Background: Chikungunya shares many clinical features with dengue fever, but to date, no case has been reported in Rawalpindi and surrounding areas.Aims: To detect the presence in Rawalpindi of chikungunya masquerading as dengue fever.Methods: An observational study was conducted at Rawalpindi Medical University from July to December 2017. Patients with clinical features suggestive of dengue fever, but negative for dengue virus NS1 antigen were included and tested at the National Institute of Health Islamabad, Pakistan, for chikungunya using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Results: We tested 129 patients and 28 were positive for chikungunya. There were 17 (60.7%) men and 11 (39.3%) women, with a mean age of 32.53 years (range 16-60 years). All had fever at presentation. Other clinical features at presentation were noted, such as fever, chills, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, retro-orbital pain, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhoea. No long-term sequelae or bleeding diatheses were seen and there was no mortality reported.Conclusions: We report the first confirmed case of chikungunya in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

No abstract

No abstract

Objective: To evaluate the postprandial glucose response of dates and white bread (25g) in diabetics and non-diabetics. Methodology: It was cross-over/cross observational study done at Shifa International Hospital in May-October 2016. The study subjects were adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) of age more than 30 years and the healthy controls. Each group was administered equally weighed (25 g) dates and white bread for two days with one week apart. Post prandial blood glucose measurements for dates and white bread was done in both groups and compared by applying student’s t-test. Results: Each group had twelve participants. The mean blood glucose response for both food groups was significantly higher in diabetics than controls. The peak response for dates in both groups was at 30 minutes and the peak response for bread was 60 and 30 minutes in diabetics and controls respectively. Response of dates and bread in diabetics was not statistically significant. The mean fasting glucose in diabetics and non -diabetics was 131.04 mg/dl and 90.12 mg/dl respectively. Conclusion: Dates are suitable for diabetics and their consumption bears no added risk or danger over white bread.