Tongue Piercing: experience of piercees and practice of piercers in Klang Valley, Malaysia

@#To explore the phenomenon of tongue piercing in Klang Valley. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with piercers and those who had their tongue pierced (“piercees”) in Klang Valley. Five piercers and eight piercees were interviewed. Piercees had their tongue pierced at age 16-25 years. Three main reasons for tongue piercing were to enhance appearance, express their individuality, and out of curiosity. They reported that they experienced various immediate and late complications. However, most were aware of and expected the complications. The majority of piercers reported adequate infection control procedures and enquired about the client’s health prior to piercing. Although some clients reported problems, such reports were rare. Tongue piercing is an invasive procedure with some risks, but precautions such as proper infection control procedures minimize the likelihood of encountering serious problems. The reasons for tongue piercing varied between individuals. Although the majority of the interviewed piercers reported cross-infection control, their knowledge of the medical risks associated with tongue piercing varied widely.

Amoebic liver abscess; incodence and outcome

Amoebic liver abscess is a common infection in third world countries like ours due to poor sanitary arrangements. It presents with severe pain and high grade fever and if not diagnosed and treated promptly, may lead to complications and mortality. To estimate the incidence, need for aspiration and treatment outcome. Case series study. At respective consultations centers in Faisalabad. From 1[st], January, 2007 to 31[st] December 2008. All patients suspected of the diagnosis of liver abscess whether presenting to physicians or surgeon were referred for ultrasonography for the confirmation of the diagnosis. Basic biodata, coexisting medical or surgical diseases and relevant investigation were recorded, and patient was assessed for the need to aspirate the abscess. After initial treatment patients were reassessed for the need to aspirate the abscess on third, tenth and twentieth day both clinically and ultrasonically. We had 188 cases in the study. There were 128 [68%] males and 60 [32%] females. Majority, 156 [76.6%], of the abscesses were single, 40 [21%] had double and 4 [2%] had three abscesses. 166 [83%] were situated in the right lobe, 28[15%] in the left lobe and 4 [2%] had abscess in both lobes. 16 [9%] were aspirated at presentation due to their size or position. Only 4 [2%] were aspirated at first follow-up on third day due to non resolution of pain or fever or increase in size. All the patients who were not lost from follow up responded to standard treatment of metronidazole. Amoebic liver abscess is a common diagnosis in our setup. Patients presents with right upper quadrant pain and fever. Clinical background and ultrasonogram give a reasonable suggestion about amoebic etiology. If initial aspiration is not indicated due to size larger than 5cm. or proximity to surface or nonresolution of symptoms or lesion in left lobe, conservative treatment with oral or intravenous metronidazole is successful

Effects of summer and winter on blood picture among young adults

To find out the effects of summer and winter seasons. The blood pictures of 252 healthy students were studied in the last week of June, 2006 and the last week of January, 2007. Total leucocyte, absolute neutrophil, absolute lymphocyte and red blood cell counts and hamemoglobin concentration were highly significantly [P < 0.001] higher in the summer than in the winter. Packed cell volume was also significantly [P < 0.01] higher in the summer. Mean corpuscular volume [MCV] mean corpuscular haemoglobin [MCH], mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration [MCHC] and platelet count showed a non-significant [P > 0.05] difference between the two seasons. It is concluded that there are significant seasonal variations in the blood picture of healthy young adults

Hallervorden-spatz syndrome magnetic resonance image [MRI] appearance

25 years male presented to the medical outdoor with signs and symptoms of extra pyramidal dysfunction and abnormal body movements and reflexes. Initial diagnosis was Wilson disease. Patient was referred to MRI department for brain MRI. On MRI images there were typical findings of hallervordon - spatz syndrome

Assessment of health services provided to the prisoners with pulmonary tuberculosis at central jail hospital, Multan

Prisoner department of the Punjab consist of 28 jails, out of which two are situated in Multan. Currently 52,596 prisoners confined in a space with official accommodation capacity of 17,413. To assess, health services provided to the prisoners with pulmonary tuberculosis at central jail hospital Multan, a descriptive cross sectional study was conducted involving 35 prisoners. A semi structured interview questionnaire was designed to determine client's satisfaction. A checklist was designed to assess health facilities and TB case management. Study was conducted in December 2000. All patients who were present at the time of interview were included in this study. Thirty-five prisoners were included in the study and were interviewed. Health facilities being provided to the inmates were assessed to study the current practices and factors affecting the management of sick inmates confined in the jail. Almost 65.7% of the prisoners belonged to the age group ranging from 21-40. Only male prisoners were included in the study. Majority of these prisoners 78% were facing still trials in their concerned courts. Majority belonged to labour and fanner's class and 51.3% were held under section 302. According to conservative estimates one third of the world's Population is infected with the T.B. Bacillus. There are 15 - 20 millions cases of infectious tuberculosis in the word. This infectious pool is maintained by the occurrence of 4 - 5 million new cases[1]. The magnitude of the problem is such that WHO declared it a global emergency in 1993. More recently during 1996, estimated 7.4 million people developed tuberculosis bringing the global suffers to about 22 millions[2]. La Pakistan out of approximately 130jnillion Populations, about 15 millions suffer from T.B. More than 210,000 new cases occur each year[3]. Tuberculosis affects almost every stratum of the society including prisoners visiting the Jails. Due to some unavoidable circumstances prisoners carry a much greater burden of various diseases than other members of society. Like other developing countries prisoners in Pakistan are suffering from a lot of health and social problems. The incidence of T.B. among prisoners has long been recognized as a significant problem. Since 1985 the problem of active T.B. has been exacerbated by the increasing prevalence of HIV. The prevalence tuberculosis of prisoners was 30% and the incidence of new infection attributable to incarceration was 5.9 per 100 inmates per year[4]. The basic health facilities such as adequate supply of essential medicines, necessary diagnostic facilities, provision of specialized care to the needy prisoners and their timely referral to the tertiary care facility, are not upto the required standard to maintain harmony in the prison health services. At times, the prisoners are not being provided with the proper emergency care[5]