28 days to 12 years admitted in PICU from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2016 when a total of 600 patients were admitted.Results: Out of these, 400 (66.66%) cases were males and 200 (33.33%) cases were females. Maximum numbers of patients were in the age group of more than 28 days to 1 year which constituted 325 (54.16%) cases. This was followed by 1 year to less than 5 years age group which constituted 150 (i.e. 25%) cases. Under 5 years aged children constituted 500 (83.33%) cases. Next most common age group admitted was 5 years to 10 years with 85 (i.e. 14.16%) cases and 10 to 12 years age group constituted 40 (6.66%) cases. In this study, central nervous system was the commonest system involved (n=195, 32.5%). Other systems involved were: respiratory system (n=122, 20.33%), cardiovascular system (n=65, 10.83%), gastro-intestinal system (n=32, 5.33%), hematological (n=35, 5.83%) and renal system (n=23, 3.83%).'' Other causes include infections (n=97, 16.16%), metabolic (n=17, 2.83%), down syndrome (n=7, 1.16%) and poisoning (n=7, 1.16%) etc.Conclusions: Out of the 600 patients admitted to PICU, 168 (28%) patients died. 315 (52.5%) cases improved.' 117 (19.5%) cases constituted those who were shifted to higher centre or another department or were taken against medical advice.
ABSTRACT
Background: Mechanical ventilation, a lifesaving intervention in a critical care unit is under continuous evolution in modern era. Despite this, the management of children with invasive ventilation in developing countries with limited resources is challenging. The study analyses the clinical profile, indications, complications and duration of ventilator care in limited resource settings.'Methods: A retrospective study of critically ill children mechanically ventilated in an intensive care unit of a tertiary care government hospital.' 'Results: A total of 120 children required invasive ventilation during the study period of 1 year. Infants constituted the majority (70%), and males (65%) were marginally more than female children (35%). Respiratory failure was the most common indication for invasive ventilation (55%). The major underlying etiology for invasive ventilation was bronchopneumonia associated with septic shock (30%); and the same also required a prolonged duration of ventilation of >72 hours (35%). Prolonged ventilator support of >72 hours predisposed to more complications as well as a prolonged hospital stay of >2 weeks and above, which was statistically significant. Upper lobe atelectasis (50%) and ventilator associated pneumonia (25%) were the major complications. The mortality rate of present study population was 40% as opposed to the overall mortality of 10%.' 'Conclusions: Present study highlights that critically ill children can be managed with mechanical ventilation even in limited resource settings. The child should be assessed clinically regarding the tolerance to extubation every day, to minimise the complications associated with prolonged ventilator support.
ABSTRACT
Background: Allergic rhinitis and asthma are two very common allergic diseases of respiratory tract in pediatric patients. In this geographical area, where the prevalence of allergens exists, the role of allergens as the etiological factor is higher in allergic respiratory disorders. Confirmation of allergen as etiologic agent is cumbersome in a small setup, where IgE estimation and allergy tests are not accessible. In this study, the simple test of peripheral smear and nasal smear eosinophil count as a reliable diagnosis to solve the above problem and establishing allergy as etiological agent has been tried.Methods: A present study which was conducted over 2 years in children between 2 to 12 years who visited tertiary health care centre, Kurnool medical college and general hospital. The allergic respiratory cases based on typical history and clinical features were included in the study and investigated for nasal and blood eosinophilia. Children with TB, recurrent and chronic pneumonia, malnutrition, malignancy, collagen vascular disorders and those who are on steroid therapy were excluded from the study. The clinical profile of allergic rhinitis with or without asthma and nasal and blood eosinophils are studied.Results: Out of 120 patients, there was male predominance and incidence was increasing as age increases. Dust is the most common risk factor for allergic rhinitis followed by weather changes, whereas in allergic rhinitis with bronchial asthma, weather change is common risk factor followed by dust and family history.Conclusions: In children with allergic rhinitis with or without bronchial asthma, there is positive relation between nasal and peripheral smear eosinophil count.