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Background and Objectives: The enigma COVID-19 pandemic already involved major parts of the globe with a toll of 3,175,207 victims and 224,172 deaths from 215 countries/territories as on May 1, 2020. It cripples nations by the loss of human resources, economic decline, hunger, unemployment insecurities giving way to mental morbidities, and still many others to be discovered. A systematic search about correlates of its killing attribute is urgently warranted. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey for 3 weeks (03/5/2020–23/5/2020) was conducted in a teaching institution at Kolkata aiming to describe the magnitude and correlates of COVID-19 mortality. Data pertaining to COVID-19 cases, deaths of affected countries, and their potential correlates were retrieved from various public domains, for example, https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports, worldpopulationreview.com, data.worldbank.org. Results: Multiple linear regressions analysis through forward method revealed a maximum R2 of 57.7% (P = 0.03) and a significant model fit (P = 0.000) for COVID-19 mortality rate per million which was revealed to have a positive association with median age of the population of the country (β = 0.073), proportion of population sustaining obesity (β = 0.051) and %of population consumed alcohol over the past 12 months (β = 0.018). It meant for 1 year increase in median age COVID-19 mortality would be increased by 8.0%. Similarly, COVID-19 mortality would be increased by 2.0% and 5.0% by inclusion in the model of 1% alcoholic, and 1% obese individual, respectively, Conclusion: Notwithstanding variations in testing, reporting, and patients' management strategy the findings of this research have some implications to the scientific fraternity and policymakers.

Otolaryngological conditions constitute a major share of emergency medical problem among children. The present study was conducted to assess the patient profiles, incidences morbidities, mode of presentation and managements of different otolaryngological emergencies among pediatric patients presented in a tertiary care hospital. Descriptive cross-sectional study by analysing retrospectively collected information pertaining to the patients attended ENT emergency service department of a tertiary care hospital, Kolkata. Data were collected using predesigned proforma and were analysed with the help of SPSS version 20. About 39.0% of total ENT emergency attendance was contributed by pediatric age group. The male female ratio was 1:1.33 with average age of 58.95 ± 34.42 (mean ± SD) months. Half of the attendees had ear problem and almost one-third reported complaints related to nose. The major complaints at the time of presentation were earache (32.3%), nasal foreign body (24.0%) and aural foreign body (13.3%) closely followed by aero-digestive tract foreign body (12.0%). Inflammatory conditions affected the ears more, foreign bodies found most commonly in nose and miscellaneous condition such as impacted wax was found to be related to ear in significantly higher proportion. Conservative management was provided to 96.25% of patients. Foreign body insertion was found to be associated with lower age group. Most of the emergencies were managed conservatively which might be done at subdivision or district level to reduce the undesirable burden on the tertiary care medical colleges.

Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a complex phenomenon caused by nonlinear combination and interaction of man, vehicles, road, and environment. Aim: This study aims to find out the outcome and severity of RTI in a district of West Bengal, India. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among inpatients of Departments of Surgery and Orthopedics of Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted for 1 year interviewing 295 RTI selected through scheduled sampling. Information pertaining to demographic and correlates of RTI was collected by face to face and over telephone using semi-structured questionnaire. Nine-item Simplified Injury Severity Scale (SISS) was used to assess injury severity. Internal consistency of SISS scale was showed by Cronbach's alpha and association with the correlates was done by Mann–Whitney U-test. Statistical Analysis Used: With SPSS version 22.0, binary logistic regression, and Mann–Whitney U-test. Results and Conclusion: Fatal outcome in terms of death and permanent disability was 34.24% and they had higher marginally significant (P = 0.06), SISS score (45.17 ± 12.59). Participants with absence of protective devices, presence of comorbidities, drunkenness, with accidents over national highways, in-between 6 am and 6 pm, mechanized two-wheelers, and nonreceipt of first aid were found to have significantly high scores compared to their counterpart. SISS, as a proxy measure of severity assessment, could throw a light on it and awareness generation and legislative stringency might be need of the hour for the country.

