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.
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: 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.
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