Background: Diabetics exhibit elevated serum ferritin level when compared to non-diabetic counterpart, indicates impact of its association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and disease progression. Ferritin is a key mediator of immune dysregulation through direct immunosuppression contributing to cytokine storm resulting in fatal outcome in COVID-19. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to estimate serum ferritin in diabetic (cases) and non-diabetic (controls) COVID-19 patients and its correlation with their diabetic profile (FBS, PPBS, RBS, and HbA1C). Materials and Methods: A retrospective case–control study conducted at Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, for a period of 8 months among diabetic and non-diabetic COVID-19 patients. Results: The study population consisted of 957 individuals, out of them, 425 patients were type 2 diabetes mellitus and 532 were non-diabetic COVID-19-positive patients (controls). Diabetic profile parameters (FBS, PPBS, RBS, and HbA1c) and serum ferritin were significantly (P<0.05) high in cases as compared to controls. Among diabetic COVID-19, the glycated hemoglobin and serum ferritin showed a significantly positive correlation (r=0.55) with serum ferritin (mean=648.98±320.48). Conclusion: Hyperferritinemia is more prevalent in diabetic COVID-19 individuals. Serum ferritin can be considered as a valuable biomarker to screen the diabetic and non-diabetic for the presence of hyperinflammation and to predict severity of COVID-19 infection so that it will help the clinician for proper management.

Introduction Dengue fever is an arboviral disease caused by dengue virus, which is a single-stranded RNA virus and belongs to family Flaviviridae. Dengue fever (DF) has emerged as a global public health problem in recent years. The problem has become hyperendemic in many urban, peri-urban and rural areas, with frequent epidemics South-East Asia is one of the regions with highest risk of DF and accounts for 52% of the worldwide risk. In India, according to World Health Organization, 70.8% of the total health care expenditure was out-of-pocket in 2010. According to the World Bank, the percentage of out-of-pocket expenditure is as high as 86.4%. Dengue fever causes a significant economic and social burden on the population of endemic areas. This study was conducted with the objective to estimate the direct and indirect cost expenditure on families of dengue affected members and to assess the financial coping mechanisms of the families. Materials and methods Confirmed cases of DF with either NS-1 positive or IgM positive or positive for both and willing to participate in the study formed the sample. After taking informed consent, study subjects were interviewed using a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire. Questionnaire included demo- graphic profile and questions related to their financial coping mechanisms. Information on the laboratory bill, hospital bill, and pharmacy bill was collected from the hospital records on the day of patient's discharge. Indirect cost, such as travel expenses, food, and beverage expenses were collected from the family members of dengue patients. Necessary permission was taken from the hospital and RajaRajeswari Medical College & Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Data were collected and compiled in the MS excel sheet and were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0. Descriptive statistics-qualitative variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, continuous variables, such as hospital stay and cost are expressed in terms of mean and standard deviation. Results Average direct cost per household for treatment of dengue was 5185.395 INR. Average out-of-pocket expenditure per household for treatment of dengue was 6190 INR. Most of the households used savings as a mechanism to cope up with the increased expenditure due to dengue. About 77.6% of the households diverted their savings to pay for the treatment of dengue, 18.4% of households borrowed money from friends and relatives to pay the hospital bills, and the remaining 3% respondents used their health insurance as a financial coping mechanism to get the treatment for dengue. Conclusion There is a substantial financial loss to the Indian families of which a significant proportion lies below the poverty line. Government is the only agency working for the prevention of this kind of vector-borne disease. Public awareness in the community about the treatment of dengue is very scant. People use their savings which is the major method to cope up with expenditure due to DF. Significant proportion of the population uses the incurred borrowing as a method to pay for the treatment of dengue, which is a matter of concern. How to cite this article Kumar N, Shyam AC, Vidya. Cost Burden of Dengue Fever in a Rural Ramanagara District of Karnataka State. J Med Sci 2016;2(4):59-61.

Background Fever is the most common presentation of vector-borne diseases. Fever of undetermined origin is also most often caused by an unusual manifestation of a common disease and is a huge public health problem affecting most people in the developing world. Primary objective of this study was to study the seasonal variations and trend analysis of patients with fever in a rural health training center of a tertiary care hospital in South Bengaluru, Karnataka. Materials and methods A retrospective descriptive record-based analysis of patients with fever was conducted in a rural health training center of a tertiary care hospital, Bengaluru, from January 2019 to September 2019. The trends of fever were analyzed in each village respectively by the method of least squares, linear equation after entering into MS Excel sheet. Results Study included 5,114 patients with fever, out of which 34% were of 18–30 years. In few villages, there was downward trend of patients with fever and in some villages, an upward trend of patients with fever was observed. Majority of patients with fever (2,795) were observed in August 2019 (12.29%) and September 2019 (12.33%). Conclusion The number of patients with fever showed a downward and upward trend swings during the study period. Implementation of health education regarding the prevention of the vector-borne diseases is warranted. It emphasizes the importance of visiting a healthcare center in case of a fever. The study will give a better insight into the epidemiology of febrile illnesses. This will further help the health planners to allocate the resources in the most appropriate way. How to cite this article Thyagaraj KT, Patle BS, AC Shyam, et al. Analysis of Trends of Fever in the Field Practice Area of a Tertiary Care Hospital, Bengaluru: A Retrospective Data Review. J Med Sci 2020;6(1):8–13.

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Background: Global outbreak of deadly Corona virus disease has forced health care professionals of various disciplines in Hospital and community setting to use personal protective equipment (PPE) which consists of completely encapsulated suit, led the frontline health care professionals to face not only the physical discomfort but also other health consequences. Aims and Objectives: This study is conducted to assess the physical, physiological, and psychological health consequences faced by health care workers using Level III PPE when attending COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the month of December 2020 and January 2021 amongst Medicos, Paramedicals, Nurses and other health care professionals in a tertiary care hospital attending COVID-19 duty using an online questionnaire which included sociodemographic profile, frequency of the duty, physical, physiological, psychological difficulties faced while using PPE, and the responses was recorded according to three-point Likert’s scale. Data were analyzed using suitable statistical methods with the help of SPSS V.23. Results: A total of227 front line warriors were included in the study with 157 (69%) males, 70 (31%) females among them 121 (53%) medicos, 68 (30%) nurses, 23 (10%) paramedicals, 15 (7%) others. Majority of them that is 186 were in 21–30 years age group, 31 in 31–40 years, 10 in >41 years. 124 (55%) used PPE for 4–6 h, 84 (37%) >6 h and 19 (8%) used for <4 h. Physical symptoms are most commonly faced health consequences followed by psychological and physiological symptoms. Medicos faced more difficulty and regularly in all three health consequences comparing with nurses and others. Conclusion: This study provides insight into various health consequences and difficulties experienced by the health care professionals while on PPE. Surveillance of the physical, physiological and psychological health consequences enroute us to prepare efficiently for future outbreaks worldwide.