ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers in the city of North eastern region of India. Materials and Methods: Three hundred food-handlers were included to in this study. The stool samples were collected from the subjects and examined for intestinal parasites following direct microscopic examination and Formol Ether concentration (Ritchie) technique. Results: The majority (88.63%) of the food-handlers (cases) were young adults and middle aged from 20 to 49 years. Eighty eight (29.33%) stool specimens were positive showing 99 different diagnostic stages of parasites. Some specimens were infected by more than 1 parasite. Ascaris lumbricoides 37(37.37%) was most frequent among the different detected intestinal parasites followed by Entamoeba histolytica 21(21.21%). Other parasites were Trichuris trichiura 10(10.10%), Giardia lamblia 9(9.09%) and Taenia species 5(5.05%). Most of the food handlers were having poor hygiene residing in rural area and slums. Conclusion: Routine screening of food handlers is a valuable tool for prevention of food-borne infections among the public. In addition we should provide health education emphasizing the importance of food handlers as potential sources of infections and suggested health institutions for appropriate hygienic and sanitary control measures.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the various bacterial, fungal and neoplastic causes of hemoptysis in patients of different age groups in a teaching hospital in western Uttar Pradesh (U.P) Materials & Methods: One hundred & Eighty patients who were admitted to the Department of Chest & T.B and in the Department of Medicine from Jan 2010 to Jan 2012 were included in this study. The patients were characterized on the basis of Clinical signs & symptoms, physical examination, complete blood count with platelets, bleeding time, clotting time, prothrombin time [clotting profile] chest radiography, CT scan, bronchoscopy, histopathological examination and microbial examination including culture of sputum & Bronchoalveolar Lavage. Results: Out of 180 patients admitted, 114 were males & 66 were females. The cause has been identified in 55 patients (32 males & 23 females) while in remaining cases the cause was undiscovered. Pulmonary tuberculosis was identified as the most leading cause of hemoptysis (38.16%) [Mycobacterium tuberculosis alone and M. tuberculosis with other bacteria in case of coinfection], followed by bacterial agents [Staphylococcus aureus (9.09%), Klebsiella spp (9.09%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.45%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (1.81%). Among the fungal agent we have found Aspergillus spp (10.9%) and Mucor in 1 case (1.81%). The other group of patients include the neoplasms (20.0%). Coinfection was seen among (14.54%) patients and the agents were [Mycobacterium tuberculosis & Pseudomonas aeruginosa] (5.45%), [M. tuberculosis & S. aureus] (3.63%), [M.tuberculosis & klebsiella spp] (1.81%), [Klebsiella & S.aureus] (3.63 %) Conclusion: In developing countries like India with such an increasing population, hemoptysis is one of the potentially life threatening symptom of underlying respiratory tract infection. An adequate & efficient evaluation of the etiological agents causing hemoptysis plays a pivotal role in management of such patients. The purpose of this study was to identify the different etiological agents along with the other causes of hemoptysis.