Improper patient selection for septal surgery often has been found to result in therapeutic failure, and there needs to be an objective assessment of nasal obstruction before the surgery and for postoperative follow-up that can be applied in the routine otolaryngology practice. The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of a cost-effective device for objective measurement of the nasal airway partitioning in selecting patients for septal surgery and for postoperative outcome evaluation. A hospital-based, prospective, observational study was carried out in a tertiary-care teaching institution involving 74 patients waiting for septal surgery. Each patient was exposed to subjective assessment of nasal obstruction by the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and objective measurement by Nasal Partitioning Ratio (NPR) using a new device, Nasal Airway Partition Meter (NAPM), once before and twice after surgery. Overall, average NOSE score and NPR values were 66.42 ± 9.42 and 0.57 ± 0.18, respectively, at preoperative assessment (correlation coefficient 0.441). Sixty of the 74 patients had high values for both NPR and NOSE scores (Group 1), but in the remaining 14, NPR values were found to be lower despite high NOSE scores (Group 2). Postsurgery, the NOSE score and NPR values were significantly reduced in Group 1. In contrast, participants in Group 2 showed no alteration in the values of both the parameters after the same operative maneuver. However, 2 patients in Group 1 had NOSE score and NPR values unaltered, while 1 patient in Group 2 had a reduced NOSE score after surgery. Therefore, the validity of the new equipment was calculated to be 96.7% sensitive and 92.9% specific to identify patients who needed to undergo septal surgery for their nasal obstruction. It can be deduced from the present study that NAPM can be a cost-effective device for clinicians to objectively measure nasal airway obstruction and screen patients for septal surgery.

Background: HIV/AIDS is still a big public health challenge of India. Female Sex Workers (FSWs) belong to an important high risk group (HRG) in the transmission of HIV/AIDS. International borders have intermingling of population and also plenty of migrant population. Thus study on FSW s with relation to HIV/AIDS in an international border area is an important area of Research. Aims: The present study was planned with the objectives of: to determine the sociodemographic profile of the FSW under the study, to assess their knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS and to find out their sexual practices. Settings and Design: It was a community based descriptive cross sectional study, done at the Indo-Bhutan border town of Jaigaon in Alipurduar District of West Bengal with the help of a Non-governmental organization (NGO) working on Targeted Interventions (TI) for FSW. Methods and Material: Total 90 FSWs were interviewed using predesigned pretested questionnaire. The questionnaires used were prior validated by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analysed by SPSS 14.0. Results and Conclusions: The analysis revealed that 35 % of the study population were illiterate. It was also found that 81% of respondents had heard about HIV/AIDS; 76.7% had knowledge about its spread through vaginal sex, 67.8% had idea regarding its Mother to Child transmission. 92% felt PLHIV should not be kept away from others, 93% felt they shouldn't be deprived from property. Regarding sexual activity, 76.7% had sexual activity more than 3 times/week and 97.8% used condom persistently in last one year. Coordinated Efforts is required to be taken in this regard to tackle these problems.

Background: Patients with nasal obstruction due to deviated nasal septum (DNS) often have allergic rhinitis (AR) as contributing factor. When optimal medical therapy for AR fails, septoplasty alone may not adequately treat nasal obstruction. Therefore, with bilateral inferior turbinate hypertrophy representing long-standing AR, adding bilateral inferior turbinoplasty (BIT) to septoplasty might be beneficial. Objective: To assess whether septoplasty with/without BIT alleviates nasal obstruction in the above patient cohort and whether adding BIT to septoplasty brings significant benefit. Methodology: In this interventional, prospective study, patients with nasal obstruction due to DNS and persistent, moderate-severe AR refractory to optimal medication were randomly allocated into group A (septoplasty alone) and group B (septoplasty with BIT). Nasal Obstruction and Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) score, along with Subjective Performance parameters (days-off/month; number of outdoor visits/month; overall satisfaction score [OSS]) were used to assess the symptom and quality of life, respectively, at follow-up. Results: Each group had 40 age/sex-matched patients. Friedman test, and subsequent pair-wise comparison within groups without Bonferroni correction, revealed that septoplasty with/without BIT elicited significant reduction in NOSE scores and in the Subjective Performance parameters (days-off/month; number of outdoor visits/month) at 3 and 6 months. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test revealed that the OSS within groups also improved significantly with time. Further, comparison between groups revealed significant improvement in NOSE scores at all levels of follow-up when BIT was included. However, there were no significant differences between groups in the Subjective Performance parameters at any level of follow-up. Improvement in OSS between groups was significant only at 3 months but not subsequently. Conclusion: Septoplasty with/without BIT is helpful in treating patients with DNS and refractory AR. However, although adding BIT brings significant benefit in decreasing nasal obstruction, it does not significantly improve the Subjective Performance parameters during follow-up, except for OSS at the third month.

