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A case-control study was carried out between May 1988 and May 1989 to assess the effectiveness of three doses of trivalent oral poliomyelitis vaccine ([TOPV.sub.3]) in children aged 6-35 months in Madras city. Aft the cases were patients with acute paralytic poliomyefitis who were residing in Madras city and were hospitalized in the Institute of Child Health; they represented 95% of such cases in the city. The diagnosis was based on clinical grounds and confirmed by stool culture which was positive in 60%. Age- and sex-matched controls, all residing in the city of Madras, were recruited concurrently from the Institute's outpatient department. There were 78 cases and 315 controls. Vaccine efficacy observed for [TOPV.sub.3] was 81% (95% Cl, 58-91%) for the 6-35-month age group and 86% (95% Cl, 68-94%) for the 6-23-month age group. Vaccine efficacy, after controlling for age using the Mantel-Haenszel method, was 83% (95% Cl, 67-9l%). An unimmunized child was at 5 times greater risk of developing acute paralytic poliomyelitis than a fully immunized child., Reports, mostly in the Indian literature, indicate an increasing proportion of acute paralytic poliomyelitis (APM) among children who had been immunized with three doses of trivalent oral poliomyelitis vaccine ([TOPV.sub.3], [...]

The author comments on a study which compared the evolution of symptoms and signs among children with non-severe lower respiratory tract infection, with and without radiological pneumonia. The ambiguities in the diagnosis of non-severe low respiratory infection are outlined. The author explains why recruiting cases with full blown picture of pneumonia plus pulmonary infiltrates on radiograph is not ideal for the study.

One year study on forty-eight adolescents with delayed puberty revealed etiology of constitutional delay, hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH), hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism, chronic systemic disease, hypothyroidism and sex reversal in 14(29.2%), 13 (27%), 12 (25%), 5 (10.4%), 3 (6.3%) and 1 (2.1%) cases, respectively. Earlier presentation, male preponderance, significant normal variants and utility of GnRH analogue testing observed .

