Study of the Causes of Blindness amongst the Patients in Manipur State: A Retrospective Analytical Study.

Background: Understanding the major causes of blindness is of utmost importance for planning effective strategies against it. The current study was taken up to find out the various causes of permanent visual handicap in the state of Manipur so as to enable to identify the possible preventive measures. Methods: Patients coming for obtaining visual handicap certificate to the Field-based Disability Assessment Camps during the period March 2009 - April 2013 and Eye OPD of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal during the period August 2014 - July 2016 were examined. The degree of disability was estimated based on the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India guidelines. Data for 340 cases were collected and analyzed. Results: Of the total 340 cases, 223 (65.58%) were males giving a M:F ratio of 1.9:1. Mean age (SD) was 26.87 (±19.38) years. Maximum number of cases was in the age group 15-40 yrs. (159, 46.76%). Of the total, 186 (54.70%) patients had 100% blindness followed by 95 (27.95%) cases with 40% disability and 59 (17.35%) cases with 75% disability. Congenital ocular malformation was the commonest with (96, 28.23%) cases followed by corneal diseases with (49, 14.41%) cases.Conclusion: The current study showed a higher prevalence of visual disability in males in the age group of 15-40 yrs. Avoidable blindness comprised nearly one half of the total cases. Early diagnosis and management was the urgent need to prevent blindness due to glaucoma, corneal diseases and some of posterior segment diseases. Congenital ocular malformations and Retinitis pigmentosa could be reduced by genetic counseling and creating awareness.

Profile of Chickenpox Cases in J.N. Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal: A Descriptive Study.

Background: Frequent outbreaks of chickenpox are reported from other parts of India in the recent past. But data regarding it in the North-Eastern parts of the country is non-existent. Hence, the current study was taken up to study the profile of chickenpox cases in the state of Manipur. Methods: Secondary data for the period 2006-15 for new chickenpox cases who attended the outpatient ward of the Dermatology department of J.N. Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), the only state-run teaching medical institution were analysed retrospectively for their background characteristics and time of occurrence. Results: Chickenpox cases comprised 0.61% of all the OPD cases. The mean age of cases was 13.23 (SD±8.33) years. The disease was most common in the age-group of 5-15 years (49.4%). Case attendance was highest during the spring season followed by the wintry months. Cases streaked in throughout the year although it was the least during the months of August, September and October. There was slight male preponderance for the cases (1.24:1). Discussion: The proportion of cases reported was lesser than reports made by other researchers in outbreak situations. The mean age of the cases was slightly on the higher side if compared to previous study findings. The present study finding that cases appeared more during the spring season and the wintry months was also comparable with other study findings made by others in the country. Conclusion: A varicella sero-conversion study might be taken up across the state to assess the risk of impending outbreaks of chickenpox.

Clinical sequelae of Japanese encephalitis in children.

Over a five and a half year period, virological investigations for Japanese encephalitis (JE) were conducted in children admitted with acute encephalitis like illness to a large city hospital. The diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis was made by viral isolation from cerebrospinal fluid and/or a four-fold or higher rise in haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies in paired sera followed by demonstration of specific IgM antibodies by HI test after treatment with 2-mercapto ethanol. All children surviving the illness were contacted by post and followed up for sequelae. A total of 55 children could be followed up after 12-18 months and 22 of these even after 2 yr. A high rate of major sequelae (45.5%) in the form of frank motor deficits (32.7%), mental retardation (21.8%) and/or convulsions (18.2%) was observed. Neurological deficits were of diverse types and improved even after 2 yr of the illness. Fourteen patients (25.4%) had only minor deficits in the form of scholastic backwardness, behavioural problems and/or subtle neurological signs. Only 16 (29.2%) patients were completely normal on follow up. JE may therefore be an important cause of neurological handicap in this area. Sequelae of the disease were more severe if the initial illness was prolonged (P < 0.001, CI 2.45, 12.64), or associated with focal neurological deficits (P < 0.001, CI 1.97, 7.02).