BACKGROUND: Diagnostic dilemma arises when patients with clinical suspicion of COVID-19 disease having moderate-to-severe respiratory symptoms yield negative result for COVID-19 in reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). This study evaluated the clinical, laboratory and HRCT thorax findings among RT-PCR-negative COVID-19 suspects with moderate-to-severe disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital-based retrospective observational study was conducted between July 2021 to December 2021, among 60 moderate and severe symptomatic COVID-19 suspects admitted in the severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) ward and intensive care unit (ICU), who were negative for COVID-19 in RT-PCR. Data were abstracted from the medical records section of the hospital using a predesigned data abstraction form and presented by descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Mean age of study participants was 55.5 years (SD 14.1 years), and majority were males ( n = 43, 71.7%). Common presenting symptoms were fever ( n = 60, 100%), dyspnea ( n = 57, 95%), and cough ( n = 54, 90%). The common laboratory findings were rise of C-reactive protein ( n = 60, 100%), NLR ( n = 49, 81.7%), d-dimer ( n = 47, 78.3%), ferritin ( n = 46, 76.7%), and LDH ( n = 40, 66.7%). HRCT scan of thorax revealed ground glass opacities with or without consolidations located bilaterally with diffuse or peripheral distribution, interlobar septal thickening ( n = 43, 74.1%), vascular thickening ( n = 35, ≥58.3%), and sub-pleural lines ( n = 32, 53.3%). Median CT-SS value was 15 (IQR 11–19), and majority ( n = 56, 93.3%) belonged to CO-RADS ≥4. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of COVID-19 can be presumed in RT-PCR-negative suspected COVID-19 patients with moderate-to-severe disease, with marked rise of inflammatory markers and HRCT revealing typical findings of COVID-19 pneumonia.
Background Recently there has been an increased preference for intranasal delivery of drugs due to highly vascular nasal mucosa, bypassing first pass metabolism and the blood brain barrier (BBB) lead in quick drug absorption to the systemic circulation and direct access to brain from olfactory region. For pediatric patients this route offers significant benefits over injections or oral routes, like increased compliance, easy administration, and minimal side effects. Objective Assessment of prescription pattern of drugs and safety profile of drugs used by intranasal route in paediatric age group. Method Our study was a prospective observational study paediatric age group of patients conducted in the departments of Pharmacology, Paediatrics and Otorhinolaryngology of Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, Burdwan. Data were collected in CRF and frequency distribution of collected data done. Microsoft Excel 2010 was used for analysis. Result Common age group was infants. Males were more in number. Most common indication was epistaxis. Intranasal drugs per prescription were 1.05. Most commonly prescribed intranasal drug was nasal saline. Nasal decongestant was the most common prescribed medication. Nasal drops were the most common dose formulation. Conclusion Intranasal drug prescribing in our study was mainly aimed for treating local problems, very few being for systemic action. Some prescribing indicators like prescribing by generic name and prescribing from national essential drug lists were acceptable with scope for improvement. Average number of drugs per prescription and antibiotic use was high. Adverse events after intranasal drug use were primarily local and nose related.
Background: Pharmacovigilance programs have been introduced to keep an eye on adverse drug reactions and safe use of drugs. All Healthcare professionals (HCPs) should report each and every adverse events which they come across. Pharmacovigilance programme of India is running actively since 2010 but India contributes only 2% of Adverse drug reactions (ADR’s) reported worldwide. There is need to monitor awareness of HCP’s about pharmacovigilance to achieve the goals. Such studies from peripheries of Eastern India are lacking. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice and overall awareness among HCP’s about pharmacovigilance and to understand actual barriers of ADR reporting.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was done in Burdwan Medical College and Hospital. Ninety-nine HCP’s completed the pre-designed questionnaire. There were 15 questions to assess the awareness and cause(s) of underreporting. Data were analysed using appropriate statistical software.Results: We analysed data of 67 doctors and 32 nurses. We found, 67.2% doctors and 59.4% nurses knew definition of pharmacovigilance. About half HCP’s had knowledge about existing pharmacovigilance committee in our hospital. Almost all HCP’s felt ADR reporting is necessary. Surprisingly 88.1% doctors and 46.9% nurses experienced ADR at least once but 25.4% and 3.1% reported them respectively. For knowledge and practice related questions, correct responses were significantly higher for doctors. Most common discouraging factors regarding ADR reporting were, didn’t know how to report (52.5%) where to report (41.4%).Conclusions: Attitude of HCP’s towards pharmacovigilance activities was appreciable and combining it with periodic sensitizing programs, and training sessions will increase the knowledge, clear doubts about ADR reporting and improve the awareness about pharmacovigilance.
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