Introduction: A hospital-based sentinel surveillance network for bacterial meningitis was established in India to estimate the burden of bacterial meningitis, and the proportion of major vaccine-preventable causative organisms. This report summarises the findings of the surveillance conducted between March 2012, and September 2016 in eleven hospitals., Methods: We enrolled eligible children with bacterial meningitis in the age group of one to 59 months. CSF samples were collected and processed for biochemistry, culture, latex agglutination, and real-time PCR. Pneumococcal isolates were serotyped and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility., Results: Among 12 941 enrolled suspected meningitis cases, 586 (4.5%) were laboratory confirmed. S. pneumoniae (74.2%) was the most commonly detected pathogen, followed by H. influenzae (22.2%), and N. meningitidis (3.6%). Overall 58.1% of confirmed bacterial meningitis cases were children aged between one, and 11 months. H. influenzae meningitis cases had a high (12.3%) case fatality rate. The serotypes covered in PCV13 caused 72% pneumococcal infections, and the most common serotypes were 14 (18.3%), 6B (12.7%) and 19F (9.9%). Non-susceptibility to penicillin was 57%. Forty-five (43.7%) isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, of which 37 were PCV13 serotype isolates., Conclusions: The results are representative of the burden of bacterial meningitis among under-five children in India. The findings were useful in rolling out PCV in the National Immunization Program. The non-susceptibility to penicillin and multidrug resistance was an important observation. Timely expansion of PCV across India will significantly reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance. Continued surveillance is needed to understand the trend after PCV expansion in India., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Haemophilus influenzae type b was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in infants and children below the age of two years prior to the introduction of H. influenzae type b conjugate vaccines. In December 2011, the Indian government introduced H. influenzae b vaccine in the state of Tamilnadu. A prospective surveillance for bacterial meningitis was established at the Institute of Child Health in Chennai to evaluate the etiology of meningitis and impact of the vaccine., Material and Methods: Infants aged one to 23 months who were admitted to the hospital with symptoms of suspected bacterial meningitis were enrolled and lumbar puncture was performed. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were analyzed for white blood cells, protein, and glucose. Bacterial culture and a latex agglutination test for common bacterial pathogens were performed., Results: Between January 2009 and March 2014, 4,770 children with suspected bacterial meningitis were enrolled. Prior to the introduction of the vaccine, an average of 11.7 cases of H. influenzae b meningitis and 31.1 cases of probable meningitis with no etiology were identified each year. After introduction, the number of cases were reduced by 79% and 44% respectively. The average H. influenzae b vaccine coverage after introduction was 69% among all children with clinically suspected meningitis. In contrast, the mean number of aseptic meningitis and pneumococcal meningitis cases remained stable throughout the pre and post vaccination period; 28.2 and 4.8 per year, respectively., Conclusions: H. influenzae b conjugate vaccine reduced the number of cases of H. influenzae b meningitis and probable meningitis within the first two years of its introduction. The impact against meningitis was higher than the vaccination rate, indicating indirect effects of the vaccine. India has recently scaled up the use of Hib conjugate vaccine throughout the country which should substantially reduce childhood meningitis rates further in the country., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is an emerging popular concept, which includes bi-level positive airway pressure or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In settings with scarce resources for NIV machines, CPAP can be provided through various indigenous means and one such mode is flow inflating device - Jackson-Rees circuit (JR)/Bain circuit. The study analyses the epidemiology, various clinical indications, predictors of CPAP failure, and stresses the usefulness of flow inflating device as an indigenous way of providing CPAP., Methods: A prospective observational study was undertaken in the critical care unit of a Government Tertiary Care Hospital, from November 2013 to September 2014. All children who required CPAP in the age group 1 month to 12 years of both sexes were included in this study. They were started on indigenous CPAP through flow inflating device on clinical grounds based on the pediatric assessment triangle, and the duration and outcome were analyzed., Results: This study population included 214 children. CPAP through flow inflating device was successful in 89.7% of cases, of which bronchiolitis accounted for 98.3%. A prolonged duration of CPAP support of >96 h was required in pneumonia. CPAP failure was noted in 10.3% of cases, the major risk factors being children <1 year and pneumonia with septic shock., Conclusion: We conclude that flow inflating devices - JR/Bain circuit are effective as an indigenous CPAP in limited resource settings. Despite its benefits, CPAP is not a substitute for invasive ventilation, as when the need for intubation arises timely intervention is needed.

Objectives: To assess the clinical and laboratory features of suspected meningitis to assist in the accurate diagnosis of bacterial meningitis in young Indian children., Study Design: Children <2 years of age with clinical suspicion of meningitis were enrolled. Clinical and laboratory information was collected, and cases were classified based on cerebrospinal fluid findings as clinical, aseptic, or probable and confirmed bacterial meningitis., Results: A total of 2564 children with suspected meningitis were enrolled over 45 months; 156 cases of aseptic and 51 cases of bacterial meningitis were identified. Stiff neck and bulging fontanelle were more common in bacterial meningitis (P < .05), but were present in <15% of patients. The World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics classifications for high suspicion of bacterial meningitis were met in 84% and 88% of cases of bacterial meningitis, respectively, but were also present in 54% and 74% cases of aseptic meningitis. Culture and gram stain were positive in 7 (14%) and 4 (8%) cases of bacterial meningitis., Conclusions: Signs of bacterial meningitis and proposed criteria for high suspicion of bacterial meningitis are non-specific in this population. Standard microbiological tests for bacteria are insensitive in this setting, necessitating highly sensitive methods to identify bacterial meningitis., (Copyright © 2013. Published by Mosby, Inc.)

