ABSTRACT
Background: WHO has declared Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) as pandemic on 11th March 2020. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) chemoprophylaxis has been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for asymptomatic healthcare workers treating suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases and asymptomatic household contacts of confirmed patients. However, there is a scarcity of data regarding the efficacy and safety of HCQ for COVID-19 prophylaxis and treatment. Objective(s): The present study was designed to evaluate the adverse drug reaction (ADR) profile of HCQ prophylaxis among healthcare workers in a tertiary care teaching hospital in India. Method(s): A Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Kalpana Chawla Medical College and Hospital, Karnal for duration of 3 months (April-June 2020). The study was performed on the reported ADRs due to HCQ prophylaxis by the healthcare workers to the ADR monitoring centre of the institute during this period. Result(s): Gastrointestinal disturbance such as loose stool (16.4%) and hyperacidity (14.9%) were the most commonly reported ADRs during the study period. The incident rate of adverse drug reactions was 23.7%. The number of ADRs was found to be significantly (p<0.01) more in female as compared to male. We have observed that most of the reactions were reported following the 1st day loading dose. Conclusion(s): Our results showed that gastrointestinal system was most commonly affected. Loose stool and hyperacidity were most frequently reported ADRs due to HCQ prophylaxis. Larger studies are required to ensure the safety of the use of HCQ as prophylaxis for COVID-19. Copyright © RJPT All right reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: The Covid-19 vaccines: Covishield and Covaxin have been approved by the Govt. of India for emergency use against SARS COV-2 virus. The vaccination drive was initiated on 16 Jan 2021 among healthcare workers. Following this, age groups above 45 years and people with co-morbidities were covered. On 1st May 2021, the vaccination drive was extended to cover young adults (18-45 years). Objective: To evaluate Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) profile of Covishield and Covaxin among young adults (18-45 years) in Karnal district, Haryana. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed for 2 months at the ADR Monitoring Centre located at Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College (KCGMC), Karnal, Haryana, India. ADRs of both vaccines (Covishield and Covaxin) among young adults (18-45 years) voluntarily reported at the ADR-monitoring centre from various vaccination centres of Karnal District, by healthcare workers or beneficiaries were recorded and selected for the study. Results: One hundred and eleven ADRs were reported amongst 51 beneficiaries (85 ADRs among 38 Covishield vaccinated beneficiaries and 26 ADRs among 13 Covaxin vaccinated beneficiaries). There was no significant difference in the numbers of ADRs reported among males and females in both vaccine groups during the study period. The common ADRs reported in both vaccine groups were fever followed by body ache. One serious ADR was reported, which required admission in the hospital but was discharged on the same day. The majority of the suspected ADRs were classified as ‘Probable’ as per the WHO-UMC scale. Conclusion: Among both the vaccine beneficiaries, no event of death or disability was reported. Common ADRs observed were fever, body ache, and weakness. There was no significant difference in the number of ADRs reported in the two vaccine groups.
ABSTRACT
In today's world, there are a lot of outdoor navigation apps for visually challenged people, but there are none that can precisely tell a user's location inside a large structure. Indoor navigation is a complex task for the visually challenged as well as for the general public, especially in large structures like malls, airports, museums, factories, etc. Present solutions and technologies are not cost-effective as well as complex. Hence, we are proposing a low-cost model that uses Augmented Reality to place virtual anchors across a structure, so a person can navigate from one location to another with the help of these anchors. The model doesn't use technologies like GPS. Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence but here, the anchors placed are pervasive and persistent across the indoor environment for smooth navigation. Once placed, these virtual anchors remain at their location and can be used at any time by any person registered on our app. This model can be extended for the general public in any indoor space and also can be enhanced by gamification for better user interaction and retention. This model can also be extended to collaborate with the Aarogya Setu app, which can help us identify routes that go through spaces through which covid positive patients have passed which in turn helps us avoid those routes in real-time navigation. © 2020 IEEE.