Background: Auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) provides immunization service at subcenter. This study aimed to assess the quality of care and client satisfaction toward immunization. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during January 2018 in three randomly selected subcenters of Gangajalghati block of Bankura district. Immunization services and client satisfaction were assessed by nonparticipant observation of immunization process in 86 “vaccination encounters” and exit interview of mothers of the same vaccinees selected randomly in equal number from each subcenter. Data were collected using checklist and questionnaire containing some questions with options on Likert scale. Clients' satisfaction was also explored through “focus group discussions” (FGDs) among randomly selected samples of eight mothers at each subcenter. Providers' perspective was grasped from an “FGD” conducted among a sample of accredited social health activists and in-depth interview of ANMs of selected subcenters. Verification of cold chain, logistics, and registers was done using checklist. Results: Coverage with appropriate vaccination was universal in each of the subcenters. The waiting time was 21.82 ± 15.37 (mean ± standard deviation) min. Postvaccination message was provided to 97.70% of mothers. Improper biomedical waste management was the rule. Cold chain was maintained properly. Only 45.30% of respondents knew the vaccine that was given in the session; however, 91.90% could utter the next date of vaccination. Sitting arrangement, cleanliness in clinic, attendance, timeliness of service, skill, and attitude of ANMs were labeled as “good” by 59.30%, 82.60%, 100%, 100%, 100%, and 98.80% of respondents, respectively, and overall, 94.00% was satisfied toward service. Conclusion: An overall good quality immunization service was found existing in the study area.

Background: Bancroftian filariasis is the second most common mosquito-borne disease in India. Government of India adopted mass-drug-administration (MDA) since 2004 for its elimination by 2015 AD. Objective: The aim was to assess the coverage, compliance, factors-related to noncompliance to MDA. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1 week was conducted within 2 weeks after completion of MDA for 2012 in three villages and two municipal wards of North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India selected as clusters by multistage random sampling. Information was collected via interview of inhabitants of the clusters selected by systematic random sampling and drug administrators of the selected clusters along with verifying left over medicines, if any. Results: Both appropriate medicine distribution (83.4%) and 61.28% of people who received drug reported consumption and effective consumption rate (48.01%) fell short of the target. The lowest consumption (38.15%) was noted in one of the rural cluster (villages), followed by municipal wards (43.14%). Consumption was significantly higher among rural residents and Hindu community. Fear of the adverse reaction was the commonest (63.02%) cause of noncompliance. Contrary to the requirement, almost all consumptions were unsupervised by drug administrators. Only 10.71% of the respondents reportedly were paid house to house campaign of forthcoming MDA. About 64% participants had heard about filariasis out of which 71% & 47% mentioned swelling of legs as symptoms and mosquito bite as mode of spread, respectively. About one-third opined mosquito control and MDA each as means of prevention. Approximately, 60% participants had heard about MDA. Information education and communication related to MDA program was conspicuously inadequate in the last round. Conclusion: Mass mobilization as in intensive pulse polio immunization with effective monitoring and supervision is the need of the hour for universal coverage of MDA with supervised on the spot consumption of tablets.

Background: HIV illness and its related problems were significantly and positively correlated with both caregiver’s burden and caregiver’s adjustment. As there were limited studies on HIV caregiver’s stress, present study was conducted to estimate the magnitude and level of perceived stress among the predominant informal care giver of the PLHIV and to find out its correlates.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological study conducted on informal primary caregiver of PLHIV who was receiving ART since more than 2 months and attending the FIART centre of Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital, Bankura between July 2018 to December 2018. PLHIV who were severely ill and informal caregivers having a psychological illness, disability, a severe form of chronic diseases except for HIV, were excluded. Data were collected using predesigned, pretested, semi-structured interviewer administered anonymous questionnaire including 10 points Sheldon Cohen’s perceived stress scale (PSS) following simple random sampling method. Multivariate logistic regression was done to find out the predictors of higher stress using SPSS software version 22.0.Results: Ultimately 108 caregivers were included. Mean score of PSS was 19.93±11.44 and score ranges from 0 to 40. In multivariate linear regression, it was found that caregiver who were belonging to lowest socio economic status were 3.9 times more perceive moderate to high stress than others. If HIV patients were suffering from other co-morbidities their primary caregiver perceived moderate to high stress 6.2 times more than others.Conclusions: Support group interaction among caregivers can alleviate the stress.

