Background:Epilepsy is a chronic medical condition with many co-morbid features. It has been observed that children with epilepsy (CWE) have a compromised quality of life (QOL).Objective:To assess the QOL in CWE and to study the various factors affecting QOL among CWE.Materials and Methods:The sample consisted of 102 CWE aged 5–15 years of either sex. QOL was measured by Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy (QOLCE) questionnaire, a 76-item, parent-reported questionnaire. Cronbach alpha was used to determine the internal consistency of the subscales and Pearson correlation to determine construct validity. The t-test and analysis of variance were used to compare mean QOLCE scores.Results:Factors affecting QOL included age, place of residence, socioeconomic condition, maternal education, seizure type and frequency and number of antiepileptic drugs.Conclusion:CWE have a relatively compromised QOL and comprehensive care needs to go beyond the attempt of controlling seizures.

This cluster randomized, open labeled trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of 3 days of oral amoxycillin and 5 days of co-trimoxazole treatment in terms of clinical failure in children with World Health Organization (WHO) defined non-severe pneumonia in primary health centers in rural India. Participants were children aged 2-59 months with WHO defined non-severe pneumonia, with or without wheeze, who were accessible to follow up. From seven primary health centers in each arm, 2009 cases were randomized, 993 and 1016 in treatment with amoxycillin and co-trimoxazole, respectively. Fever was present in 1247 (62.1%) and wheeze in 443 (22.1%). There was good adherence and low loss to follow-up. Clinical failure on amoxycillin and co-trimoxazole on intention to treat analysis was 137 and 97, respectively (absolute difference = 0.04, 95% confidence interval: - 0.035-0.12). We conclude that there was no difference in effectiveness of oral co-trimoxazole or amoxycillin in treating non-severe pneumonia.

A community based cohort study on birth weight of newborns was conducted among pregnant women of an urban slum in Bhupal, India. The study was carried out to assess the magnitude of low birth weight (LBW) and factors contributing it in an urban slum community. Socio-demographic and maternal characteristics were examined applying statistical techniques to find out the variables associated with the LBW. An additional schedule was used to collect information from mothers about their socio-demographic background, dietary intake and the rest during the pregnancy. Weight of newborns of mothers registered in the study and delivering at the district hospital was recorded. Mean birth weight of newborns of 290 registered mothers was 2.57 ± 0.36 g. One hundred and five newborns (36.2%) had a birth weight lesser than 2500 g. Among different variables studied, statistically significant association was found in case of occupation, daily calorie intake and duration of day-time rest taken by pregnant women.

Background:Perinatal asphyxia is a major cause of neurological morbidity and mortality in India. The purpose of this study was to investigate variations in nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) in blood associated with perinatal asphyxia and its relationship to both the severity and short term prognosis of asphyxia.Methods:A prospective (case-control) study was undertaken at Gandhi Medical College and Associated Hospitals. A total of 100 neonates were included in the study. Levels of NRBC/100 white blood cells (WBC) and absolute NRBC counts in cord blood were compared for 50 asphyxiated (case group) and 50 normal neonates (control group). These parameters were also related to the severity of asphyxia and clinical outcome.Results:The number of NRBC/100 WBC in the blood of 50 newborns each in the asphyxiated and in the control group were mean 29.5 ± 26.0, range 7-144 NRBCs/100 WBC and mean ± standard deviation 5.9 ± 2.6, range 3-14 NRBCs/100 WBC respectively (P < 0.01). Using quartile deviation, staging of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) was done on basis of NRBC count and there was 80% agreement between clinical and NRBC staging of HIE. There was a significant (P < 0.01) correlation of the number of NRBC\100 WBC with Apgar scoring, HIE staging and mortality.Conclusions:The NRBCs/100 WBCs can be used as a simple marker for the assessment of severity and early outcome of perinatal asphyxia.

The study defines the normal SpO(2) in healthy term newborns of NVD and CS delivered newborns and also concludes that there is no significant difference in SpO(2) among NVD and CS.