A Hospital-Based Study of Stroke in Young from North East India.

INTRODUCTION: A study of stroke among young adults and children has recently become a subject of interest. This is because it has a major impact on the individual and society. Studies of stroke in young can lead to therapeutical results affecting both short- and long-term outcomes. METHODS: This paper is based on a hospital-based retrospective study, of stroke in young, for a duration of 1 year. RESULTS: The study revealed stroke in young in 31.38% of all strokes, with cerebral infarction in 50.66%, followed by intracerebral hemorrhage in 41.33%, subarachnoid hemorrhage in 4.66%, and cerebral venous thrombosis in 3.33%. The most common presenting symptom was hemiparesis. The most prevalent risk factor for stroke in young was alcohol consumption, followed by traditional risk factors such as hypertension and smoking. Diabetes was detected less in our study. CONCLUSION: Although traditional risk factors are associated with stroke in young, unfavorable behavioral pattern such as alcohol abuse may cause and promote development stroke in young.

Effectiveness of Self Instructional Module on Coping Strategies of Tri-Dimensional Problems of Premenopausal Women - A Community Based Study.

INTRODUCTION: Pre-menopause in women presents with diverse symptoms, encompassing the tri-dimensional spheres of physical, social and psychological domains, which requires development of appropriate coping strategies to overcome these problems. AIM: To assess level of knowledge about tri-dimensional problems in pre-menopausal women and evaluate effectiveness of self instruction module on coping strategies of these problems by pre-test and post-test analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional, community based study, in pre-menopausal women aged 40-49years baseline knowledge of tridimensional problems was assessed in 300 pre-menopausal women, selected by convenient sampling after satisfying selection criteria, by a pre-formed questionnaire. This was followed by administration of a pre-tested, Self-Instructional Module (SIM). The SIM dealt with imparting knowledge about coping strategies regarding pre-menopausal problems and the participants were required to read and retain the SIM. Post-test was conducted using same questionnaire after seven days. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square test/ Paired t-test was used for comparing ratios. A 'p-value' <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Baseline knowledge of tridimensional problems was adequate in 10%, moderate in 73% and inadequate in 17% women with a pre-test mean knowledge score of 8.66±2.45. The post-test mean knowledge score was higher (19.11±3.38) compared to the pre-test score. The post-test mean knowledge difference from pre-test was -10.45 with a highly significant paired t-value of -47.45 indicating that the self-instructional module was effective in increasing the knowledge score of pre- menopausal women under study. CONCLUSION: Administration of self instructional module was shown to significantly increase the knowledge scores in all areas of pre-menopausal tri-dimensional problems. Such self-instructional module can be used as an effective educational tool in increasing the knowledge of tri-dimensional problems in premenopausal women.

Scrub typhus meningoencephalitis, a diagnostic challenge for clinicians: A hospital based study from North-East India.

UNLABELLED: Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is a known complication of scrub typhus which range from mild meningitis to frank meninigoencephalitis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical feature, laboratory parameters and response to treatment of scrub typhus meningitis/meningoencephalitis. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This is a hospital based prospective observational study from North Eastern India. Diagnosis was based on clinical features and positive serological test (Weil's Felix test and IgM antibody card test). RESULTS: 13 patients of scrub typhus with features of meningitis/meningoencephalitis were included. The mean duration of fever before presentation was 5.61±3.08 days and 4 (30.76 %) patients had eschar. Altered sensorium, headache, seizure and meningeal sign were present in 13 (100%), 13 (100%), 6 (46.15%) and 10 (76.92%) patients respectively. Mean CSF protein, glucose and Adenosine deaminase was 152.16±16.88mg/dl, 55.23±21.7mg/dl, and 16.98±7.37U/L respectively. Mean total count of CSF leukocyte and lymphocyte percentage was 46.07±131 cell/cumm and 98.66±3.09% respectively. Tablet doxycycline with or without injection azithromycin was used and that shows good response 15.38% of patients died and all of them had multi organ dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Meningoencephalitis is a common manifestation of scrub typhus and diagnosis requires high degree of clinical suspicion which if diagnosed early and specific treatment started, patients usually recover completely with few complications.