A study of detection of diarrhoea associated human rotavirus and co-infection with diarrhoea genic pathogens in childhood stool specimen by using ELISA and RT-PCR in a tertiary care hospital at Indore, Madhya Pradesh

Background: Childhood diarrhoea mainly caused by Group A Rotavirus, is a major global health issue, especially for children under five. In India, RVA-induced diarrhoea causes numerous deaths, hospitalizations, and outpatient visits annually. Vaccination is crucial in preventing RVA, with WHO-approved oral vaccines significantly reducing global mortality and morbidity. However, challenges persist in implementing vaccines in regions like sub-Saharan Africa due to factors like malnutrition and unsanitary conditions. Despite this, since 2009, low-income countries have seen a decline in RVA-related illness. Methods: Over 18 months, from January 2021 to June 2022, a study at the Post Grad Dept. of Microbiology, Index Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre in Indore, MP, involved 250 children under five with acute gastroenteritis. Ethical clearance and parental consent were obtained. Data included demographic, antenatal, diarrhoea l symptoms, feeding, hygiene, physical exams, and stool analysis. Results: 250 children under five were screened for Rotavirus. 60 tested positive, mostly in 6–12-month-olds during cooler months in urban areas. 80% were from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Exclusive breastfeeding linked to lower incidence. Vomiting and severe dehydration more frequent in positive cases. ELISA and ICG methods equally effective. Conclusions: Childhood diarrhoea, primarily caused by Rotavirus, remains a leading cause of under-five deaths, totalling 600,000 annually. Among 250 children studied, 60 tested positive for Rotavirus, especially among males aged 7-12 months, with infections peaking in cooler months. Both ELISA and ICG were equally effective in detection. Treatment primarily involves oral rehydration with low osmolarity ORS. Predominant strains were G1 P (8) and G2 P (4). Global endorsement of rotavirus vaccines like Rotarix and Rotateq, with Rotavac showing promise in India, signals progress in fighting rotavirus, potentially improving public health via inclusion in state immunization programs.

Undescended testicle: An update on fertility in cryptorchid men.

Cryptorchidism or undescended testis is one of the most common anomalies encountered in paediatric urology and is estimated to affect 1 to 4 per cent of full term and upto 30 per cent of preterm male neonates. The associated problems of sub-fertility or infertility and malignant transformation have been recognized for long. Fertility is impaired after both unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism. The reported paternity rates in adults are about two-third for unilateral undescended testis and less than one-third for bilateral disease. Over the last five decades, the concepts related to cryptorchidism have changed dramatically as knowledge about its effects has accrued from research conducted worldwide. The recommended age of orchidopexy has fallen progressively from adolescence to less than one year. The realization that the infantile testes are not in a state of ‘suspended animation’ and the recognition of the defect in the androgen dependent transformation of gonocytes into adult dark spermatogonia in cryptorchidism have been recognized as the primary cause of sub-fertility in these patients. This has paved the way for hormone therapy in an attempt to simulate the ‘post-natal gonadotropin surge’ or ‘mini-puberty’. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the various factors affecting the fertility status in cryptorchidism with a particular focus on the derangements in the development and maturation of the germ cells and the role of surgery, hormone therapy and antioxidants in reversing these changes.

Unusual occurrence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in a family.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is now a well known entity in asthmatic patients. Despite the familial occurrence of bronchial asthma, the familiar occurrence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a rarity. Here 2 cases of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in a family (brother and sister), treated with prednisolone with complete remission are reported. The clinicans should have a high index of suspicion to investigate all the members of a patient with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, who are having history of asthma or rhinitis.

Double gastric outlet obstruction with epidermolysis bullosa in a neonate.

We report a 2-day-old baby who had double gastric outlet obstruction, rectovaginal fistula and associated epidermolysis bullosa. She recovered after excision of diaphragms, pyloroplasty and pelvic colostomy.