Prevalence of anemia among school going adolescents in Thiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu

Background: Nutritional anemia, with iron-deficiency anemia as the most prevalent type, is a pressing global health concern, impacting two billion people worldwide. Among vulnerable groups, school-going adolescents aged 10 to 17 years require special attention due to the critical phase of growth and development during this period. This study aims to assess the prevalence of anemia and its association with sociodemographic factors among adolescents in Thiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 900 adolescent girls, utilizing a multistage sampling technique. Hemoglobin levels were measured using one-touch blood sampling, and physical examinations were performed by trained healthcare professionals. A structured questionnaire collected sociodemographic information, dietary habits, and lifestyle factors. Results: The study revealed a concerning prevalence of anemia, with 60% of the participants affected. Among these, 41.3% experienced moderate anemia, while 18.4% had mild anemia, and 0.4% had severe anemia. A significant correlation was observed between anemia prevalence and low socio-economic status among the participants. Conclusions: The high prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls in Thiruvallur district underscores the urgency of targeted interventions and public health initiatives to address this critical health issue. Improving nutrition, healthcare access, and socio-economic conditions are crucial steps in combating anemia's impact on school-going adolescents. Collaborative efforts from policymakers, healthcare providers, and community organizations are essential in eradicating nutritional anemia and enhancing the health and prospects of adolescents in the studied region.

Pharmacoeconomics of allergic rhinitis drugs treatment in tertiary care hospital

Background: Allergic rhinitis also called hay fever; it is a very common in India. Harmless exposing substances cause an allergic reaction. Allergic rhinitis is of the two types, one is the seasonal occurred with the change of seasons, second is the perennial means any time during the year.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study to determine the cost analysis allergic rhinitis drugs used in treatment of ENT OPD in a tertiary care teaching hospital, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai. The patients were interviewed; prescriptions were analyzed number of medicines prescribed.Results: Incidence of polypharmacy two drugs per prescriptions were prescribed 140 and three drugs per prescriptions 60. In the total number of 200 prescriptions, the cost of 43 prescriptions were in between 251-300 Indian rupees and 18 prescriptions were 301-350 Indian rupees. Patient knowledge about the drug use in this study, out of 200 pts 37% of allergic rhinitis patients knew the correct dosage of the prescribed drugs while 63% were not aware.Conclusions: Majority of the participants drugs were prescribed two to three drugs, per prescription cost was high because all the drugs prescribed by brand name and no drugs were prescribed by generic name. Improvement in knowledge about generic medicines is important factor to prefer generic medicine. Reduction in cost of drug will improve compliance.

Ogilvie’s Syndrome – A Post-Operative Emergency in a Case of Carcinoma Rectum

Acute colonic pseudo obstruction or Ogilvie’s syndrome is a rare entity that is characterized by acute dilatation of the colon without any mechanical obstruction. It is usually associated with medical disease or surgery and rarely occurs spontaneously. If not diagnosed early, Ogilvie’s syndrome may cause bowel ischemia and perforation. Its early diagnosis and prompt treatment are the keystones to avoid any subsequent fatal complications. We report a case of acute intestinal pseudo obstruction causing post-operative wound dehiscence in a patient who underwent colostomy reversal following a Hartman’s procedure for a rectal carcinoma. We also review the clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, and management of Ogilvie’s syndrome with reference to literature.

Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy for Early Stage Cervical Cancers – A Single Team Experience

Current evidence on the efficacy and safety of Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy for early stage cervical cancer is adequate to support the use of this procedure provided that normal arrangements are in place for clinical governance, consent and audit. This study aims to present our single unit experience of Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy performed for early stage cervical cancers. Methods: 74 laparoscopic radical hysterectomies performed for early stage cervical cancers from 2012 to 2017 were reviewed. Results: Key efficacyoutcomes evaluated were completing the procedure without conversion to open surgery ( conversion rate – 3/74),the mean operating time (144 mts), intra operative complications ( rectal injury 2/74, primary hemorrhage 1/74), post operative complications ( ureteric fistula 2/74, vescico vaginal fistula 1/74 , port site hernia 1/74), number of LN removed ( mean - 14 LN on each side), recovery time (6 hrs on average ) and length of hospital stay (average – 5days); lone term outcomes viz recurrence rate and % year survival are under study. Conclusion: Our initial experience indicate that laparoscopic radical hysterectomy is safe ,feasible and effective with low morbidity and with comparable outcome to open approach; It does not compromise oncological radicality of resection; short term results are promising; long term results are awaited.

Biochemical Characterization and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Coagulase Negative Staphylococci Isolates from Exudates and Body Fluids

Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are increasingly being recognized as significant nosocomial pathogens, partly due to the growing appreciation of this group of organisms as opportunistic pathogens or due to increase in the use of transient or permanent medical devices in seriously ill and immunocompromised patients. Aims and Objectives 1) Isolation of CoNS from exudates and body fluids. 2) Biochemical characterization of CoNS. 3) Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of CoNS. Method 180CoNS isolated from various exudates and body fluids such as pus, wound swabs, endotracheal secretions, sputum, branchialaspitate, and central lining tube were collected. All the CoNS isolates were processed in the Microbiology Laboratory and identified by colony morphology, gram staining, catalase, slide, tube coagulase test, anaerobic acid from mannitol, and deoxyribonuclease. Bacitracin (0.04 U) and furazolidone (100 μg) susceptibilities were done to exclude Micrococcus and Stomatococcus spp. The following biochemical tests were done for the speciation of the CoNS: urease test, phosphatase test, polymyxin B disc test, novobiocin disk test, ornithine decorboxylase test, mannitol to acid, Voges-Proskauertest, mannose fermentation, trehalose fermentation and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Result Out of 180 isolates, 78 are Staphylococcus epidermidis (43.3%), 63 are Staphylococcus hemolyticus (35%), 21 are Staphylococcus hominis (11.6%), and 18 are Staphylococcus lugdunensis (10.0%). Maximum number of CoNS were isolated from pus specimens (58.33%), followed by wound swabs (18.33%). A total of 164out of 180 strains were negative for both bound and free coagulase. A total of 60 strains were bound coagulase slow positive and free coagulase negative. S. epidermidis was the most frequent isolate and 68 S. epidermidis isolates were identified if ornithine decorboxylase was considered positive, while negative 10 S. epidermidis isolates required inclusion of trehalose and mannitol for speciation. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed maximum resistance to penicillin (78.3) followed by chloramphenicol (41.6%). No resistance to vancomycin was seen. Conclusion: The study revealed S. epidermidis is the predominant CoNS from endotracheal secretions and also pus samples. S. hemolyticus was isolated from pus and central lining tubes, S. hominis and S. lugdunensis were isolated mainly from wound swabs. The present study suggests if coagulase-ve Staphylococci are repeatedly isolated from patients with infection they should be taken seriously and ABST done on these isolates for proper diagnosis and treatment especially in nosocomial infections.