COVID-19 has evolved into a pandemic in quick time and being a droplet infection, it was quickly understood that prevention is the key. People started to use all types of masks and there was a panic as stocks started running out. Health care workers must use a triple layered surgical mask and those exposed to aerosol generating procedures must use an N 95 mask and these should be kept reserved for them, especially in a resource limited setting. Though initial advice from experts to the general public was not to use a mask in community settings unless they are sick or taking care of someone sick, the advice had to be later modified. Though CDC Atlanta currently advices everyone with no symptoms to wear cloth masks in the community, WHO opines there is no clear evidence to advise for or against mask use in the community. However, WHO encourages countries advising community mask use as it can generate useful evidence. Along with mask use, practicing all other preventive measures such as handwashing, cough etiquette, social distancing, quarantine and isolation are of utmost importance, without which, using surgical masks or even N95 masks, will not be much effective in the community setting.
Introduction:According to the World Health Organization, more than 300 million people were estimated to suffer from depression in 2017. Many studies have observed that medical personnel have a higher level of depression, but studies among dentists are scarce. Early diagnosis will help in controlling the morbidity and mortality due to depression. Hence, this study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of depression among students of Government Dental College (GDC), Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the state of Kerala, India.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted at GDC, Thiruvananthapuram, for a period of 3 months from September to December 2017, using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and a pro forma comprising 37 questions. Students having PHQ scores >9 were considered to have depression. The questionnaire was administered on 364 students comprising undergraduate students, paradental students, house surgeons, and postgraduates. Separate sessions were arranged for each group and four reminders were given.Results:The prevalence of depression was estimated as 26.9% (95% confidence interval: 22.4–31.8). Being married, having high and average level of course satisfaction, and having close friends were found to act as independent protective factors, whereas female gender and breakups in relationships were found to be independent risk factors.Conclusion:It is high time we provide supportive programs and implement preventive measures to help professional students, especially those who are at higher risk of mental ill-health. Further studies need to be conducted to explore the academic reasons for depression.
Background: Interstate migrant workers in the state of Kerala are increasing day by day. Tobacco usage is quite common among them; however, there are only few studies about oral smokeless tobacco consumption among them. The objectives of the study were to study the prevalence of oral smokeless tobacco use among migrant labourers in an urban settlement in Ernakulam district of Kerala and to assess the knowledge and attitude of users towards cessation. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 140 migrant workers residing in an urban settlement in Kochi. Data regarding their socio demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practices of smokeless tobacco consumption was collected using a questionnaire adapted from the global adult tobacco survey questionnaire (GATS). Data was entered into excel sheet and was analyzed using Epi Info. Results: The prevalence of oral smokeless tobacco was found to be 32.85%. Of which, majority of them used a tobacco-lime mixture called Khani (50%) and used tobacco on a daily basis (65.2%). It was observed that 71.74% of the users were unaware of the ill effects of the use of smokeless tobacco and 69.57% of them were not interested in quitting this habit. Among those who had quit, majority of them had done it on their will power alone. Conclusions: The use of smokeless tobacco is quite prevalent among the migrant population. Effective behavioural change communication activities need to be directed towards them.
Introduction Myocardial infarction (MI) is a subset of the spectrum of the disease known as acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which comprises three distinct entities including unstable angina (UA) and MI with or without ST-segment elevation. However, many clinicians are unaware that MI itself is classified into five types, the most common being type I, followed by type II. Type II MI occurs due to coronary insufficiency not related to acute plaque change in the coronary vasculature. Data available on type II MI is still limited, particularly in the South Asian setting, despite documented poorer outcomes for the same compared to other types. Therefore, we conducted this study as an attempt to outline the predisposing factors, precipitating elements, and possible outcomes of type II MI. Materials and methods This prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Kochi, Kerala for 12 months. A total of 59 patients of ages 10-99 years, with a final diagnosis of MI based on the levels of cardiac biomarkers and electrocardiography (ECG), no previous history of coronary angiography, thrombolysis, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and non-ischemic conditions producing elevations in cardiac biomarkers were included in this study. Demographic features, cardiac biomarker levels, comorbidities, precipitating factors, foci of sepsis, and outcomes of type II MI were noted. The mean was calculated for age and cardiac biomarkers. The frequency and percentages were calculated for gender, comorbidities, precipitating factors, foci of sepsis, and the outcomes of type II MI.
Introduction:Urinary incontinence has an immense impact on the social and mental health, and the quality of life of a person. Women neither come forward seeking medical consultation nor do they discuss about their incontinence openly, and the condition remains underestimated in the society. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess the type of urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women visiting obstetrics and gynecology (OBG) outpatient in a tertiary health care sector and to determine the risk factors of urinary incontinence.Materials and Methods:All postmenopausal women of age 45–90 years visiting the OBG Department of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in the months of May and June 2018 were assessed for urinary incontinence. QUID questionnaire - a six item urinary incontinence diagnostic questionnaire to diagnose and differentiate stress, urge and mixed incontinence - was used.Results:The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 26.47%, stress urinary incontinence contributing 13.9%, mixed urinary incontinence 7.2%, and urge urinary incontinence 5.4%. Chronic cough, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI), and prolonged duration of labor were independent risk factors associated with urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women.Conclusion:Stress incontinence was found to be the major type of urinary incontinence in the postmenopausal women. Those having history of chronic cough, prolonged duration of labor, and recurrent UTI should be screened regularly for urinary incontinence.
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