Background: Birth asphyxia accounts for around 23% of annual neonatal deaths in the developing world.Objective: To assess the risk factors for death in outborn neonates with birth asphyxia. Method:A one year prospective observational cohort study was undertaken in a tertiary care teaching government hospital in India. All outborn referral neonates diagnosed with birth asphyxia were included. Demographic, maternal and neonatal factors were included and analysed.Results: Incidence of birth asphyxia was 17.3% with a male: female ratio of 1.3:1. Ninety five percent mothers received antenatal care and 98% were delivered at either primary or secondary health care level institutes. Mean distance travelled by baby was 89.42±69.36 km. One hundred and twenty two (68%) mothers were anaemic, 45 (25%) had systemic hypertension and 75 (42%) had preeclampsia/eclampsia. One hundred and forty (78%) babies were term and 103 (57%) had average birth weights. A history of not crying at birth was available in 95% neonates who were resuscitated by paramedical person and medical officers. Case fatality rate was 40.6%. Average duration of hospital stay of non-survivors was 4.35±2.98 days compared to 9.07±4.85 days in surviving neonates (P<0.0001). Most deaths were in HIE stage III. Unbooked mothers (p=0.01), maternal anaemia (OR 3.07, p=0.02), neonates requiring resuscitation (OR 0.26, CI 0.10-0.68, p=0.006), neonates presenting with convulsions (OR 4.46, CI 1.46-12.16, p=0.003) or cyanosis (p<0.008), prolonged capillary refill time (OR 0.32, CI 0.47-0.82, p=0.004) and neonates in HIE stage III (OR 1.60, CI _________________________________________ 1

Background: Although, diphtheria is eliminated by many developed countries by effective immunization, still diphtheria   continues to be endemic in India and leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in areas in the border of the two states. The objective of the present study was to recognize the clinical profile, morbidity and mortality pattern of diphtheria and to study their immunization status as a retrospective observational study performed in pediatric wards and paediatric intensive care unit.Methods: The medical records were recovered from the case files, searching for cases diagnosed as diphtheria from the Medical Record Section and Statistical Service of the institute.  A pre-established protocol was formed after approval from institutional ethical committee. Case study   included suspected, probable and confirmed cases of diphtheria as per the WHO definition guidelines. All the relevant data and information regarding age, gender, residence, socioeconomic status, immunization status, clinical details, laboratory investigation, complications, and treatment provided, and outcome were recorded.Results: Amongst 47 patients, 55.32% were >5years and mean age was 6.46±3.08 years with no difference in sex distribution.  2(4.25%) patients were completely immunized, 27(57.45%) were partially immunized and 18(38.30%) were not immunized. An immunization rate was less in females as compared to males. All patients presented with fever and membrane in throat followed by throat pain 95.74%, enlarged/congested tonsils 80.85%, respiratory difficulty 68.08%, dysphagia 59.57% bull neck 48.94% and voice change 36.17%. Myocarditis was the commonest (42.55%) complication followed by palatal palsy (14.89%), polyneuropathy (8.51%), acute renal failure (4.25%) and DIC & shock (4.25%) were observed. Case fatality rate was 21.28%. Maximum numbers of cases were noted during the rainy season.Conclusions: Shifting of occurrence of diphtheria in the age group of 5-15 years suggest the need to improve and strengthen the immunization activity specially booster doses in the border districts as most of the cases were from areas at the border of two states.

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Introduction: Worldwide, sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common hemoglobinopathy among which SS pattern is more common. Although hydroxyurea (HU) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of recurrent moderate-to-severe painful crises in pediatric sickle cell anemia, there is a fear of toxicities. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to evaluate the short-term safety and beneficial effects of low-dose HU therapy in SCD (SS pattern) children. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled 40 cases of severe SCD and started HU in a fixed dose of 10 mg/kg/day. During follow-up, cases were evaluated for compliance of HU, its toxic effects and adverse events from their histories, clinical examinations, and laboratory parameters. Furthermore, beneficial effects of HU therapy were evaluated by assessing blood transfusion rate, frequency of painful events, strokes, acute chest syndrome, avascular necrosis of femur, and estimation of hemoglobin F (HbF) level after 2 years of therapy. HU was discontinued temporarily if any toxicity or minor adverse drug events occurred during therapy and was restarted at the same dose after normalization of deranged laboratory parameters. Results: The clinical adverse drug events seen were nausea (8.33%), diarrhea (2.78%), and hematuria (2.78%). The most common hematological toxicity was anemia and thrombocytopenia. Renal and hepatic toxicities were transient in nature. The mean acute painful events and blood transfusion rate reduced significantly on HU therapy. It increased Hb and HbF level significantly in SCD children. Conclusion: HU is a safe drug without significant toxicity or adverse events in a dose of 10 mg/kg/day for short duration and it is beneficial in SCD (SS pattern) children in reducing acute painful events and decrease blood transfusion rate.

Background: Snake bite is generally considered to be a rural problem and has been linked with environmental and occupational condition is a neglected public health problem. This study was conducted to ascertain clinical profile, complication and outcome of snake bite in pediatric population. Methods:Retrospective observational study was done in paediatrics wards and Paediatric Intensive care unit of tertiary care institute. A medical record files of 80 patients of snakebite, between the periods of January 2011 to February 2016 were recovered from Medical Record and Statistics Section of Institute. Files were analyzed for demographic data; variables included site of bite, time of bite, type of primary treatment and treatment provider, and type of snake poison, common symptoms suggestive of hematotoxicity, myotoxicity and neurotoxicity.Results: Out of total 80 patients, 58.75% were male and most of snake bites were seen in age group of 6-12 years. Clinically 57.5% patients were presented with signs and symptoms of envenomation and most of them were bitten during the months of June to September. All bites were nonprovocative and in 57.5% lower limb was the commonest site of bite. A 77.5% patient were primarily treated by medical personnel, 56.25% patients were received treatment within 1 hour of bite and hospitalized within 6 hours of bite. Coagulation failure was commonest complication (58.33%) followed by hypotension (25%) in vasculotoxic snake bite and respiratory paralysis (68.18%) in neuroparalytic bites. Renal replacement therapy was required in 5%, blood/blood product transfusion in 11% patients and case fatality rate was 11.25%.Conclusions: The most vulnerable to snake bites are boys aged more than 5 years. There is an urgent need to spread awareness among the community for avoidance of traditional treatment and any delay in medical intervention in snakebite incidents.