ABSTRACT
A study was conducted on the 52 serologically positive cases of dengue, admitted to the Dept. of Paediatrics, R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, from an outbreak in Kolkata. The most unusual feature observed in this study was that the rash in some cases was urticarial and intensely pruritic. The shock appeared early in the course of the disease and it was less commonly associated with bleeding (22%). One out of three dengue cases was a severe disease. It was not possible to predict a severe disease from the early symptomatology.
Subject(s)
Child , Child, Preschool , Dengue/complications , Severe Dengue/complications , Disease Outbreaks , Female , Hospitals, Teaching/statistics & numerical data , Humans , India/epidemiology , Infant , Male , Severity of Illness Index , Shock/etiologyABSTRACT
A cross sectional study was undertaken in three riverine and two non-riverine blocks of South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal to study the delivery practices and compare between two locality. During the reference period of one year, of 3073 total deliveries, 89.36% were home deliveries. Home deliveries were higher in the riverine blocks (95.07%) compared to non-riverine blocks (81.64%). 'Dai' conducted 58.36% and 90.62% of home deliveries in riverine and non-riverine blocks respectively. Only 18.4% of the 'Dai' were trained.
Subject(s)
Cross-Sectional Studies , Delivery, Obstetric/methods , Female , Home Childbirth/methods , Humans , India , PregnancyABSTRACT
A survey was conducted at an Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme project in North Calcutta among 656 mothers having children less than 3 years of age to assess their perception and practice regarding pulse polio immunisation (PPI). It was revealed that 91.8% of under 3-year children received PPI on 9-12-1995 and 94.4% on 20-1-1996. Major reasons for not accepting the services on those two days included 'mothers unaware' (22%), 'child too small' (30.5%), etc. Major source of first information was television (TV)/radio (57.2%) followed by anganwadi workers (AWWs) (33.8%). However, majority of the mothers were finally motivated for PPI by AWWs (58.8%) followed by the role of TV/radio (34.1%). Although 70.7% mothers knew the name of the vaccine correctly, only 3.5% mothers could tell the exact purpose of its administration. Most mothers (73%) opined that 2 drops of oral polio vaccine (OPV) was administered to their children and only 14.6% hoped that such programmes will be conducted by the Government in future. The average waiting time of mothers at immunisation centres was found to be 7.2 minutes.
Subject(s)
Age Factors , Child, Preschool , Data Collection , Female , Health Education , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Immunization Programs , India , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Mothers , Poliomyelitis/prevention & control , Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral/administration & dosage , Radio , Television , Urban PopulationABSTRACT
The performance of the Diarrhoeal Training cum Treatment Unit (DTTU) of NRS Medical College and Hospital, Calcutta, in a 2-year period was evaluated by record analysis. The study revealed that 73.6% cases out of a total 4349 could be successfully managed at the oral rehydration therapy (ORT) area and only 16.5% cases required indoor admission. Rest of the cases (9.9%) with "no dehydration" were sent home with advice. There were 84.7% cases out 3919 dehydration cases who could be successfully treated by ORT and only 15.3% required intravenous (i.v.) therapy. A definite decline was also evident in the proportion of diarrhoea cases requiring antibiotic therapy (13.5% in 1991 to 6.8% in 1992). The case fatality rate due to diarrhoea was 1.7% in 1992. Had all cases of diarrhoea with dehydration being admitted and treated with i.v. fluids and antibiotics, the estimated cost would have been Rs 14.2 lakhs, which with ORT, actually cost Rs 2.4 lakhs. Thus estimated total cost reduction was to the extent of Rs 11.8 lakhs in a 2-year period.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/economics , Child, Preschool , Dehydration/prevention & control , Diarrhea/mortality , Female , Fluid Therapy/methods , Hospital Costs , Hospitalization/economics , Hospitals, Teaching/organization & administration , Humans , India , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Outpatient Clinics, Hospital/organization & administration , Parents/education , Program Evaluation , Rehydration Solutions/administration & dosage , Survival RateABSTRACT
The prevalence of transmissible viruses, human immunodeficiency (HIV) and hepatitis B (HBV) in blood donors, recipients and blood bank staff in a Calcutta (eastern India) based blood bank and transfusion centre has been studied from 1987-93. HIV seropositivity of blood donors was of recent emergence and was low. Recipients of blood and blood components frequently i.e., haemophilics showed a progressive increase in HIV seropositivity since 1988 whereas in thalassaemics the emergence of HIV seropositivity was noted only in 1992. Blood bank staff were seronegative. HBV which has a similar portal of entry as HIV, had a higher prevalence in blood donors, recipients of blood/components and blood bank staff.
Subject(s)
Blood Banks , Blood Donors , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Seropositivity/epidemiology , Humans , India/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Twenty-seven employees of a blood transfusion centre, Calcutta were vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine (recombinant DNA technology), 20 micrograms/1 ml intramuscularly on 0, 8, 32 weeks interval. The seroconversion rate at 8, 32, 40 weeks were 29.6%, 55.5% and 100% respectively. The recombinant hepatitis B vaccine is acceptable and safe. The seroconversion rate is comparable to plasma derived hepatitis B vaccine.
Subject(s)
Blood Banks , Blood Donors , Female , Health Personnel , Hepatitis B/blood , Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis B Core Antigens/blood , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Hepatitis B Vaccines/administration & dosage , Humans , Male , Mass Screening , Occupational Diseases/blood , Risk Factors , Vaccination , Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosageABSTRACT
The study evaluates the probable alteration of the immune system in multitransfused thalassaemics and the modification of their immune response following administration of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine. B-thalassaemics (n = 50) and EB-thalassaemics (n = 30) who received multiple blood transfusion for the chronic anaemic status had significant iron overload. They had high prevalence for hepatitis B carrier state and almost all were exposed to hepatitis B virus during the course of transfusion as shown by the positivity of hepatitis B virus markers. Thalassaemics in presence of iron overload have altered immune status in terms of depressed T-lymphocytes and raised immunoglobulins G and M. However, they showed 100 per cent seroconversion with production of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen following Hepatitis B vaccination.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Blood Transfusion , Carrier State/immunology , Child , Female , Hepatitis B/diagnosis , Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis B Core Antigens/blood , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Hepatitis B Vaccines/administration & dosage , Humans , Immune Tolerance/immunology , Leukocyte Count , Male , Monitoring, Immunologic , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , beta-Thalassemia/immunologyABSTRACT
In a group of 37 haemophilics, 9 (24.3%) were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), while 9 (24.3%) and 10 (27%) were positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) respectively. Haemophilics who were HIV seropositive had higher prevalence of HBV and HCV. Seropositivity for HIV was more in patients with severe haemophilia A who required frequent factor VIII replacement. The need for long term surveillance of voluntary blood donors for transfusion associated viruses like HIV, HBV and HCV, is emphasized.