Prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders among school student of Purba Medinipur, 2018: a cross sectional study

Background: Iodine deficiency disorder is one of the preventable public health diseases in India. Prevalence of goiter is also still prevalence at sub-Himalayan region of West Bengal. Study was conducted to assess prevalence of goiter among school students between 6 and 12 years age, to find out urinary excretion of iodine and iodine content in salt sample and to recommend for consuming iodized salt.Methods: We conducted the study among the school students aged 6 to 12 years during the month of June 2018 in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. Multistage cluster sampling method was conducted for selecting the study population. Clinical examination was done by medical officer to detect goiters. Salt and urine samples were taken from the selected students and were sent to State Iodine Monitoring Laboratory, Kolkata for examination of iodine content in household salt samples and urine samples.Results: Total 2821 students were examined for survey. Over all prevalence of goiter was 3.75% (109/2821). Girls had more prevalence 4.63% than boys 3.18%. Average urinary iodine excretion (UIE) level is 184.74% in 30 clusters of 339 urine samples. Only 5.60% showed UIE level ≤100 microgram/liter. Total 541 household salt samples were tested for iodine and average iodine content was 22.85%. Among them 91.5% (495) had iodine ≥15 ppm indicating adequate iodine contents in salt samples.Conclusions:Purba Medinipur may be considered a non-endemic district. We recommended continuing use of iodized salt.

Asymptomatic hypertension among IT professionals and its association with known risk factors in Kolkata: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Hypertension remains silent, being generally asymptomatic during its clinical course. As it is hidden beneath an outwardly asymptomatic appearance, the disease does immense harm to the body in the form of 'Target Organ' damage; hence, the WHO has named it the 'Silent Killer'. In our country, prevalence of hypertension has been estimated to be between 20% to 40% in urban adults which is likely to expand to 200 million by 2025, with equal numbers among men and women. Job related psychosocial stress and sedentary life styles may directly and indirectly contribute to development of hypertension among the IT professionals. Aims & Objective: To find out the association of the risk factors among per chance detected hypertensive of IT professionals of an IT company. Material and Methods: This cross sectional study was undertaken after getting informed verbal consent from 91 professionals of a IT company a predesigned self-employed questionnaire regarding demographic and lifestyle information were taken. Blood pressure was measured by using the standardized sphygmomanometer. All the participants were requested to take rest for ten minutes. Blood pressure was measured in the sitting posture with two separate readings were taken at an interval of minimum five minutes. The average of the two readings was taken and JNC VII classification was followed. Results: Among 91 IT professionals 14 were recorded to be detected per chance hypertensive. Of the known risk factors age (OR= 1.322; p=.001), Basal metabolic index (BMI) (OR=1.589; p=.000), smoking habit (OR=9.931; p= .004) were significantly associated with hypertension. Pack years of smoking and duration of alcohol consumption were also to be significantly associated with hypertension. Conclusion: As among the significant risk factors four are modifiable more emphasis to be given on life-style modification and periodically blood pressure check-up should be initiated to detect hypertension early.

Comparing outcomes in new pulmonary sputum positive and sputum negative cases under RNTCP in rural India.

Setting: The study was carried out at the Bagula TU, Nadia, West Bengal, India. Objective: To find out the treatment outcomes of new smear negative cases, in low HIV prevalence population, and to compare the results with new smear positive cases in the same population. Design: It was a retrospective record based study. All patients registered between January 1999 and June 2005 were divided into new smear positive and new smear negative groups and the difference in the outcomes analysed. Results: Favourable outcome was less in new smear negative cases, compared to new smear positive (84% vs. 86%, p= 0.002).Death and default were more in new smear negative cases, compared to new smear positive (death: 6.8% vs. 3.7%; default: 6.02% vs. 4.18%), (p < 0.05). Failure and transferred out were non- significantly higher in new smear positive group. Conclusions: Smear negative patients had a worse treatment outcome compared to smear positive patients including lower favourable outcomes and higher deaths and defaults. The possible reasons need to be explored and corrective actions need to be taken accordingly.

Pediatric tonsillopharyngitis--an evaluation of cefprozil in Indian patients.

OBJECTIVE: The emergence of penicillin resistant strains and the presence of co-pathogens have made the treatment of bacterial infections in children a challenge. Streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis, which is a common infection has been well treated with cefprozil, a novel third generation cephalosporin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate cefprozil in pediatric tonsillopharyngitis. An assessment of the clinical cure and bacteriological eradication rates and an overall tolerability was made. METHODS: It was a prospective, open, non-comparative multicentric study. 316 children (mean age 6.61 years) with tonsillopharyngitis were included. Patients were given cefprozil susp 15 mg/kg/day in two divided doses a day for 10 days. RESULTS: A clinical cure of 96.6% and bacteriological eradication of 94.29% was achieved with cefprozil. Overall tolerability of cefprozil was assessed by physicians and 46% rated tolerability of cefprozil as excellent, 38% as very good, 10% as good, 6% as fair and none as poor. CONCLUSION: Cefprozil has been found to be an excellent drug of superior microbiological and clinical activity in the treatment of pediatric patients with tonsillopharyngitis. The drug also has an expanded spectrum.

Efficacy and tolerability assessment of cefprozil in children with acute otitis media.

Young children contract as many as six to eight upper respiratory tract viral infections per year, and these infections frequently lead to secondary bacterial infections such as acute otitis media and sinusitis. Cefprozil is an orally active third generation cephalosporin which has demonstrated activity against the gram-positive organisms Streptococcus pyogenes, pneumoniae and agalactiae and against methicilin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. Cefprozil is also active against various gram-ves and certain anaerobic organisms, and is stable to hydrolysis by a number of b-lactamases. Present study is an effort to study the efficacy and safety of cefprozil in children with acute otitis media. Three hundred and thirty four children aged 6 months through 12 years with clinical symptoms and tympanic membrane signs of AOM received cefprozil 30 mg/kg/day in two divided doses per day for 10 days. Clinically, 96.6% patients were cured, 2.4% improved and there was failure of therapy in 1% of the patients. There was no need for any rescue medication and any change in antibiotic in any patient. A satisfactory bacteriological outcome was (i.e. cure, presumed cure, and cure plus reinfection with a different pathogen) was achieved in 95% of patients. In conclusion, cefprozil is a well tolerated and effective drug for acute otitis media in children. Moreover, its expanded spectrum of activity, ability to achieve adequate concentrations in tissues, suitability for twice-daily dosing, and proven tolerability suggest that it is a better alternative to agents conventionally used in acute otitis media.