ABSTRACT
Objective: Early detection of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in apparently healthy attendants of tertiary care hospital and assessment of its severity
Study Design: Cross-sectional, observational study
Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted from January 2015 to July 2015 at Dow University Hospital, Ojha campus
Methodology: A screening method was designed for apparently healthy individuals including attendants of patients, hospital staff, faculty and students, belonging to age group 18-60 years after excluding severe obesity and already diagnosed respiratory and cardiovascular diseases by means of history. Each participant performed pulmonary function tests via spirometer after filling a questionnaire based on various risk factors and symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]. Data was entered and analysed by SPSS-20
Results: Out of the 517 participants, 122 [23.6%] were found to have COPD diagnosed by means of spirometry. Out of these, 23 [4.4%] had COPD stage I, 42 [8.1%] had COPD II, 34 [6.6%] had COPD III, and 23 [4.4%] had COPD IV. Exposure to smoking, wooden stoves, pesticides, biomass fuel, aerosol sprays, gas grill and vehicle exhaust were found to be statistically significant factors in relation to development of COPD
Conclusion: Apparently healthy individuals may have underlying COPD and active screening by means of spirometry plays vital role in early detection of COPD. Smoking and exposure to certain hazardous environmental pollutants are responsible for the development and progression of COPD
ABSTRACT
To determine the haematological and biochemical indicators for the early diagnosis of dengue viral infection. A case series. At Medical Unit-III, Ward 7, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and referred cases from Faiz-e-Rehman Hospital, Metroville, Karachi from September to November 2007. Patients presenting with a fever of less than 2 weeks duration, generalized morbiliform rash and bleeding manifestations were included. Clinical history was recorded and patients were placed on fluid and haematological support. Diagnosis was established by Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] for dengue virus or detection of dengue virus specific IgM and IgG. Results: One hundred and four patients met the inclusion criteria during the study period. Sixty six patients had clinical and haematological features suggestive of grade I Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever [DHF]; 34 patients had grade II DHF and 4 had grade III DHF out of whom 3 progressed to grade IV DHF. All the patients presented with fever followed by generalized morbiliform rash [81.73%], vomiting [79.8%], abdominal pain [65.38%], backache [62.5%], depression [60.6%] and mucosal bleeding manifestations [34.6%]. Clinically, conjunctival infection was present in 93 patients [89.4%], hepatomegaly 59 [56.7%], lymphadenopathy in 17 [16.3%], splenomegaly in 13 [12.5%], pleural effusion in 11 [10.5%] and ascites in 8 [7.6%]. Common laboratory findings were thrombocytopenia in 100% patients, leucopenia in 55 [52.8%], raised hematocrit in 52 [50%], and elevated aminotransferases, gamma GT in 100 [96%] patients. The overall mortality was 2.88%. In this series clinical history and examination supported by the triad of thrombocytopenia, raised hematocrit and elevated liver enzymes was sufficient for the early diagnosis of dengue hemorrhagic fever without waiting for dengue serology