A large majority of the sample in an area of South India screened positive for CMD 9-11 months after the tsunami. These data served as an impetus in planning a long-term, five-year post-disaster intervention. Accurate longitudinal data about risk and protective factors after a disaster are needed to plan medium- and long-term interventions.
Introduction:Ventriculomegaly and hydrocephalus (HCP) are sometimes a bewildering sequela of decompressive craniectomy (DC). The distinguishing criteria between both are less well defined. Majority of the studies quoted in the literature have defined HCP radiologically, rather than considering the clinical status of the patient. Accordingly, these patients have been treated with permanent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedures. We hypothesize that asymptomatic ventriculomegaly following DC should undergo aspiration with cranioplasty and be followed up regularly.Materials and Methods:All patients with post-DC who were scheduled for cranioplasty and satisfied the radiological criteria for HCP were included. These patients were categorized into two groups. Group 1 included ventriculomegaly with clinical signs attributable to HCP and Group 2 constituted ventriculomegaly but no clinical signs attributable to HCP. All patients in Group 1 underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt followed by cranioplasty, whereas all patients in Group 2 underwent cranioplasty along with simultaneous ventriculostomy and temporary aspiration of the lateral ventricle. All patients were regularly followed as the outpatient basis.Results:There were 21 patients who developed ventriculomegaly following DC. There were 10 patients in Group 1 and 11 patients in Group 2. The average duration of follow-up was from 6 months to 2 years. Two patients in the shunt group - (group 1) had over drainage and required revision. One patient in aspiration group - (group 2) required permanent CSF diversion.Conclusions:Cranioplasty with aspiration is a viable option in selected group of patients in whom there is ventriculomegaly but no signs or symptoms attributable to HCP.
Background
Leptospirosis is a common zoonotic disease. Many waterborne diseases and mosquito-borne diseases are common causes of acute febrile illnesses in the southern Indian state of Kerala posing diagnostic challenges. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of leptospirosis diagnosed using the modified Faine's criteria (with amendment) compared to other common acute febrile illnesses.
Methods
In this prospective study, all consecutive patients with acute febrile illness, headache and myalgia presenting to our tertiary care hospital's single unit from March 2013 to February 2015 were subjected to detailed history taking and thorough clinical examination. Leptospiral immunoglobulin M (IgM) serology was confirmed by RecombiLISA ELISA and modified Faine's criteria were used for diagnosis of leptospirosis. Other diagnoses for acute febrile illnesses were assigned based on clinical and laboratory investigations. Bivariate and regression analysis was carried out to analyse epidemiological, clinical and laboratory parameters of both groups.
Results
A total of 389 patients were enrolled, out of which 110 patients had the presumptive diagnosis of leptospirosis. Among the 279 with non-leptospirosis acute febrile illness, dengue (39%) and other viral febrile illnesses (25%) were the most common diagnoses. Regression analysis identified several epidemiological (contact with contaminated animals or water and drinking unboiled water), clinical (conjunctival congestion and muscle tenderness) and laboratory investigations (leucocytosis, neutrophilia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] and aspartate aminotransferase) which were helpful in distinguishing leptospirosis from other acute febrile illnesses.
Conclusion
Our study suggests that certain epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features in patients with leptospirosis may allow an early diagnosis. Our study also underscores the usefulness of confirming the leptospiral serology by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in combination with relevant epidemiological and clinical features in diagnosing leptospirosis using the modified Faine's criteria.
Highlights
India has the third-highest COVID-19 burden. Hosting the Sabarimala pilgrimage of an estimated 25 million can compromise the near-mitigated but fragile COVID-19 status of the host State of Kerala, accelerate the ongoing outbreaks in other states of India, and potentially in multiple countries with emigrants from Kerala.
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