Background: Personal hygiene is the practice of maintaining cleanliness of the body. Primary school days are the best time to learn healthful habits and practice them, because as the child grows older, these habits become permanent. We intended to find out the existing level of knowledge, attitude and practice of personal hygiene and effectiveness of educational intervention among primary school children in a slum area of Kolkata. Methods: A quasi-experimental, controlled educational interventional study was conducted in two Bengali medium primary schools situated in area under service jurisdiction of Urban Health Centre-Chetla, Kolkata. During pre intervention phase, collection of socio-demographic information and assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of personal hygiene of the students were done by pre designed pretested questionnaire and checklist. During the 6-month intervention in the study school lecture and demonstration on personal hygiene was done. Then post-testing in both the schools followed. Then personal hygiene education in the control school was imparted once and follow up of both the schools 3 months afterwards was done. Results: There was significant improvement in the knowledge, attitude and practice level in study school as compared to the control school with educational intervention, but with a declining trend in study school during follow up visit. Parental literacy, occupation and per capita monthly family income were important sociodemographic attributes. Conclusions: Sustained health education programme on personal hygiene with greater involvement of parents/ guardians may yield maximum benefit for the students.

Objective To optimize the outcome of transnasal endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation (TESPAL) by determining the key surgical steps and applying them accordingly. Methods This is a case–control study carried out in a tertiary care teaching institution on subjects who underwent TESPAL during the period of October 2010 to September 2015. Their surgical and clinical records were reviewed, and success (no re-bleed) and failure (return with re-bleed) were considered the main outcome measures of TESPAL. Accordingly, depending on whether the subjects returned with re-bleed or not, they were classified as “failure” and “success” groups. After appropriate matching in terms of age, gender and a given set of exclusion criteria that could influence per-operative decision-making or contribute to post-operative epistaxis, the groups were considered as cases (subjects undergoing TESPAL and returned with re-bleed; part of the “failure” group following matching) and controls (subjects undergoing TESPAL and did not return with re-bleed; part of the “success” group following matching). Per-operative/surgical factors executed or followed in varied combinations in each group that influenced the outcome of TESPAL were then identified from the surgical notes and were subsequently analyzed statistically. Results In 89% of cases , the sphenopalatine artery (SPA) pedicle was either clipped or cauterized, whereas in 90% of the controls , it was both clipped and cauterized. The posterior nasal artery (PNA), when found, was cauterized in 25% of the cases , compared to 85% in the controls . Also, the septal artery region was cauterized in only 33% of cases . Both cauterization/clipping of the SPA along with cauterization of PNA was done in 69% of the controls , whereas in 59% the septal artery region was also cauterized. However, there were no cases when all these steps were combined. The results were statistically significant. Conclusion When only the per-operative/surgical factors were considered, the outcome of TESPAL was most favorable when the procedure could be done combining both clipping and cauterization of the SPA, along with cauterization of the PNA and the septal artery region.

The present paper attempts to explore the socio-demographic profile of patients with rhinosporidiosis in an endemic area. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary-care hospital in Purulia district, India, including consecutive patients with histologically-proved rhinosporidiosis. Their socio-demographic profiles were obtained through a pre-designed proforma with given epidemiologic parameters. Data was statistically analyzed with inputs from literature review. Of the 39 patients included, 87 % were fresh/new cases. The age-group of 10–20 years was mostly involved, with multiple peaks around 50. About 82 % were from rural background, commonly involved in cattle farming and agriculture, with a universal habit of pond-bathing. There was a male preponderance; however women were being increasingly affected. Nasal cavity was the predominant site involved; nasal obstruction and epistaxis were the primary complaints. About 13 % had recurrent lesions that were statistically related to higher age-group (≥15 years) and occupation (agriculture, labor). Rhinosporidiosis is predominantly the disease of young rural adults engaged in field activities and habituated to pond-bathing. A bimodal age distribution was noticed. The present article provides an update on the socio-demographic perspectives of rhinosporidiosis in an endemic zone. It also summarizes the factors that would identify the vulnerable population and help formulate preventive measures.

