ABSTRACT
Background: Childhood tuberculosis is common in developing country like India. The diagnosis in most cases is still based on clinical evidence. Objectives: This study aims at describing clinicoepidemiological profile of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) patients and to document experiences of them. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study done in a city of Gujarat during 2014–2016. Patients registered under revised national TB control program included in this study. Results: The most common presenting symptom is fever followed by cough, swelling, etc. Swelling is not commonly associated with other symptoms and presents as the second most commonly perceived the first symptom. Almost 70% of parents consulted one or more private practitioner before coming to government hospital. The present study finds out statistically significant difference between the family history of TB and the type of TB. It was also noted that more number of boys were first consulted to the private hospital than girls and it’s also statistically significant. Conclusion: Symptoms of pediatric TB not easily correlated with TB by parents of patient as well as many private practitioners. Patients having family history of TB have more chances of pulmonary TB than others.
ABSTRACT
Background: Tobacco use is the leading cause of Preventable death, Tobacco use during adolescence increases the risk of persistent addiction, leading to regular and sustained tobacco use in adulthood. Objective: To assess the prevalence and practice of tobacco use among the school going adolescents in a block of Vadodara district, Gujarat. Material & Methods: Multiphase sampling was done to select the sample students (13 to 17 years) from private and government schools in a selected block of Vadodara. A cross-sectional study including 1045 students was carried out using a pre-designed and pre-tested proforma. Results: Out of 1045 students, 3% (n=32) tried cigarette smoking ever, one or two puffs and 1.8% (19 students) of students were current cigarette or beedi smokers. Around 27.9% students and 23% students admitted that at least one of their parents and friends smoked cigarettes, respectively. About 24% and 44% of the students were exposed to passive smoking at home and outside home, respectively. Conclusions: Present study provides the baseline information of prevalence of smoking and attitude of school going adolescents towards smoking in Gujarat. The result gives an alarm to work upon tobacco control among adolescents and make them aware about the hazards.