Effect of home-based newborn care on neonatal and infant mortality: a cluster randomised trial in India.

BACKGROUND: Home-based newborn care has been found to reduce neonatal mortality in rural areas. Study evaluated effectiveness of home-based care delivered by specially recruited newborn care workers- Shishu Rakshak (SR) and existing workers- anganwadi workers (AWW) in reducing neonatal and infant mortality rates. METHODS: This three-arm, community-based, cluster randomised trial was conducted in five districts in India. Intervention package consisted of pregnancy surveillance, health education, care at birth, care of normal/low birthweight neonates, identification and treatment of sick neonates and young infants using oral and injectable antibiotics and community mobilisation. The package was similar in both intervention arms-SR and AWW; difference being healthcare provider. The control arm received routine health services from the existing health system. Primary outcomes were neonatal and young infant mortality rates at 'endline' period (2008-2009) assessed by an independent team from January to April 2010 in the study clusters. FINDINGS: A total of 6623, 6852 and 5898 births occurred in the SR, AWW and control arms, respectively, during the endline period; the proportion of facility births were 69.0%, 64.4% and 70.6% in the three arms. Baseline mortality rates were comparable in three arms. During the endline period, the risk of neonatal mortality was 25% lower in the SR arm (adjusted OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.99); the risks of early neonatal mortality, young infant mortality and infant mortality were also lower by 32%, 27%, and 33%, respectively. The risks of neonatal, early neonatal, young infant, infant mortality in the AWW arm were not different from that of the control arm. INTERPRETATION: Home-based care is effective in reducing neonatal and infant mortality rates, when delivered by a dedicated worker, even in settings with high rates of facility births. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The study was registered with Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2011/12/002181).

Prevalence, Response to Cysticidal Therapy, and Risk Factors for Persistent Seizure in Indian Children with Neurocysticercosis.

Background. Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the commonest cause of childhood acquired epilepsy in developing countries. The use of cysticidal therapy in NCC, except "single lesion NCC," is still debated in view of its doubtful usefulness and potential adverse effects. Methods. Children presenting with first episode of seizure or acute focal neurological deficit without fever were screened for NCC and received appropriate therapy (followup done for 1 year to look for the response and side effects). Results. The prevalence of NCC was 4.5%. Most common presenting feature was generalized seizure and commonest imaging finding was single small enhancing lesion in the parietal lobe. Abnormal EEG and CSF abnormalities were found in almost half of the children. The response to therapy was very good with infrequent recurrence of seizure and adverse effects of therapy were encountered rarely. No risk factors for persistent seizure could be identified. Conclusion. Present study shows that the response to cysticidal therapy is very good in NCC as seizure recurrence was observed in only 5%, 4.2%, and 4.2% of cases at 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year followup. Adverse effects of therapy were observed in 20% of cases during therapy but they were mild and self-limiting.

Jarcho-Levin Syndrome with Splenic Herniation: A Rare Presentation.

BACKGROUND Jarcho-Levin syndrome, also known as spondylothoracic dysplasia and spondylocostal dysplasia, is characterized by varieties of vertebrae and rib anomalies. Jarcho-Levin syndrome is a clinical-radiological diagnosis with clinical evidence of short neck, short trunk, normal-sized limbs, or increased arm span, and vertebral and rib defects on the skeletal survey. CASE REPORT About 400 cases have been reported in world literature and 18 in our Indian literature. We report the case of a one-day-old female baby with a short trunk, short neck, low hairline, apparently long limbs, protuberant abdomen, mild midfacial dysmorphism, low-set ears, and a high-arched palate. There was one cystic swelling over the lateral side of the left hypochondrium sized about 3×3 centimeters, nonpusatile; the skin over the swelling was normal color and free. Radiological findings showed crowding of ribs with pebble-like appearance of the vertebrae and diastematomyelia of the spinal cord (type 2). We report here the first case of Jarcho-Levin syndrome with splenic herniation. To the best of our knowledge there have been no case reports of Jarcho-Levin syndrome with splenic herniation in the literature. CONCLUSIONS Jarcho-Levin syndrome can be easily diagnosed by clinical-radiological findings in newborns, with short trunk having a high index of suspicion. Prenatal diagnosis using level 2 ultrasonography can make it easier to manage the baby after delivery. Management should be from the basic neonatal care to prevention and immediate treatment of recurrent respiratory infections. Spinal surgical intervention to improve the thoracic volume and hence decrease the pulmonary restriction has been tried.