Despite availability of effective rabies vaccines, India has the highest global mortality rate for rabies. Low socioeconomic communities are most affected due to lack of awareness of the disease and poor compliance to postexposure prophylactic regimens. Currently, the only approved intramuscular regimen for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against rabies in India is the Essen regimen, which consists of 5 injections administered over 5 separate days in a period of one month. The high number of doses and clinical visits, however, are major reasons for non-compliance, and thus a shorter regimen would be beneficial. In a simulated PEP trial in healthy, adult subjects, this study evaluated whether purified chick embryo cell vaccine (PCECV), administered according to the WHO-recommended 4-dose/3 visit Zagreb vaccination regimen is of equal immunogenicity and safety as the standard Essen regimen in Indian subjects. Two hundred and 50 healthy adults were enrolled and randomized into a Zagreb or Essen group, each receiving PCECV according to their respective regimen. Blood samples were collected on Days 0, 7, 14 and 42 and analyzed using the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). By Day 14, all subjects across both groups attained rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) concentrations of 0.5IU/ml. The Zagreb regimen was then demonstrated to be immunologically non-inferior to the Essen regimen by Day 14, which was the primary endpoint of the study. No safety issues were noted and the occurrence of adverse events was similar in both groups (17% and 15%, respectively).
Background: Hygienic practices during menstruation are of considerable importance, as it has a health impact in terms of increased vulnerability to infections. Menstrual hygiene management is a special problem for adolescent girls, particularly when attending school due to limited or lack of access to safe sanitary pads and good sanitary facilities. Government of India under RMNCH+A programme, introduced priority intervention for menstrual hygiene to prevent hygiene related infections. Objectives: (1) To assess the knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls. (2) To assess the menstrual hygiene practices & related infections among the adolescent girls. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 330 adolescent girls who had attained menarche and residents of an urban poor locality Yarab Nagar, which comes under the field practice area of KIMS, Bangalore. Data regarding socio demographic details and menstrual hygiene practices was obtained in a pre-designed, semi structured proforma. All the subjects were examined for any related infections from a trained female doctor. The data was analysed in Microsoft Excel using mean & percentages. Results: The mean age of the study subjects was 13.63 ± 5.76 years. Majority i.e., 306 (92.7%) of them used sanitary pads; whereas, 24 (7.3%) used old clothes as an absorbent during menstruation. Similarly, 98% cleaned the external genitalia with water during menstruation. The common infections related to menstruation were contact dermatitis (7.2%), candidiasis (5.4%) & UTI (3.5%). Conclusion: The knowledge and practice regarding menstrual hygiene was inadequate among the adolescent girls; and this inadequate hygienic practices has led to infections.
Background: Wild animal handlers are at continuous risk of exposure to rabies. They have to be protected against rabies by pre-exposure rabies vaccination and regular booster doses. Methodology: The study was conducted in a biological park in Karnataka during October 2018. Animal handlers working in the various capacities at the park and having taken three primary doses of anti-rabies vaccine as pre-exposure prophylaxis were the study subjects. The booster dose of antirabies vaccine was administered by a team of trained vaccinators. After the vaccination all the subjects were observed for any adverse reactions for thirty minutes; subsequently the subjects were followed up for any adverse drug reactions through telephone for a period of 30 days.
Results:The study included 198 subjects with a mean age of 38.1 + 12 years. Only 8 adverse reactions were reported from 8 subjects immediately following vaccination. The adverse reactions were itching 3 (1.5%) & redness 5 (2.5%); which subsided without any complications. None of the subjects developed systemic or delayed adverse reactions.
Conclusion:Booster dose rabies vaccination with purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccine is safe in previously vaccinated animal handlers.
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