Demographic and clinical profile of children with severe acute malnutrition admitted in a tertiary care hospital in Mahbubnagar, India

Background: All possible efforts are being made by the governments, and other agencies to reduce the burden of these problems of malnutrition and deaths associated with it but still it remains a challenge. Severe acute malnutrition continues to constitute an important risk for mortality and morbidity among the under five children. Objective of the study was to study the profile and risk factors of severe acute malnutrition of the under five children in a tertiary care hospital setting.Methods: Hospital based cross sectional study was carried out among 60 under five children with severe acute malnutrition who were admitted for difference causes in the Pediatric wards of SVS Medical College and Hospital, Mahabubnagar. A detailed history and physical examination were done. Anthropometric indices like weight, length/height, MUAC and weight for height were recorded and analysed using WHO growth charts.Results: Majority of the children with severe acute malnutrition were found in the age group of 1-2 years i.e. 48.3%. Males were more (69%) compared to females (31%) and this can be attributed to the hospital based cross sectional nature of the present study. Only 21.6% of the children were completely immunized for age. Majority of the children were found to have grade IV type of malnutrition i.e. 38.3%. Majority of the children presented with fever in 71.6% of the cases. Majority of the children had gastrointestinal related comorbidity in 54.6% of the cases.Conclusions: Incomplete immunization, low social class, inappropriate feeding practices in young age of <1 year are important risk factors of severe acute malnutrition.

Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Water Flosser—A Comparative Clinical Study

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of manual brushing plus water flosser (WP 100) to manual brushing alone on improving the oral health parameters of plaque, bleeding, and gingivitis. The materials and methods used were 100 subjects between 18 to 30 years of age with mild-to-moderate gingivitis and they were included in this 4-week study. Subjects in the test group were assigned to use water flosser and manual brushing whereas control group subjects carried out manual brushing alone. Both groups were advised to brush twice daily using the modified bass technique. Subjects were scored at 0 day, 14th day and 28th day for gingival inflammation (gingival index), gingival bleeding (bleeding index) and plaque (modified plaque index). Both groups showed statistically significant plaque, gingivitis, bleeding reduction at 4 weeks, respectively but the test group was significantly better than control group at 2 and 4 weeks. In a nutshell, this clinical study demonstrated that water flosser as an adjunct to brushing is an effective oral hygiene regimen.