Profiles of community acquired pneumonia cases admitted to a tertiary care hospital

To assess the demographic profiles of community-acquired pneumonia. A cross sectional study was carried out for one year, recruiting 160 hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia [CAP] patients, selected by non-probability convenience sampling method. Demographic variables such as age, gender, education, marital status, residential and socio-economic status were inquired into along with Haemoglobin estimation, Diabetes, Hypertension and Ischaemic heart disease by Pre-designed Questionnaire Performa. Data collected was analyzed by SPSS-14. Out of 160 patients, majority respondents 88 [55%] were males [P < 0.05], while 90 [56.25%] had rural residents predominance [P < 0.05]. It revealed 140 [87.5%] respondents were married [P < 0.05], while 18 [11.25%] were < 20 years, 68 [42.5%] were between 20-40 years, 58 [36.25%] from 41-60 years and 16 [10%] were > 60 years of age. There were 110 [68.75%] illiterates from lower socio-economic class. Haemoglobin level was 8-10 gm/dl among majority 80 [50%], and 34 [21.75%] were Diabetics.CAP is frequent among males, rural residents, illiterate, anaemic, diabetics and lower socio-economic married patients from 20-40 years of age

Comparison of spinal versus general anaesthesia for patients undergoing lower segment caesarean section

The objective of this study was to compare post operative benefits of spinal versus general anaesthesia after caesarean section delivery. Randomized control trial [RCT] Place and Duration of the study: The study was conducted at the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department, Combined Military Hospital Sialkot for one year from January 2007 to January 2008. Subject and Method: A total of of 100 full term pregnant hospitalised patients registered for caesarean section were selected for this study by dividing them equally into study [spinal] and control [general] groups from 18 to 37 years age. Both groups were compared. Outcome variables were appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiration [Apgar] score of new born, post-operative hospital stay, throat irritation, post-operative Cough, chest infection, headache, backache and nausea /vomiting. The data was analyzed by SPSS-10 for significance where applicable. The study revealed that the differences of both major variables, the Apgar score among babies born and post operative hospital stay between study and control groups were insignificant [p>0.05]. However throat irritation, postoperative cough, and chest infections were significantly less frequent [p<0.05] while frequencies of headache, backache and nausea/vomiting were higher after spinal anaesthesia [p>0.05]. The post operative benefits of spinal anaesthesia cannot be advocated on a minor factor bases. Comparison of postoperative complications of caesarean section after spinal or general anaesthesia revealed no significant major differences. The minor differences can be easily managed by the best hospital services and competent personnel. Each type of anaesthesia can be used safely

Tuberculosis; determinants of treatment non-compliance among T.B. patients

To identify the factors responsible for noncompliance of Anti Tuberculous Treatment in TB patients. Cross Sectional Descriptive Study. The study was Carried out at Chest diseases and Tuberculosis unit Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur from 15th May 2007 to 15th August 2007. The tuberculous patients who abandoned anti-tuberculous treatment repeatedly were interviewed for determination of their reasons to be defaulter before completing therapy by questionnaire method. The patients were AFB positive on every non-compliance episodes. The total number of 100 noncompliant patients were interviewed. It was noted that 63% were males and 37% were females among them. There were 72% married and 28% unmarried from total patients. The treatment source was asked and found that 92% used government health out let only and 8% used private services also from them. TB is curable disease so health education should be imparted through electronic media and committed field teams stressing to take regular and complete ATT according to the physician advice removing the social belief against TB drugs. Decentralized government and private sector coordination is essential to give treatment at doorstep to reduce dropout and defaulter tendency. Stigma of TB as a disease of the illiterate and poor still persists

Obesity

To assess frequency of obesity among college adolescent male and female students on BMI-Prime bases through anthropometric. Cross sectional study. At higher secondary colleges located in urban areas of Bahawalpur City. From February 2009 to March 2009 Assessment of obesity among 400 college male and female students equally divided, ages from 16 to 23 years was carried out on BMI-Prime bases. Weight categories so achieved were stratified and labeled. There were 3 [0.75%] severely under weight, 44 [11%] under weight, 273[68.25%] normal, 68[17%] over weight, 9[2.25%] obese and 3[0.75%] were clinically obese. There was no morbidly obese. No statistical gender difference for severely under weight and clinically obese was noted. However females were more under weight [p<0.05] while males were more over weight [P<0.05] and obese [P<0.05] when compared with each other. The adolescent female college students were under weight when compared to their male colleagues. The frequency of obesity was higher among male students

Assessment of nutritional status of children under 48 months of age

To assess the frequency and severity of malnutrition, and its association with mothers education, breast feeding duration, weaning age, family income and family size, in children under 48 months of age. Case- Control study. The study was conducted at E.P.I. Centre, Paediatrics out patient department B.V. Hospital, Bahawalpur, from March 1999 to September 2000. The weight for age, a direct anthropometric measurement, was used for assessment of malnutrition. Inclusion criteria were the children under 48 months of age attending E.P.I. Center B.V.H., Bahawalpur. Children loosing weight due to acute diarrhoea were excluded from the study. The results indicate that 587 [58.7%] children were normal and 413 [41.3%] were suffering from malnutrition. Among malnourished children, 208 [20.8%] had first degree, 110 [11%] had second degree and 95 [9.5%] had third degree malnutrition at 95% confidence intervals [+ - 2SD]. In the mother education group, the 462 illiterate mothers having 220 [47.6%] normal and 242 [52.4%] malnourished while 161 higher educated were having 123 [76.4%] normal and 38 [23.6%] malnourished children only. Odd Ratio is 3.56, showing that those children who were exposed to mother illiteracy were having 3.56 time more malnutrition as compared to educated mothers group. The 192 non breast feeding mothers had 100 [52%] normal and 92 [48%] malnourished children as compared to 409 mothers breast feeding their children for one year and above having 249 [61%] normal and 160 [39%] malnourished children. The Odd ratio is 1.43 showing that children exposed to non breast feeding factor are 1.43 times more malnourished as compared to breast fed children. Among the weaning variable, it has been found that 270 mothers, giving early weaning from 4[th] month, had 184 [68.2%] normal and 86 [31.8%] malnourished children. The 315 mothers beginning weaning after one year and above had 144 [45.7%] normal 171 [54.3%] malnourished among them. The Odd ratio is 2.54 showing that children exposed to late weaning after one year are having malnutrition 2.54 times more as compared to other children who received weaning earlier than 4[th] month. Similarly, the family size had shown that 235 mothers having only one child had 165 [70.2%] children normal and 70 [29.8%] malnourished but 255 mothers, having 4 or more children, had 120 [47.1%] normal and 135 [52.9%] malnourished children. The Odd ratio is 2.65 showing that the children exposed to large family size of 4 or more than 4 children suffer from malnutrition 2.65 times more as compared to those who belong to a small family size. The family monthly income shows that 508 mothers from a low income group have 253 [49.8%] normal and 255 [50.2%] malnourished children but 207 mothers from families with a higher income, had 156 [75.3%] normal and 51 [24.7%] children malnourished. The Odd ratio is 3.08 showing that children exposed to poor socio-economic status are having 3.08 times more malnutrition among them as compared to children belonging to rich families. Malnutrition is more prevalent in illiterate sectors of the community where breast feeding is not practiced. The delayed weaning as well as large family size with poor socio-economic status is also associated with malnutrition. By removing these factors, we can reduce the malnutrition load among children