KAP Study of Tobacco Users among the Garment Workers at Dhaka City in Bangladesh

The readymade garment (RMG) industry is a key sector of Bangladesh economy. This sector brings in about 78% of the country’s total merchandize export earnings. More than 3.2 million people are working in this sector and mostly females from underprivileged social classes.Employment in this Ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh provides workers with economic benefits and some empowerment. A descriptive cross-sectional study followed by a qualitative approach was utilized. Through proportionate quota sampling, 560 garments workers were recruited from 6(one large, two medium, and three small) garment factories in Mirpur area of Dhaka city.Almost all of the garments workers knew that both smoking and smokeless tobacco (98.4%) is harmful for health. Knowledge on specific health hazards of smoking (96.96%) tobacco was relatively higher than those of smokeless (90%) tobacco. Electronic media (Radio/TV/Cinema) was themost common source of their knowledge (92.9%). In case of smoking tobacco, cancer (63.6%) was the mostly reported disease caused by smoking tobacco, followed by lung cancer (15.7%) and heart attack (11.3%). On the other hand, for smokeless tobacco, cancer (29.8%), followed by oral cancer (26.6%) and lung cancer (15.0%) was mostly reported diseases by the garments workers. Garment workers’ knowledge on tobacco control policy was found to be very low. Only 35.0% knew about the policy. Although few garments workers know about the rules for prohibition of tobacco product in public place (25.7%) and public transport (11.3%), other specific rules under tobacco control policy were not known to majority of them. The present study provides a scientific base regarding current tobacco using practice among garments workers in Dhaka city and their knowledge and attitude towards tobacco. Finding revealed from qualitative analysis of data suggested that now-a-days smoking is considered as a trend; people have to smoke for showing smartness or to maintain social status. Peer influence also plays an important role for initiating and maintaining smoking status. Socio-cultural influence for smokeless tobacco consumption was not well documented by this study which indicated a need for more focused qualitative study.

Effects of educational attainment on dentition status in socioeconomically deprived population of Karachi

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between educational attainment and dentition status. A cross sectional survey was conducted. The total number of participants in this study was 408. The subjects of age 15 years to 65 years were included in this survey. To record subjects own educational attainment, education level was divided into levels which are Primary school [1-5 grade], Middle [6-8 Grade], Secondary or High school [9-10 Grade], Higher Secondary and highly educated which include Tertiary School [Bachelors]. To record dentition status, DMFT index was used. The DMFT score of 0 indicates minimum risk of caries, DMFT score between 1-4 indicates moderate risk of decay and DMFT score greater than 4 indicates high risk of dental decay. The data was collected through intra oral examination of subjects. The test indicates that association exists between level of education and DMFT scores. However, the strength of association is not very strong. The correlation value for spearman's rho was [.116] and [P= .01]. The impact of poor oral health in low educated people can be reduced by the developing policies related to building healthy public policy, strengthening community actions, and developing personal skills. To improve the knowledge, attitudes and oral health of people with low educational status, it is necessary to increase the oral health promotion activities

Frequency of sensitivity to Parthenium hysterophorus in patients with chronic extensive eczematous eruption

Eczema is a pruritic skin disorder of exogenous or endogenous nature. Allergic contact dermatitis is of exogenous nature and can be caused by many allergens including plants. In this quasi-experimental study, 50 patients presenting with extensive eczematous eruption were enrolled. They were patch tested with fresh crushed extract of flowers of Parthenium hysterophorus. Three patch test readings were taken at 48 hours, 72 hours and 120 hours. Patch test readings were read according to ICDRG criteria. Forty four [88%] out of 50 enrolled patients were male while 6 [12%] were female with male to female ratio of 7.3:1. Average age of the patients was 56.8 years with S.D +/- 12.6 years. Fifty four percent of enrolled patients showed positive patch test reactions to fresh crushed extract of flowers of P. hysterophorus with a male to female ratio of 5.7:1. P. hysterophorus is a leading cause of extensive eczematous eruption of exogenous type in a specific group of patients

Black dot tinea affecting the eyebrows in an adult female

Tinea capitis is the invasion of the hair by dermatophytic species. It is predominantly an infection of children, although adult cases have been reported particularly with Trichophyton tonsurans. We report an adult female patient with black dot variety of tinea capitis involving the eyebrows along with scalp, body and nails

Itraconazole pulse therapy in the treatment of disto-lateral subungual onychomycosis

To assess the efficacy of itraconazole pulse therapy in disto-lateral subungual onychomycosis. Design: Quasi interventional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, KEMC/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, during the period from 1996-1998. Subjects and Sixty-seven patients, ages ranging from 19 to 55 years, with disto-lateral subungual onychomycosis were enrolled in the study period. Therapy was started with short pulse doses of itraconazole 200 mg twice daily for one week followed by a medicine-free interval of three weeks. Pulses were administered for two consecutive months in fingernail and three months for toenail onychomycosis. Patients were followed upto six months for fingernail onychomycosis and nine months for toenail onychomycosis. Out of 67 cases, there were 62 evaluable patients. Trichophyton rubrum was the most common pathogen, isolated in 42 [67.8%] followed by Candida in 11 [17.8%], T. violaceum in 5 [8%], T. interdigitale in 3 [4.8%] and Epidermophyton floccosum in one [1.6%]. Fingernails were affected in 46 cases whereas 16 had toenail infection. Clinical cure in finger and toenail onychomycosis was seen in 41 [89%] and 13 [81.2%] patients, respectively while mycological cure in 43 [93.5%] and 14 [87.5%] patients, respectively with itraconazole pulse therapy. Itraconazole was found to be effective, well-tolerated and safe therapy for disto-lateral subungual onychomycosis