Objective Ear nose and throat foreign bodies in children are one of the most common emergencies faced by otorhinolaryngologists. Our objective in the study conducted in the otolaryngology department of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital was to find out the socio-demographic correlates of self inflicted foreign body insertion in ear–nose–throat in children presenting in out patient department and emergency. Methods A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted from October 2009 to March 2010 in the out patient department and emergency of otolaryngology. Using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire, socio-demographic data was collected prospectively on every alternate day by examining clinically all new pediatric patients attending with self-inflicted foreign body and interviewing their caregivers after removal of foreign body. The data collected from 288 children was analyzed by using simple proportion, odds ratio with 95% confidence interval, χ2, t-test and analysis of one way variance (ANOVA) test. Epi info 3.4.3 version (CDC, Atlanta, retrieved from WHO website, on 01.11.09) and SPSS 17.0 were used for statistical calculations. Results Analysis showed male preponderance (59.72%) of cases from urban area (63.9%), predominance of 0–5 years age group with 5.19 ± 3.02 (mean ± standard deviation) years average age, nasal foreign body was on the top (44.4%), majority from low income (58.33%) joint family (65.3%) with housewives (75.0%) as primary care giver, majority of whom reported to have nil or low literacy (61.1%). 19.4% subjects having local pathology showed significant association with urban residence, joint family, low socio-economic status and two or less than two children of the mother of the participant children. Past history of similar incidence was found in 22.2% of study subjects and significantly associated with nasal foreign body insertion and higher among the children of housewives. Conclusions Increasing awareness of the prime caregivers by the routine grass root level health workers may be tried to reduce incidence of this risky health event and capacity building of the Primary level physicians to handle foreign body insertion cases can lessen the stress of the victim children and their parents.

India is the first country in the world to implement a family planning program, and this program has succeeded in generating universal knowledge about family planning methods. In spite of this, there exists a wide gap between knowledge and acceptance of family planning methods reflecting an unmet need for contraception. Different communication channels used to disseminate knowledge like television, radio, and newspapers aim to change the family planning methods. Being a didactic method, these have the least potential to change the attitudes of the people. This article represents the tip of the iceberg of the fate arising out of incomplete information provided through mass media not supported by a formal family planning program. One primipara woman after getting pregnant took an emergency contraceptive pill and attended a clinic with vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, and pallor. Ultimately she underwent suction evacuation and survived. This indicates that mass media should not be a substitute, but rather a supplement to the routine program of the health worker to promote contraception.

Background: Government of India adopted mass drug administration (MDA) since 2004 for elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) by 2015 AD. MDA implementation in WB has been criticized for low coverage and Government of West Bengal (WB) emphasized directly observed therapy (DOT) (swallowing of medicines under supervision) in MDA implementation. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess coverage of MDA and status of MDA program. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three subcenters of three blocks and three wards of Bankura municipality of Bankura district, WB, selected by multistage random sampling technique. Information was collected through interviewing randomly selected inhabitants; ground level workers and block level supervisors of selected clusters with verification of records/logistics used in MDA at clusters and leftover medicines at households. Results: Around two-third of respondents knew LF among which 83.33% considered limb swelling as an important symptom and 30.34% knew about transmission. Appropriate distribution and consumption of both MDA medicines were 70.10% and 56.20% with 64.89% consumption being supervised. Information education and communication and monitoring were suboptimal including utilization of strength and opportunity of MDA program. Conclusion: Supervised medicine consumption was found marginally increased seemingly due to DOT through repeat house visits, but effective coverage fell short of target as a result of dismal low coverage in urban cluster.

BACKGROUND: People of border areas are socio‑economically underdeveloped and medically underserved. Anemia in the growing phase of life impairs the physical and cognitive functions and in turn, hampers the overall development of the country. OBJECTIVE(S): To find out the prevalence, socio‑demographic correlates, and risk factors of anemia among adolescents residing in a border area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A community‑based descriptive cross‑sectional study was carried out among 370 adolescents selected randomly by multistage and 30‑clusters random sampling method. Data pertaining to the socio‑demographic factors, life style and diet pattern, relevant health problems, and care‑seeking were collected by a pre‑designed schedule. Venous blood was examined by cyanmethemoglobin method to assess the Hemoglobin level. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anemia was revealed to be 83.78% with a significant female predilection (92.59% vs. 76.92%, χ2 = 16.46 at degree of freedom = 1, P < 0.05; odds ratio (OR) = 3. 75, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.84‑7.77). The prevalence was higher among early adolescents compared with mid- and late-adolescents (χ2 (overall) = 9.14, at df=2, P = 0.0103) but significant female preponderance was found in the last group with χ2 = 12.5, df = 1, P < 0.05; OR(CI) = 4.29 (1.73-11.02). Anemia was revealed to be associated with lower literacy and socio-economic status (P < 0.05), bare-foot walking (P < 0.05), open-field defecation (P < 0.05), worm-infestation (P < 0.05), and care-seeking from unauthorized medical practitioners (P < 0.05) . CONCLUSION: Strict implementation of the National Anemia Control Programme as a component of school health and other health services through sub‑centers and Anganwadi Centers is the need of the moment to chain the anemia.

