Worm infestation and anaemia: a public health problem among tribal pre-school children of Madhya Pradesh.

A study to assess the status of intestinal parasitosis and anaemia was carried out among the pre-school children of Gond tribal community in Kundam block of Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh. A total of 985 pre-school children were covered. The results revealed that 48% pre-school children had intestinal parasitic infections. Common parasites observed among them were Hymenolepis nana, hookworms and roundworms. Mean epg for these parasites ranged from 371.2 to 1221.8. High prevalence of anaemia (86.7%) was also observed among them. This high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and anaemia could be due to indiscriminate defecation, low socio-economic status, ignorance and low standard of personal hygiene. Comprehensive control strategy with specific intervention measures need to be evolved and implemented specially in tribals as serious efforts are being madeby the Govt. for their overall development.

Prevalence of anaemia and worm infestation in tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh.

The study was conducted among school going children (6-14 years) of Baiga, Abuihmadia and Bharia tribes of Madhya Pradesh to assess the prevalence of anaemia and intestinal parasitic infestation among themselves. A total of 776 school going children were included in the study of whom blood samples of all and stool samples of 409 were collected. Their haemoglobin was measured and stool samples were examined under microscope for ova and cysts. The results revealed that 30.3% of the children had severe anaemia (Hb < 7g/dl) and 50% children had intestinal parasites. The most common parasites were hookworn (16.3%) and A lumbricoides (18.5%). Though hookworm ova loads indicated mild to moderate infestation in most of the children, the continued presence of worms in marginally nourished children could contribute significantly to blood loss in the intestine with resultant anaemia.

A new physiological approach to control essential hypertension.

This study was conducted on 20 male patients of Essential Hypertension (EH) in order to explore the possible role of baroreflex mechanism in the etiology of EH and also to find out whether by restoration of baroreflex sensitivity to normal level either by postural tilt stimulus on a tilt table or by the equivalent yogic postural exercise (Yogic asanas), the EH could be cured or controlled. Patients on therapeutic regime were gradually withdrawn from drug therapy, and later divided into two groups of 10 each. Group-I (age 34 +/- 1.7 years) was subjected to a 3 week course of 70 degrees head-up tilt for 30 min daily, while in group-II (age 50 +/- 3.3 years), specific yogic exercises equivalent to head-up or head-down tilt were administered for the same duration. The progressive autonomic readjustments were assessed by a battery of tests including cardiovascular responses to head up tilt, cold pressor response at 4 degrees C water (CPR), alpha index of EEG (AI), level of blood catecholamines (CA) and plasma renin activity (PRA). At the end of 3 weeks, there was a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in blood pressure in both the groups. Progressive changes in BP and HR response to tilt during 3 weeks course of tilt and yogic exercise clearly indicated gradual improvement in baroreflex sensitivity. Likewise, changes in other indices like CPR, AI, CA and PRA indicated progressive attenuation of sypatho-adrenal and renin-angiotensin activity. All these changes together with the reduction in BP strongly suggest a close link between the etiology of EH and baroreflexes on the one hand and controlling influence of the latter on sympatho-adrenal and renin-angiotensin systems on the other. It also throws light on the physiological mechanism underlying the effects of selected yogic exercises in the treatment of EH.

Pulmonary functions in ulcerative colitis.

The lung functions were evaluated in eighteen patients of ulcerative colitis, in a controlled study. There was statistically significant (p less than 0.01) reduction in maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV). Diffusing capacity (DLCo) was also reduced. Though the reduction in DLCo was not statistically significant, the importance of this finding as compared to the controls has been discussed. The findings are suggestive of subclinical restrictive ventilatory abnormality.

Effect of incentive breathing on lung functions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The effect of incentive breathing exercise was evaluated on patients of blue-bloater variety of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a controlled study. The study used a device working on the principles of biofeed back for imparting breathing exercise. Exercise was given for half an hour daily for six weeks. There was significant increase in the vital capacity (VC) and reduction in air trapping in exercise group. There was remarkable improvement in subjective feeling of well being and breathlessness.