This study reports clinico-epidemiological features and viral agents causing acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in the eastern Indian region through hospital-based case enrolment during April 2011 to July 2012. Blood and CSF samples of 526 AES cases were investigated by serology and/or PCR. Viral aetiology was identified in 91 (17·2%) cases. Herpes simplex virus (HSV; types I or II) was most common (16·1%), followed by measles (2·6%), Japanese encephalitis virus (1·5%), dengue virus (0·57%), varicella zoster virus (0·38%) and enteroviruses (0·19%). Rash, paresis and cranial nerve palsies were significantly higher (P < 0·05) with viral AES. Case-fatality rates were 10·9% and 6·2% in AES cases with and without viral aetiology, respectively. Simultaneous infection of HSV I and measles was observed in seven cases. This report provides the first evidence on viral aetiology of AES viruses from eastern India showing dominance of HSV that will be useful in informing the public health system.

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BackgroundAdolescent girls are vulnerable to many problems, undernutrition being the most common. This results in growth restriction resulting in stunting, wasting, underweight and last but not the least iron-deficiency anaemia. Nutritional needs are high during puberty which later leads to complications during pregnancy and its outcomes.Materials and methodsA field based cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of the girls and to determine the various factors responsible for undernutrition. After clearance from the Institution Ethical Committee (IEC) and permission from Child Development Programme Officer (CDPO), the study was conducted in the anganwadi centres (AWC) of urban slums in the field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine from the 1st October 2014 to the 31st October 2016. All the adolescent girls enlisted in the seven anganwadi centres were included as study subjects with their consent. A pre-designed, pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on following sections. (a) socio-demographic profile and (b) nutritional status. Dietary intake was taken using the 24-h recall method. Anthropometry was measured and haemoglobin (Hb) was estimated. SPSS version 21 was used for descriptive and analytic statistics.ResultsAmong the 160 girls 98(61.3%), 69(43.1%), 53(33.1%) were underweight, stunted and wasted, respectively. Anaemia was present among 144(90%) of the girls.ConclusionStrict monitoring of weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFS) as well as nutrition education are essential measures to solve the problem of undernutrition among adolescent girls.

Background: Rabies is a zoonotic disease caused by the rabies virus (RABV). Annually about 59,000 persons die of rabies, of which 20,000 are from India alone. Rabies though 100% fatal is preventable with post-exposure prophylaxis which includes wound washing, anti-rabies vaccination (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin. The objective of the present study was to describe the clinico-social profile of animal bite patients attending the anti-rabies clinic of a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi.Methods: A longitudinal descriptive hospital-based study was conducted in the anti-rabies clinic of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital (VMMC and SJH), New Delhi from February 2019 to July 2020. Study participants were interviewed by using a semi-structured, pre-designed and pre-tested proforma. Data regarding socio-demographic and clinical profile of the study participants following animal bite exposure was collected.Results: The total number of animal bite victims enrolled in the study were 360. Majority of the bite victims belonged to adult population (20-59 years). Majority were males (73.9%). 58.9% were working and 27.5% were students. Most bites belonged to category III (80.8%). Dogs (88.1%) were the most common biting animal. 79% of the bites were provoked.Conclusions: Knowing the socio-demographic characteristics and the clinical profile of animal bite victims gives an idea about important baseline characteristics of animal bite victims and the burden of the disease. As in majority cases dogs are involved, steps should be taken to control stray dog population in co-ordination with the Non-government organizations (NGOs) and Municipal Corporations.

Background: Urban health and nutrition day (UHND) serves as a common platform to deliver maternal, child health care, nutrition and WASH services to the urban poor population. This study was formulated with an objective to study the availability of resources at the UHND, to assess the services provided and to determine the satisfaction by the beneficiaries.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in urban slum of Berhampur from November 2016 to January 2017 and 10% of UHND sessions were observed. Data was collected regarding the presence of service providers at the session sites, availability of required equipments and supplies with the help of a semi-structured checklist. In-depth interviews of the service providers and exit interview from the beneficiaries from each session was taken after obtaining their informed consent and analyzed.Results: Out of 21 sessions, ANMs were present at all sessions but AWWs were present only at 61.9% sessions. Examination table, bed screen were not present at any session. Registration of pregnant women & BP measurement was done at 90.5% but abdominal examination of the woman were not performed. Weighing of children and plotting of weight on the card was done in 71.4% and 52.4% sessions respectively. 78.5% clients were satisfied with the quality of services they received.Conclusions: There was inadequate logistics identified in many UHND sessions. Hence strengthening of resources and infrastructure as well as regular supportive supervision is recommended to ensure provision of quality services.

Background: Menarche is a significant milestone in the developmental journey of an adolescent girl about which she should be aware so that she can manage it properly. Poor personal hygiene and unhealthy menstrual practices give rise to repeated reproductive tract infections (RTIs). The Objectives were to assess the knowledge and perception regarding menarche; to study various problems related to menstruation and to evaluate various practices to manage menstruation with special emphasis on hygiene. Methods: Field based cross-sectional study was conducted among students of Class IX of a Government Girls High School in the field practice area of Department of Community Medicine in October 2015 using pre-designed, pretested, semi structured questionnaire. Data thus collected was analysed using appropriate statistics. Results: Menarche was attained by 86% of girls. Of which only 15% were aware about it. Mothers were the source of information for 94% of the girls. Duration of menstrual bleeding lasted normally for 3-4 days among 50% girls. Normal periodicity of cycles of (21-35) days was present in 69% of girls. Exclusively, sanitary napkins and clothes were used by 56% and 31% of the girls respectively. Clothes were reused by 73% of them, out of which 88% sundried after washing. Due to unavailability of soaps and dustbins, only 42% changed their pads or clothes in school. Conclusions: The knowledge and practice about menstruation is not adequate among the adolescent girls. Education of girls and their caretakers about healthy menstrual practices is essential .Schools should be provided with better sanitary facilities.

Background: In India unplanned pregnancy and illegal abortions still remains a problem. Unintended early pregnancy and frequent childbearing contribute to high pregnancy related morbidity and mortality which can be prevented by use of suitable contraceptives. In circumstances where women are unable to exercise sexual and reproductive decision making, introduction of emergency contraceptive pills may provide important back up option to enable women to control their fertility.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between August- October 2016 among 215 married women of reproductive age group attending the Urban Health Center, Berhampur, to study the awareness about most common methods of contraception, decision-making regarding contraceptive and knowledge and practice of emergency contraceptive pills.Results: This study concludes that most commonly used method was Oral contraceptive pills (28.3%) and major source of information regarding different methods of contraception were through friends and relatives (44.6%). Awareness about emergency contraception mostly came through television. Of those aware of ECPs (14.4%) only 16.1% had used it in their lifetime.Conclusions: Although there is awareness about contraceptives methods, knowledge and practice of emergency contraception is low.