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Background: Snake bite is one of the neglected public health problems in many tropical and subtropical countries. Wrong perception and practice of unproven traditional methods about snakes and snakebites may increase mortality due to snakebite envenoming. Objective: The objective is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding snakes and snakebites among the rural population in the Kodagu district. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between August-2021 and October-2021 in the rural field-practice area of Bhagamandala Primary Health Centre. Systematic random sampling was incorporated into the study to select the study participants. Data were collected using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Data entry was done in Microsoft Excel and was analyzed using STATA (16.1), StataCorp, College Station, Texas, USA. Results: Out of 1284 participants, the majority 964 (75.07%) of participants identified spectacled cobra correctly and 1142 (88.94%) correctly identified it as venomous. About 1228 (95.64%) participants had correct knowledge regarding Anti-Snake venom being an effective treatment for snake bites and the overall knowledge regarding snake bites was adequate among only 380 (29.60%) of the study population. Whereas, 188 (14.64%) of them even considered visiting a local quack or faith healer after a Snakebite. Conclusions: In our study, the overall knowledge regarding snake bites was adequate among 29.60% of the study population. The knowledge regarding the venemosity of snakes was good, but identification was poor. The participants had correct knowledge about ASV and its availability. The harmful practices such as visiting traditional healers and applying native medicine are still seen in 14.64% of participants.

Introduction: The best treatment for the deeply carious tooth that cannot be restored is by the root canal therapy. This method has saved many patients from the loss of tooth. The common practice is either to deliver a full crown or close the access cavity with restoration. Hence in this study, the clinical longevity of the routine practice is tested for by analyzing the fracture toughness and the survival of the teeth that were restored endodontically with various materials. Materials and Methods: The hospital records were retrospectively evaluated from 2000 to 2010 for a decade. The demographics as well as the survival and the failure rates noted and compared for the various types of the restorations. The number of the walls of the teeth was also compared. Results: Thousand teeth were considered in the study. Less than 7% of teeth had coronal fractures. Of the 93% teeth that had survived, the most common restoration was Individual post (+ crown) followed by GIC, amalgams, and crowns. The mean survival of the crown+ bridge & gold restoration was highest. The mean survival was 10 ± 2 years for the restored teeth without any fractures at the coronal level. The failure was greatest for the GIC followed by amalgam, and the variations when compared with other restorations were significant. There was no significant difference for the number of the walls on the crown; however, the number of walls present was proportional to the survival rate. Conclusion: The teeth that were covered with a crown were comparatively fracture resistant and had a better survival rate compared to other restorations. GIC showed highest fracture, and the post core with crown had the best survival. Restoration of the lost crown architecture and the reinforcement are the best methods that can be followed for the survivals.

Background: Leptospirosis is the most common zoonotic disease in the world affecting both animals and humans. Environmental, occupational, and sociocultural practices which vary from region to region favors the disease transmission in addition to lacunas in prompt diagnosis and treatment of cases. There are limited data on the seroprevalence of this neglected tropical disease in India. To assess the risk factors associated with Lepospirosis disease. Materials and Methods: A population-based case control study was conducted in Kodagu district of southern India from January 2022 to March 2022. Of the 74 confirmed cases during the year 2021, 70 cases and 140 age group and gender-matched controls participated in the study. Data were collected by using semi-structured questionnaire containing details of sociodemographic, occupational, and environmental factors. The collected data were coded and exported to STATA (16.1) and analyzed by univariate and multivaiariate logistic regression to identify significant risk factors. Results: Environmental factors such as flooding or collection of water near the house (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 4.9, confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-17.0), proximity to an open sewer (aOR = 4.9, CI: 1.2-19.1) and occupational factors such as presence of skin cuts or abrasion during work (aOR = 4, CI: 1.4-11.6), direct contact with mud or water during work (aOR = 9.7, CI: 3.3-27.7), animal farming (aOR = 3.4, CI: 1.0-11.6), presence of rodents in the house (aOR = 4, CI: 1.2-12.6), and presence of rodent habitats like grain storage area (aOR = 3.5, CI: 1.1-11.0) were significantly associated with leptospirosis. Conclusion: Leptospirosis poses a potential public health problem in the district. Interventions like prompt diagnosis and treatment, sensitization programs, and rodent control measures will significantly control this neglected tropical disease.

Introduction: COVID-19 ongoing pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths globally, and India has recorded the second highest number of confirmed cases till now. In the absence of effective treatment, it becomes crucial to know about the course of the disease in hospital settings for effective patient care. The present study discusses the clinicoepidemiological, haematological and biochemical determinants among survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in a hilly area. Methods: A record-based cross-sectional study was carried out at the government hospital from March 2021 to June 2021, which included all confirmed cases of 18 years and above. Demographic details, delayed admission, co-morbidities and laboratory parameters were collected. Results: Out of a total of 1267 COVID-19 patients, the mean age of survived and succumbed was 50.77 ± 16.1 and 60.50 ± 14.2 years, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean survival time in males (17.7 days) was lesser compared to that in females (20.3 days). Two hundred and twelve of them practised self-medication. The mean duration of delayed testing (2.95 ± 2.3 vs 3.36 ± 2.2 days), mean values of haemoglobin (11.39 ± 2.1 vs 12.5 ± 1.7), platelet count (193.8 ± 94.6 vs 253.1 ± 105.9), leucocyte count (11.53 ± 5.72 vs 9.11 ± 5.21), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (10.0 ± 2.9 vs 7.3 ± 3.5), urea (61.16 ± 51.8 vs 30.2 ± 21.2) and creatinine (2.13 ± 2.9 vs. 1.1 ± 0.3) among the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Increasing age, contact history, hypertension [OR 3.2 (95% CI, 1.40–7.39)], diabetes [OR 1.9 (95% CI, 0.81–4.40)] and chronic kidney disease [OR 15.4 (95% CI, 5.23–45.71)] were found to be associated with increased risk of mortality (P < 0.005). Conclusions: Public health interventions like contact tracing, testing and early identification of laboratory parameters and treatment on priority would help in providing effective care so that the mortality can be reduced.