ABSTRACT
The study was undertaken to establish normograms for PEFR in healthy rural south Indian school children and to derive prediction equations for PEFR with height. PEFR was measured in 1403 children aged 5 to 17 years using Wright's mini peak flow meter. Prediction equations were derived for PEFR with height in boys and girls. Normograms were plotted based on the observed values of PEFR in the study population. Significant linear correlation was seen of PEFR with height in males (p < 0.001, r = 0.856) and in females (p < 0.001, r = 0.762). Prediction equation for PEFR are 4.49 x height (cm) - 384.64 in males and 2.99 x height (cm) - 219.44 in females.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Body Height , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , India/epidemiology , Male , Peak Expiratory Flow Rate , Reference Values , Rural PopulationABSTRACT
A retrospective analysis of childhood Acute Bacterial Meningitis from a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore revealed a winter clustering of cases and an absence of typical signs and symptoms in 40% of patients, with Staphylococcus aureus (10%) and coagulase negative Staphylococcus (9%) being the most common etiological agents. Mortality rate was 8.5%. High priority for the prevention of disease by these pathogens, especially in rural population and during winter, and a high degree of alertness for the detection of atypical disease is warranted.