Saiprasad Onkareshwar Kavthekar

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder affecting children as well as adults. It is associated with misconceptions, myths and social stigma. Patient, parents, family members, school teachers, medical professionals look at this disorder with different perspective. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) regarding epilepsy has been studied in various segments of population. Not many studies are available in medical students. Also, there are going to be regional variations with respect to KAP regarding epilepsy. Such study is not done in this region. Hence, this study was planned. Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was under taken in 102 final year M.B.B.S. students. Self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Result: 51% students answered correctly in knowledge domain, 69% answered in attitude domain and 58% answered correctly in practice domain. Only 21% students were exposed in management of epilepsy patient. 86-87% students expressed to include epilepsy topic should be included in undergraduate syllabus and need for clinical posting of final year students in emergency department. Conclusion:  Final year medical students had better attitude towards epilepsy but had average knowledge and practicesabout epilepsy. Keywords: Epilepsy, Medical students, Knowledge Attitude and Practice

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Abstract

Background: Mechanical Ventilation (MV) is a life supporting device indicated in acute cardio-respiratory failure in children. A limited data is available about MV in children from India and our region too. Aim: To study clinical profile of mechanically ventilated children aged 1 month to 18 years of age. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between 1 May 2014 to 30 April 2019 at Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of D.Y.Patil Medical college and hospital, Kolhapur among 103 children who required MV. The medical records like PICU Register and case sheets were reviewed for details like age, gender, clinical diagnosis, comorbid conditions and indications , length, mode and complications of MV. The data was analyzed statistically. Results: The incidence of MV was 13.08% (1348/103) and 54.37% patients were under-five age. The primary diagnosis was respiratory 42(40.78%), neurological 29(28.15%), and cardiac 10 (9.70%) illnesses. Pneumonia and status epilepticus were the commonest causes. The indications for MV were highest with respiratory failure 31(30.09%) and cardiorespiratory failure 23 (22.33%). The median duration of MV was 3 days. The stridor 20(19.42%) and endotracheal tube blockages 08(07.77%) were the commonest complications. The outcome of patients was improved in 60(58.25%) while death in 38(36.89%) patients. The highest deaths occurred in 9(23.68%) , 8 (21.05%) patients with sepsis and pneumonia respectively. Conclusions: The indication for MV was either respiratory or cardiorespiratory failure while respiratory (Pneumonia) and neurological (Status Epilepticus) were the commonest illnesses. Most of the patients were improved while deaths occurred mainly in sepsis and pneumonia patients. Keywords: Children, Mechanical Ventilation, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

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Introduction: Zinc as an adjuvant therapy in acute diarrhea has been proved effective in children aged below 5 years. Presently there are no any guidelines for the use of zinc in children above 5 years  of age. So we studied efficacy of zinc as an adjunct therapy in acute diarrhea in children aged 5-15 years. Materials and Methods: This hospital based longitudinal comparative study was conducted in D.Y.Patil medical college and hospital, Kolhapur, Maharashtra. 200 children aged 5-15 years, admitted with acute diarrhea with dehydration were included.100 children received zinc (study group), orally 20 mg once a day for 14 days & another 100 were not received zinc (control group). Primary and secondary outcome measures in terms of frequency of loose stools per day at 24, 48 hours and on 7th day of admission and duration of hospital stay respectively were compared. The data was analyzed statistically. Results: 75% & 25% children from study group and 27% & 69% from control group had frequency of loose stool ? 5 times and 6-7 times per day at 48 hours respectively. 3% and 78% children from study and 0% and 46% from control group had frequency of loose stool < 2>th day respectively. In study group 88% children were discharged by 4th day and 76% from control group were discharged by 6th day with 2 days lesser hospital stay in children of study group. (P Conclusion: Oral zinc as an adjuvant therapy was effective in acute diarrhea in children aged 5 -15 years. Keywords: Acute diarrhea, Children, Zinc.  

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