Nutritional Anemia in the Medical Students.

Background: Nutritional anaemia is very much prevalent and largely undiagnosed among students in Professional Institutes. Various socio-demographic characteristics like age, sex, social class, dietary habits, and infections are the etiological factors for nutritional anaemia. Objectives: To study the nutritional anaemia and its correlates among the MBBS. Medical Students of Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly in Western U.P. Materials and Methods: The study was done on 100 MBBS students. Haemoglobin estimation was performed by Sahli’s Haemoglobinometer and observations were interpreted as per the WHO criteria. The data was analyzed by SPSS Statistical software. Results: In the present study on 100 Medical students, 32.0% students were anaemic, out of which 44.0% were girls and 20.0% boys. 25.0% students had mild anaemia. Majority (81.8%) of anaemic students were undernourished as per their Body Mass Index. Conclusions: Haemoglobin estimation of students at the time of entrance to Medical Colleges should be done. Iron and folic acid tablets and deworming drugs in therapeutic doses should be provided to anaemic students. The students should be motivated and educated to take balanced diet, rich in green leafy vegetables and fruits as nutritional anaemia is totally preventable.

Study of lung functions in smokers and non-smokers in rural India.

Smoking is a common habit prevalent in both the urban and rural areas in India. Smoking is a well-known risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung diseases that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Pulmonary-function tests provide objective, quantifiable measures of lung function. The objective of the present study was to study and compare the pulmonary function tests among smokers and non-smokers in a rural area, to study the role of possible associated factors and relation of type, quantity and duration of smoking on the pulmonary function tests in Rural Maharashtra. The pulmonary function tests were assessed on computerized spirometer in 400 male subjects comprising of 200 smokers and 200 non smokers. Almost all the pulmonary function parameters were significantly reduced in smokers, more commonly in those aged 50 years and above. Obstructive pulmonary impairment was commonest among smokers. Thus by spirometry a spectrum of lung disorders may be detected at an early stage and subsequent morbidity can be minimized.