Value of Neck Circumference and Waist Circumference Measurement in Assessment of Overweight/Obesity in Adolescent Children

Background: To measure neck circumference and waist circumference, to compare it between normal and overweight/obese adolescents and to validate these with body mass index. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 500 school going children/adolescents. Body mass index, waist circumference and neck circumference were measured. Independent samples t-test and Pearson’s correlation were used as tests of significance to analyse quantitative data. Results: A positive correlation of neck circumference and waist circumference with body mass index was observed. The neck circumference and waist circumference in overweight/obese adolescents were significantly higher than adolescents with normal body mass index (P<0.001). Area under curve of waist circumference was more than area under curve of neck circumference. Cut off value of neck circumference for screening adolescent obesity in boys and girls were 30.73 cm, and 29.73 cm, respectively, and waist circumference cut off value were 70.73 cm for boys and 69.23 cm for girls at fairly good levels of  sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: Neck circumference and waist circumference may be used in clinical practice and epidemiological studies as an index of overweight/obesity among school-going adolescents.

Bacteriological Profile and Antibiotic Sensitivity Pattern in Community Acquired Neonatal Sepsis in Rajsamand – A Hospital Based Prospective Study

Background: To isolate the pathogenic bacteria and to know the antibiotic sensitivity in the community acquired neonatal sepsis. Materials & Methods: It was a prospective study undertaken on 120 neonates suspected of community acquired neonatal sepsis admitted in Pediatrics Department of AIMSRC over a period of twoyear. All these cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria required for the study. Blood culture of these cases was performed by Mackie and McCartney method and antibiotic sensitivity by Kirley-Baner’s disc diffusion method. Results: Out of 120 cases,88cases showed positive blood culture. Gramnegative isolates (N=55) were more frequent than gram positive isolates (N=33). Most common isolate was Klebseilla, Pneumoniae followed by Staphylococcus Aureus, E.Coli, Pseudomonas Aeroginosa, Acinetobacter. Both gram negative as well as gram positive isolates showed high resistance to ampicillin and gentamycin. Gram negative isolates were highly sensitive to Colistin Sulphateand Meropenem whereas gram positive isolates were highly sensitive to Linezolid andVancomycin. Conclusion: Gram negative bacteria were more frequent causes of community acquired neonatal septicemia than gram positive isolates. Both gram positive and negative isolates showed poor sensitivity towards conventional first line antibiotics, rather were mainly susceptible to higher antibiotics. So,the knowledge of the pattern of bacteriological isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern can be very helpful for prompt treatment of such patients, to decrease neonatal morbidity and mortality as well as reducing the emergence of multi-drugresistant organisms.

Determination of gestational age: comparative accuracy of different methods.

One hundred new-born infants were studied in an attempt to test the accuracy of selected methods of post-natal assessment of gestational age. The Finnstrom method using seven external characteristics was found to be relatively more accurate both in preterm and term infants. Dubowitz and Cappuro method were accurate in premature infants only. However in a limited number of post-term infants Cappuro method yielded better results. The Finnstrom method can be recommended for routine assessment of gestational age.