Approach of family physician towards asthma

To assess the approach of family physician towards asthma [who look after majority of the patients], a survey was conducted. A designed proforma was distributed among the participant doctors of an "Asthma Workshop". Sixty-six% treated less than five cases per day. Thirty three% considered disease to be inflammatory in nature. Three% suggested inhaled therapy to every asthmatic. Sixty-three% monitored progress clinically. Majority advised dietary restriction. Thirty% thought that hyposen-sitization has a role to play. The majority of family physicians still need to be educated about this disease

Spontaneous pneumothorax complicating active pulmonary tuberculosis

A retrospective study of spontaneous pneumothorax complicating active pulmonary tuberculosis was conducted at Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases [OICD], Karachi to asses quantum of this common complication after half a century of the advent of effective chemotherapy. Fifty-three% admissions [943] were due to active pulmonary tuberculosis in the year 1993. Among them 1.7% cases had spontaneous pneumothorax. Male to female ratio was 3:1. Most of the patients were adult between 15-44. Nearly half of the cases were smokers and were males. Majority had unilateral involvement. One third had hydrothorax as well. Half of the patients were managed conservatively. Mortality was almost fifty% as compared to pre-chemotherapeutic era