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Introduction: Viruses are the most common causative agents of hepatitis today and infect many millions of individuals annually. Viral hepatitis encompasses several diseases and represents a global health problem. It induces major morbidity and mortality and places enormous demands on economic and medical resources.Aim of the Study:Analysis of Anti Hbs Titre in Unimmunised Adolescent Children in Correlation with Socio-Demographic Profile.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics at Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai from April 2017 to March 2018.Vaccinated and unvaccinated (for Hepatitis B vaccine) adolescents between the age group of 10-19 years, who attended the department of Pediatrics, were included in this study.160 adolescents who were vaccinated with Hepatitis B vaccine and 160 adolescents who were unvaccinated with Hepatitis B vaccine in the age group of 10-19 years. A total of 320 adolescents were included in the study. The correlation was done between two group based on socio-demographic data.Results:Among the mothers, 10.93% (35) were illiterates, 25.62% (82) had finished primary school. 33.44% (107) and 21.56%(69) had done middle school and higher secondary school (HSS) respectively. 8.45% (27) were graduates.In the study it was found that 7.19% (23) of fathers were illiterates, 23.44% (75) had stopped with primary school and 18.43%(59) with middle school. 34.69% (111) have done HSS and 16.25% (52) were graduates.Of total adolescents who participated in 25.63% (82) were from rural areas and 74.37% (238) were from urban areas.Among participants, 49.37% (158) belong to lower and 30.63% (98) belonged to lower middle class. The middle class andthe upper middle class had 9.06%(29) and 10.94% (35) respectively.Conclusion: The findings of the present study show the need for catch up vaccination among the adolescent's population, who missed their routine immunization with Hepatitis B vaccine. For health care professionals, this study is a evidence that stresses more about theimportance of providing Hepatitis B vaccination among adolescents.
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Background: Kangaroo mother care provides Low birth weight babies with warmth, protection from infection and increases the success of breast feeding. Babies who had received KMC care were found to have better neurologic outcome. The aim of the study is to compare the outcome of Kangaroo mother care and conventional method of care among Low birth weight babies in terms of growth and reduction of morbidities such as length of hospital stay, hypothermia and hypoglycemia.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 48 neonates with a birth weight of <2000 grams. Out of them 24 babies received KMC and the other 24 babies were given conventional care with a radiant warmer. The weight gain, length of hospital stay, occurrence of hypothermia and hypoglycaemia were monitored for all babies till discharge.Results: Babies who received KMC had a better weight gain (21.11'2.8 grams/day) versus (15.61'2.6 grams/day) those who received conventional care, and this was found to be statistically significant (p=0.001). Kangaroo mother care provided a statistically significant reduction in the risk of having hypothermia (p=0.03) and hypoglycemia (p=0.04). The babies who received Kangaroo mother care had a shorter length of hospital stay and this was found to be statistically significant (p=0.03).Conclusions: Kangaroo mother care improved the growth and reduced the problems of low birth weight babies such as hypothermia, hypoglycaemia and prolonged hospital stay. Hence, it should be recommended in the care of all these high-risk neonates.
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Background: Congenital Dacryocystitis occurs due to the congenital blockage of the nasolacrimal duct, which results from incomplete canalization of the nasolacrimal duct. It is a significant cause of ocular morbidity in children. When not treated early, complications such as recurrent conjunctivitis, acute on chronic dacryocystitis, lacrimal abscess and fistula formation can occur. It is also a threat to the integrity of the eye by becoming the source of infection to orbital cellulitis and panophthalmitis. In the era of antibiotic resistance, the microbiological workup of congenital dacryocystitis is very useful for subsequent treatment. Aim of the study was to determine the microbial profile of congenital dacryocystitis and the appropriate antimicrobial agents based on the sensitivity pattern of the isolated microorganisms.Methods: A total of 25 clinically diagnosed cases of dacryocystitis in children less than 5 years of age attending the outpatient department were included in the study. Samples were collected from these patients and processed by standard microbiological techniques. All the bacterial isolates obtained were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.Results: Culture positivity was noted as 56% in this study.' It is observed that Gram-positive bacteria were the predominant isolates of 86%. The predominant organism isolated was Streptococcus pneumoniae 43%, followed by Staphylococcus aureus 29%, Staphylococcus epidermidis 14% and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 14%. All Gram-positive organisms were highly sensitive to Gatifloxacin and least sensitive to Ciprofloxacin. All Gram-negative organisms were highly sensitive to Tobramycin and least sensitive to Ciprofloxacin and Gentamicin.Conclusions: Streptococcus pneumoniae was the common pathogen in congenital dacryocystitis. Gatifloxacin and Tobramycin are the most effective drugs. Microbial culture and sensitivity should be performed in all dacryocystitis cases. This would contribute to the choice of appropriate and effective antimicrobial agents.
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Background: Dental caries is commonly seen among school children. The World Health Organization has stated it to be one of the leading non-communicable diseases. Objective: To study the prevalence of dental caries among school children and to study the oral hygiene practices in the occurrence of dental caries.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 307 school children aged 10-15 years. Each child was asked about the dental hygiene practices and was examined for the presence of caries.Results: The prevalence of dental caries among school children was found to be 48.9 % with the 95% CI of 43.3% - 54.4%. The prevalence of dental caries was high among children 10-12 years of age 95(53.6%) compared to 55 (42.3%) among children in the age group of 13-15 years (p=0.05). Daily sweet consumption was significantly associated with a higher prevalence 40 (63.5%) of dental caries (p=0.01). Children not consuming vegetables and fruits everyday had a higher prevalence 76.5% dental caries (p = 0.03). Children who are not practicing night brushing had a higher prevalence of 112 (52.8%) of caries (p=0.04). The study showed that only 17.3% of the children visited a dental health care service.Conclusion: Authors found the prevalence of dental caries to be high. Health education regarding the importance of good oral hygiene practices such as night brushing, diet modification and periodic dental visits to all the school children will play a major role in the prevention of dental caries.
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Iodine deficiency disorders affect reproductive performance in the afflicted populations. Environmental iodine deficiency (ID) and goitrogens are important in their aetiology. We observed earlier that chronic maternal dietary ID but not goitrogen feeding altered the blood-brain barrier nutrient transport in adult rats. Whether similar differences exist in their effects on reproduction of dams and postnatal performance of the offspring has been assessed. Inbred, female, weaning WNIN rats were rendered hypothyroid by feeding for 8-12 weeks, a low iodine test diet or a control diet with added potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) (@ 25 mg/rat/day). Following mating with control males, they continued on their respective diets till their pups were weaned. Indices of reproductive performance such as percentage of conception, mortality of dams during pregnancy and parturition, litter size, and survival of pups till weaning were affected markedly by ID but not thiocyanate feeding. Neither ID nor thiocyanate feeding from conception or parturition affected their reproductive performance. Nevertheless, postnatal weight gain of pups was less in all the three ID groups but not thiocyanate fed dams. Rehabilitation of chronically ID pregnant dams from conception or parturition did not improve their pregnancy weight gain, litter size or birth weight of pups but decreased abortion and mortality of mothers during pregnancy and parturition. Rehabilitation improved the pups' postnatal weight gain but the effect was only moderate. Based on the results of the present study it may be suggested that maternal ID but not thiocyanate feeding affects reproductive performance and postnatal performance of their offspring.