Air pollution and nasal mucociliary clearance time among urban and rural residents in two Philippine communities

Objective@#To measure the nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) time among adults residing in two Philippine communities with different air quality indices using the saccharin and methylene blue test. @*Methods@#Design: Cross-Sectional Study. Setting: Diliman, Quezon City and Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Participantss: Fifty (50) participants, 25 residing in an urban city with fair air quality index and 25 residing in a rural province with good air quality index. @*Results@#The mean NMC time of the urban group was 22.15±12.68 mins and was significantly longer than the NMC time of the rural group which was 5.29±2.87mins; t(48) = 6.643, p<0.0001). @*Conclusion@#Increased air pollution may be associated with significant prolongation of nasal mucociliary clearance time among urban residents with fair quality air index compared to rural residents with good quality air index.

An impacted live fish in the oropharynx of an 8-year old child

OBJECTIVE: To present an atypical case of a live fish lodged in the throat of a pediatric patient and discuss its management. METHODS: Study Design: Case Report    Setting:                        Tertiary Government HospitalSubject:                       One RESULTS: An 8-year-old girl swallowed a live fish when she accidentally fell in a body of water. Failed attempts to remove the live fish prompted consult in the emergency room of our hospital, where removal of the foreign body was successfully done using Mixter right angle forceps assisted with a gloved finger. Transient cyanosis and unresponsiveness during extraction was overcome with oxygen by mask, and she regained consciousness. She was allowed to go home as no other untoward events or complications were observed.   CONCLUSION:  All ingested foreign bodies, particularly in children, require immediate attention. The survival of patients with upper aerodigestive and airway foreign bodies depends on early recognition and prompt multidisciplinary management. 

An impacted live fish in the oropharynx of an 8-year-old child

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To present an atypical case of a live fish lodged in the throat of a pediatric patient and discuss its management.<br /><strong>METHODS:</strong><br /><strong>Design:</strong> Case Report<br /><strong>Setting:</strong> Tertiary Government Hospital<br /><strong>Patient:</strong> One<br /><strong>RESULT:</strong> An 8-year-old girl swallowed a live fish when she accidentally fell in a body of water. Failed attempts to remove the live fish prompted consult in the emergency room of our hospital, where removal of the foreign body was successfully done using Mixter right angle forceps assisted with a gloved finger. Transient cyanosis and unresponsiveness during extraction was overcome with oxygen by mask and she regained consciousness. She was allowed to go home as no other untoward events or complications were observed.<br /><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> All ingested foreign bodies particularly in children require immediate attention. The survival of patients with upper aerodigestive and airway foreign bodies depends on early recognition and prompt multidisciplinary management.</p>