Azelastine versus beclomethasone in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis

To compare the efficacy of topical nasal application of Azelastine HCL with Beclomethasone in treating perennial allergic rhinitis. It was a quasi-experimental interventional study conducted on 60 patients of Allergic Rhinitis, presenting to ENT Department Combined Military hospital Rawalpindi from 1[st] January 2008 to 30 June 2008. Patients fulfilling the criteria were divided into two groups of 30 patients each. Group I was given Azelastine nasal spray, while group II was given Beclomethasone nasal spray for topical application. Out of sixty patients 37 were males and 23 were females. Mean age for group I was 28.97 years with Standard Deviation of 6.13. In group II, mean age was 28.3 years with Standard Deviation of 5.62. The symptoms of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis were better controlled in patients treated with topical application of Beclomethasone as compare to Azelastine. Beclomethasone is more effective than Azelastine for the control of the symptoms of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

Haematological abnormalities in malaria

This study was performed to observe the frequency of haematological abnormalities such as anaemia, thrombocytopaenia, and leucopaenia or disseminated intravascular coagulation [DIC] in patients suffering from malaria. The study was carried out at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur from 01-07-2003 to 31-07-2004. A total of 50 consecutive patients of all ages and sex presenting with malaria in medical wards were studied. Detailed history was taken especially of fever, rigors, chills, headache, fits or bleeding from any site. The patients already taking antimalarial drugs were excluded. Baseline characteristics were recorded. In 50 patients studied, most of them were of young age with a peak occurrence between 21-35 years. More females [56%] were affected than males [44%]. In most of the patients [98%] fever was the presenting symptom associated with rigors [60%], chills [74%], headache [80%], fits [40%], unconsciousness [20%] and history of bleeding [4%]. The examination and investigations revealed anaemia [84%], jaundice [14%], spleenomegaly [72%], thrombocytopaenia [52%], leucopaenia [18%], haemoglobinuria [6%] and disseminated intravascular coagulation [2%]. In patients presenting with malaria the most common presentation is fever associated with headache, rigors and chills. The hematological abnormalities seen included anaemia and thrombocytopaenia in the patients suffering from malaria

Acute epididymo-orchitis - is empirical therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis justified?

In sexually active males, the commonest organisms causing acute epididymo-orchitis are Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonnorhoae. The peak incidence is seen during 20's. The aim of our study was to prove that in majority of cases of acute epididymo-orchitis, the bacterial pathogens cannot be isolated. The reason being that the pathogen responsible in majority of cases is Chlamydia trachomitis which cannot be isolated by routine bacteriological techniques. We reviewed the cases of acute epididymo-orchitis and studied the percentage of patients in which bacterial pathogens were isolated. The clinical and microbiological data of patients from Aug. 2003 to Sep. 2005 was reviewed. The clinical diagnosis of acute epididymo-orchitis was confirmed by scrotal ultrasonography. Midstream urine sample were processed by using standard culture techniques. Patients were followed for a period of three months. There were total 97 patients, with median and interquartile range of 20 and 17-25 years respectively. At the time of presentation the median duration of symptoms was 4.5 days, while median hospital stay was 5 days. Scrotal pain was the main presenting symptom. Pyuria was noticed in 41 [43%] patients and in only 12 [14%] of these the bacterial pathogens were isolated. Main organisms being Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. We have concluded that Chlamydia trachomatis can not be isolated by routine bacteriological techniques. Currently available diagnostic methods are cumbersome and expensive. Therefore there is a need to develop simpler techniques, which can be made available in moderately equipped laboratories; in order to facilitate the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. Presently the patients in whom the causative organisms can not be isolated can safely be treated for Chlamydia trachomatis

Comparison of propacetamol with pethidine for postoperative pain relief

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of a single bolus I.V dose of propacetamol given before induction of anaesthesia and compare this effect with that of I.V pethidine also given before induction. Another objective was to study the opioid sparing effect of cetamol by using in combination with pethidine, after surgical incision had been made. Sixty adult patients of ASA I or II status were included and divided into three groups. Group A received propacetamol 2gm intravenously just before induction, in group B IV bolus dose of pethidine 0.75 mg/kg was given just before induction and group C received combination of pethidine 0.4mg/kg and propacetamol 2gm intravenously 10 minutes after the incision. After awakening from anaesthesia patients were observed for sixty minutes in recovery for pain assessment by the pain scales and the pain scores by VAS and NRS were analysed statistically by using student's t test and Mann-Whitney test. Pain scores by verbal response scale were analysed by Chi square test. p<0.05 was considered significant. No statistical difference was seen among the groups regarding their post-operative pain scores [p-VAS>0.3, NRS>0.2]. The patients who received combination of pethidine and propacetamol required longer time [p<0.05] for supplementary analgesia than the patients who were given propacetamol alone. Propacetamol 2 gm given IV before induction had no advantage over pethidine. Significant benefit of pre-emptive analgesia was not evident in first 60 min after recovery from anaesthesia

Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among diabetics

This study was performed in the department of medicine, B. V. Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, between January 2001 and December 2001. Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in 100 diabetic patients admitted consecutively in medical wards was calculated and compared with 100 non diabetic controls admitted consecutively during the same period. In this study the calculated prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among diabetic patients was 9.5% compared to non-diabetic patients who had prevalence of 2.08% [P-Value< .002] indicating 7.5% higher risk in diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was found out the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among patients with tuberculosis

articular involvement in rheumatoid arthritis - a prospective study

This prospective study was carried out in fifty patients of arthritis fulfilling the inclusion criteria of rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. The study was conducted in the department of medicine, B. V. Hospital, Bahawalpur, during the period from February, 2000 to February 2001. Patients age 20 years were studied regardless of sex. They were admitted through emergency and out patients and diagnosed as cases of RA on the basis of history, clinical examination and laboratory investigations. According to this study, the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis was 1.05%, most common pattern at onset is insidious occurring in the third and fourth decades of life. Female to male ratio was 2.5:1. Small joints of hands were most commonly involved. Among the deformities, Boutonnier and Swan Neck deformity were found commonly. Most of the patients of RA presented insidiously and have symmetrical polyarticular involvement. This work was performed to study the mode of onset, pattern of joints involved and commonly encountered articular deformities in rheumatoid arthritis

Central venous catheterization: a comparison of procedur related early complications with internal jugular versus routes

We carried out a study comparing two most commonly used routes of central venous catheterization i.e. internal jugular and subclavian vein as regards their early procedure related complications Sixty patients of either sex with,physical status ASA 11, 111 and IV with weight between, 35-100 kg and age above 18 years were randomly allocated to two groups of 30 each. In group an internal jugular was used for catheterization while in group B, subclavian vein was used. The complications related to central venous catheterization were looked for a period of 72 hours. 10% patients in group A suffered from various complications while 13.3% of patients in group B experienced complications Pneumothorax occurred in only one patient in group B, showing that this complication is specific to subclavian route while arterial tap occurred in two patients in group A showing that this complication is specific to internal jugular route. The difference regarding complications between the two routes was not statistically significant. [P value=0.522487]