Background: HIV/AIDS being a behavioral disease, appropriate knowledge is important for those who are infected. Objectives: To elicit and compare knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among newly diagnosed and previously diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients attending or admitted in Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, (CSTM), Kolkata. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken among previously diagnosed HIV/AIDS Patients admitted in indoor wards and newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients attending Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) of the School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata. Data were gathered by interviewing patients using a predesigned, pretested, semi-structured questionnaire. Results: More in-patients had heard about AIDS than ICTC patients. Television was the most popular source of information in both groups, followed by health personnel and friends. Correct knowledge about transmission, symptoms, prevention of AIDS, and lifestyles desirable for affected patients was significantly higher among in-patients who had already been counseled, than the newly diagnosed ICTC patients yet to receive. Within each group of patients, the knowledge score was significantly higher among females, Christians, urban residents, patients educated beyond middle school, and non- migrants. In-patients had a significantly higher attitudinal score toward HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: Repeated counseling is required to keep up high level of knowledge and positive attitude pertaining to HIV/AIDS to reduce risk behavior, prevent disease transmission, and improve quality of life.

An intervention study was conducted among students of three randomly selected free primary schools in rural West Bengal to assess the effect of health-nutrition education for behavior modification of parents on nutritional anemia of children. Clinically anemic students were school-wise randomized into ′groups of two′ and intervened with anthelminthic, iron-folic acid (IFA) pediatric tablet and health-nutrition education by reoriented teachers. Parents of study group were involved in behavior change processes. Baseline overall prevalence of anemia was 64.4%. After IFA therapy, prevalence of anemia was not found to differ between two groups (χ2 = 2.68, P > 0.05, RR= 0.48, 95% C.I 0.2 < RR < 1.19) while reducing 52.2% of relative risk. Reassessment after six months showed significantly lower prevalence in study group (χ2 = 18.14, P < 0.05, RR = 0.20, 95% C.I. 0.08 < RR < 0.49). Parental involvement for life style and dietary modification may curb childhood anemia.

Anterior nasal packing, which is a common procedure in otorhinolaryngology practice, has different complications. Pain during introduction and removal of pack, bleeding after removal due to mucosal damage and synechia formation are common among them. A continuous effort is going on worldwide to combat those by modifying the nature of pack material or inventing new materials for nasal packing. In the present study an effort was made to compare a new modification of conventional gauze pack by using aluminum foil prepared from the cover of suture materials as septal splint (to reduce the mucosal damage) with conventional gauze pack and another costly material, nasal tampon (merocel). Comparisons were done in terms of cost, efficacy and complications. Prospective hospital based interventional study. Patients were distributed into three groups according to the material used for anterior nasal packing. Comparisons were made in terms of cost of the material used, pain during introduction of pack, rise of systolic blood pressure, incidences of bleeding while pack in situ, incidences of bleeding after removal of pack that required repacking and incidences of synechia formation after pack removal. The episodes of bleeding while pack in situ, within first 48 h and forced for repacking was observed to be significantly more prevalent among nasal tampon groups (12.5%) of patients but only 2.1 and 2.4% with use of conventional gauze pack and our modification respectively. Regarding bleeding after removal of pack, 10.6% patients experienced bleeding with conventional gauze pack, whereas with our modification it was only 2.4%. Synechia formation was found to be highest among the cases with conventional gauze pack (14.9%), but with our modification it is only 2.4%. In this study it is found that use of aluminum foil prepared from the cover of suture materials can be very useful and cost effective method to reduce some of the complications of anterior nasal packing.

