Aim and Objectives To describe the prevalence and characteristics of olfactory dysfunction (OD) in patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection. Materials and Methods This monocentric study was performed at Chest Diseases Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and all patients testing positive for COVID-19 over a 5-month period (April to August 2020) were recruited. Detailed history was elicited from subjects and all patients were inquired about olfactory dysfunction (OD). Patients with olfactory dysfunction were asked to complete olfactory questionnaires based on the short version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements (sQOD-NS). Results 655 patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection were included in the study. The prevalence rate of olfactory dysfunction was 18.47% (n = 121) with contribution of 11.60% (n = 76) and 6.87% (n = 45) from anosmia and hyposmia respectively, thereby suggesting olfactory dysfunction to be a significant clinical feature in COVID-19 patients. Males were significantly more affected by olfactory dysfunctions than females. Anosmic patients had significantly reduced sQOD-NS results as compared to hyposmic patients (significant at P \ 0.05). The mean duration of OD was 7.7 days (± 4.3) and [90% patients in our study showed resolution within 14 days. Conclusion The early recognition of olfactory dysfunction should help to screen, identify and thereby quickly isolate mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients from the general population and the existence of these dysfunctions may well be a prognostic factor in the course of the disease.

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<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The aim of the study was to discern the patterns in microbial diversity and the resistogram among the patients suffering from CSOM.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A total number of 100 ear swabs were investigated for the present study. Their gram staining, direct microscopy with KOH, culture sensitivity, and biochemical tests were carried out to identify the organisms and to know their sensitivity pattern. All the swabs were collected from clinically diagnosed cases of chronic suppurative otitis media visiting otolaryngology outpatient department of tertiary care hospital. The study period was one year, from January 2016 to December 2017.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Out of total 100 cases, 90 were culture<strong> </strong>positives, 6 showed no growth and 4 were<strong> </strong>skin contaminants (mirococci). Out of 90 culture positives, fungal culture was positive in 5 (5.5%) while combined bacteria and fungi obtained in 18 (20%) cases and only bacteria in 67 (74.4%) cases. Among the aerobic bacterial isolates, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common bacteria isolated from the bacterial culture (n=36; 34.95%) followed by <em>Staphylococcus aureus </em>(n=28; 27.18%) and <em>Proteus</em> (n=13; 12.62%). Among the fungal isolates,<strong> </strong><em>Aspergillus niger </em>was predominant followed<strong> </strong>by Candida <em>albicans </em>&amp; <em>Aspergillus flavus.</em> Amikacin and imipenem were found to be the most effective antibiotics with low resistance rates.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The present study gave an insight into the bacteriological profile of the cases of CSOM and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns. This in turn will ensure rational and judicious use of antibiotics and thus prevent emergence of resistant bugs and also the complications associated with CSOM.</p>

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of CO 2 laser ablation in the management of symptomatic hypertrophied inferior nasal turbinates. This prospective observational study was carried out on 53 patients with symptomatic ITH refractory to medical management in the

Background: To compare efficacy of 75% silver nitrate chemical cautery as opposed to topical vasoconstrictor spray (xylometazoline 0.1%) in adult anterior epistaxis.Methods: This randomized controlled trial study was carried out at SMHS Hospital Srinagar from Jan 2019 to Dec 2019. 110 subjects that presented to ENT & HNS emergency with epistaxis and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected. Subjects were randomly distributed into two groups. Group-A individuals were treated by cauterization with 75% silver nitrate and Group-B individuals were treated with topical vasoconstrictor spray (xylometazoline 0.1%). All the subjects were reviewed at 1 month and success was determined in terms of control of epistaxis from same side of nose.Results: The mean age of the cohort was 48.5yrs (age range, 17-59). There were total 60 (54.4%) males and 50 (45.4%) females among the cases. Both the groups were comparable as regards the age, sex, duration and frequency of epistaxis. 91.2% cases in Group-A (silver nitrate cautery) and 73.5% cases in Group-B (xylometazoline spray 0.1%) had no further epistaxis at one-month follow-up (p=0.014).Conclusions: Chemical cauterization with silver nitrate is a feasible and safe technique for the treatment of adult anterior epistaxis and is more effective than topical vasoconstrictor spray.

The third root of median nerve though rare has definite embryological basis and clinical impact. The Present study was conducted in the postgraduate Department of Anatomy at Government Medical College Srinagar to study the variations in the number of roots of median nerve during routine dissection for academic purposes between 2001 -20014. Both upper limbs of 35 Indian cadavers were dissected out for routine anatomic teaching and simultaneously recording observations. It was observed that in one of the female cadavers the left median nerve had three roots (one medial and two lateral). The two lateral roots originated from the lateral cord and the medial root originated from medial cord of brachial plexus. The third root originated between the origins of the lateral root and the musculocutaneous nerve from lateral cord of brachial plexus. This anomalous root joined with the median nerve distal to the lateral root in the proximal third of arm. The third root of median nerve though rare is of great academic and clinical significance in Surgery, Neurophysiology, Orthopedics, Anaesthesiology, Sports medicine and Physiotherapy.

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> We sought to evaluate the combination of high-dose prebreakfast proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (40 mg pantoprazole) and a bedtime high-dose ranitidine (300 mg) dosing as a surrogate and rational regimen for LPR.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> 60 subjects that presented to ENT and HNS OPD with symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) were prospectively evaluated and underwent a comprehensive otolaryngological examination. All subjects were treated sequentially and outcomes recorded using reflux finding score (RFS) and reflux symptom index (RSI).  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The mean age of the cohort was 35±06.51 (age range, 8-55). Mean RSI of all patients was 24.8 before treatment with combination of PPIs and H2 receptor antagonists. Significant change in RSI were observed after the first 8 weeks of therapy and no further significant changes were observed over the next 16 weeks. Mean RFS of the patients was 12 before starting the treatment and there was a significant response in mean RFS at 16 weeks of therapy.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> A surrogate high-dose prebreakfast PPI (40 mg pantoprazole) and a bedtime high-dose ranitidine (300 mg) dosing regimen is effective in improving RSI and RFS in majority of cases who present with LPR.</p><p class="abstract"> </p>

<p><strong>Background:</strong> The indications for paediatric tracheostomies have had a significant change world over during last few decades. Emergency management of paediatric airway by tracheostomy has its own share of complications which need fair amount of expertise to manage.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> We carried out a retrospective study at a tertiary care centre in rural area of Haryana and analysed the available data of last 5 years (2017-2021) for determining various indications of paediatric tracheostomies and complications encountered during or after the surgery.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The study included 65 paediatric patients (&lt;14 years of age) who underwent tracheostomy at our tertiary care institute between January 2017 and December 2021. Out of them 38 (60.3%) were males, 35 (55.17%) patients were in 0-5 years age group. Most frequent indication for paediatric tracheostomy turned out to be upper airway obstruction due to a vaccine preventable disease diphtheria (n=56, i.e., 86.15%), other less common causes were need of prolonged ventilation, subglottic stenosis, congenital airway anomalies, retropharyngeal abscess, laryngeal papilloma. Complications were observed in 30 cases (46.15%). Mortality in tracheostomized children was nearly 29.2%, which was mainly attributed to the underlying cause which turned out to be diphtheria in most of the cases.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> High number of paediatric tracheostomies and sheer presence of diphtheria in this rural area of Haryana suggests that there is dire need of proper immunisation coverage and an active participation at community level.</p>