Neck is the most common site of peripheral lymph node enlargement and is very frequently encountered in oto-laryngological practice. This study was done to delineate distribution of clinico-demographic parameters in patients presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy in the otolaryngology out-patient department of a state hospital in India in a 1 year period and to correlate them with fine needle aspiration cytological diagnosis. Record-based cross sectional study in the department of Otolaryngology and department of Pathology, Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Case reports and cytological reports of 423 patients who underwent Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) of cervical lymph nodes between January 2009 and December 2009 were reviewed in relation to their demographic and clinical profiles. The cases were divided into three groups according to age and different parameters were described according to these groups. In the cyto-pathological diagnosis, tubercular lymph-adenitis was most prevalent diagnosis (45.4%). Among the metastatic secondaries, squamous cell carcinoma was most common (8.5%). Non-specific/reactive lymphadenitis was significantly more common in

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the effect of directly observed therapy (DOT) on coverage, the compliance of mass drug administration (MDA), and to find out correlates of noncompliance. Background MDA for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) by 2015 in West Bengal (WB) has been criticized for undercoverage and mere distribution of antifilarial medicines for unsupervised consumption. To overcome these shortcomings, the government of WB adopted DOT for MDA. Participants and methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three villages of three blocks and two wards of one municipality of Bankura district, WB, India, selected randomly. Information was collected by interviewing inhabitants of randomly selected households. Results Overall, appropriate medicine distribution and consumption were 71.31 and 53.21%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that medicine consumption was higher among the following: participants who belonged to the Hindu religion; people of poor socioeconomic status; those who were distributed medicine by a routine health worker acting as drug administrators;; those whose consumption was supervised and those who had complied to MDA previously. Almost three-fourth consumptions were unsupervised. 58.73% respondents knew about LF and 42% knew about transmission; 50.79% had heard about MDA and 39.68% stated that MDA is to avoid LF. Noncompliance to the distributed medicines might be due to lack of awareness about LF and MDA. The reasons for noncompliance were as follows: 'fear of adverse reaction' (63.72%), 'didn't know why to consume' (23.89%), and 'healthy' (20.35%) were causes of noncompliance. Conclusion Despite DOT and repeat house visit coverage of MDA, we fell short of target. Mass mobilization with effective supervision is the need of hour for universal coverage of MDA with supervised consumption of tablets.

Background: Studying level of living, awareness about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and sex behavior of men who have sex with men (MSMs) is prerequisite for control of increasing AIDS among them in India. Objective: To assess sociodemographics, awareness about STIs including AIDS, and find out the pattern of high risk sex behavior of MSM. Methodology: Cross-sectional survey was undertaken in May, 2012 among MSMs catered by T I program via Nongovernmental Organization "Madhya Banglar Sangram" in Murshidabad District. 62 MSMs were included from five cruising spots sampled randomly out of fourteen such. Information was collected via interview and focused group discussions (FGD) using questionnaire and FGD guide. Blood samples were examined for VDRL reactivity. Results: Median age was 25 years and sexual debut at 13.67 ± 4.29 years. 87% respondents were residing in parental house, 20% was married, 40% had low education, 80.33% had additional jobs but 54% reported poor income. About 56% respondents knew "what is AIDS" and its spread via anal sex, mother to child transmission, needle sharing, sex worker, and blood transfusion reported by 52.46, 50.82, 47.54, 45.90, and 34.43%, respectively. More than 2/3 rd , about 40 and 34.43% MSMs played "anal and oral receptive," "anal insertive" and "oral insertive" role. About 33% used condom regularly. Majority knew main symptoms of STIs. About 2/3 rd reported discrimination by neighbors. Blood examination showed 6.45% VDRL reactivity. Conclusion: Reducing vulnerability of MSMs to HIV/AIDS requires holistic programs.

Objectives: To evaluate the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) through assessment of performance, response and outcome of treatment of patients. Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Materials and Methods: In Domjur Tuberculosis Unit of Howrah district, West Bengal. Two hundred and eighty-six cases registered in the first two quarters (1 January to 30 June 2001) were selected for the study. Data were collected by review of records from all peripheral health units with a pre-designed and pre-tested schedule. Results: Sputum-positive among chest symptomatic were 89 (11.5%). Overall 78.3% were new cases and among them 67.1% were pulmonary, 48.4% were sputum-positive among new pulmonary cases detected. Sputum conversion rate of new sputum-positive cases at 2 or 3 months was 74.2%. Cure rate for new sputum-positive pulmonary TB cases was 53.8% and out of all smear-positive cases was 56.5%. Default among new smear-positive cases was 24.7%. Conclusion: Low sputum conversion rate after intensive phase of treatment, high defaulter rate and low cure rate among new sputum-positive cases in comparison to RNTCP norm have been reflected in this study.