Background & Objectives: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is one of the leading bacterial causes of invasive disease in populations without access to Hib conjugate vaccines (Hib-CV). India has recently decided to introduce Hib-CV into the routine immunization programme in selected States. Longitudinal data quantifying the burden of bacterial meningitis and the proportion of disease caused by various bacteria are needed to track the impact of Hib-CV once introduced. A hospital-based sentinel surveillance network was established at four places in the country and this study reports the results of this ongoing surveillance., Methods: Children aged 1 to 23 months with suspected bacterial meningitis were enrolled in Chennai, Lucknow, New Delhi, and Vellore between July 2008 and June 2010. All cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were tested using cytological, biochemical, and culture methods. Samples with abnormal CSF (≥10 WBC per μl) were tested by latex agglutination test for common paediatric bacterial meningitis pathogens., Results: A total of 708 patients with abnormal CSF were identified, 89 of whom had a bacterial pathogen confirmed. Hib accounted for the majority of bacteriologically confirmed cases, 62 (70%), while Streptococcus pneumoniae and group B Streptococcus were identified in 12 (13%) and seven (8%) cases, respectively. The other eight cases were a mix of other bacteria. The proportion of abnormal CSF and probable bacterial meningitis that was caused by Hib was 74 and 58 per cent lower at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, which had a 41 per cent coverage of Hib-CV among all suspected meningitis cases, compared to the combined average proportion at the other three centres where a coverage between 1 and 8 per cent was seen (P<0.001 and P= 0.05, respectively)., Interpretation & Conclusions: Hib was found to be the predominant cause of bacterial meningitis in young children in diverse geographic locations in India. Possible indications of herd immunity was seen at CMC compared to sites with low immunization coverage with Hib-CV. As Hib is the most common pathogen in bacterial meningitis, Hib-CV would have a large impact on bacterial meningitis in Indian children.

Objective: To determine the case fatality rate and factors for death in community acquired pneumonia among children aged 1 month to 59 months admitted in a referral Hospital., Design: Hospital based retrospective study., Setting: Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai., Patients: Case records of children aged 1 month to 59 months of age with pneumonia (clinically diagnosed pneumonia, radiologically diagnosed pneumonia, and clinically and radiologically diagnosed pneumonia), from January 2006 to December 2008. Outcome measures Case fatality rate (CFR) was calculated. Risk factors for mortality analyzed were young age of 1 to 6 months old, female sex, wheeze, respiratory rate >70/min, chest indrawing, altered level of consciousness, convulsions, shock, associated heart disease, recent measles, weight for age <-2 Z score and need for assisted ventilation. The association of risk factors to mortality was arrived at for all three categories of pneumonia cases separately., Results: Case fatality rate was 8.2% (95% CI: 7.37- 8.99%). There was no significant difference in the CFR among the three study groups. Need for assisted ventilation alone was found to be an independent risk factor for mortality in children with pneumonia among all the study groups. Other risk factors like young age, weight for age <-2 Z score, altered level of consciousness, and congenital heart disease were also observed among these groups., Conclusion: Among 1 month to 59 months old hospitalized children with pneumonia, CFR was 8.2%. Need for assisted ventilation was a significant risk factor associated with mortality.

Objective: To study the clinical profile and outcome of scrub typhus cases admitted in an urban referral centre., Methods: This descriptive study describes the clinical profile of 67 children with scrub typhus, who were admitted in an urban referral centre(ICH & HC,Chennai) during the period between October 2010 and March 2011.The diagnosis was confirmed by IgM ELISA., Results: All children presented with fever. Eschar and rash were present in 46% and 35% cases, respectively. Cough, vomiting, altered sensorium and oliguria were present in 73%,59%,58% and 43%, respectively. Hepatosplenomegaly and pallor were the commonest findings encountered in more than 80% children. Other findings were edema, lymphadenopathy and icterus.Thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes and leukocytosis were seen in 77%, 64% and 49% cases, respectively. Pleural effusion, ascites, shock and respiratory failure were seen in 61%, 47%,45%,34% cases, respectively. Acute renal failure, hepatic failure, multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS), meningoencephalitis and acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) were seen in 10%,10%,7%,6% and 4% cases, respectively. Doxycycline and azithromycin were the antibiotics used. The overall mortality rate was 11.94%. Causes of death were shock, ARDS, acute renal failure(ARF), MODS and disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIVC)., Conclusions: When a child presents with acute febrile illness, maculopapular or erythematous rash, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, thrombocytopenia and features suggestive of capillary leak, diagnosis of Scrub typhus must be considered and the child should be started on empirical therapy with doxycycline or azithromycin which is life saving.

This study was done to ascertain the symptomatology, clinical features and investigations pertaining to interstitial lung diseases (ILD) in children. The medical records of 16 children admitted over a 4-year period from June 2000 to May 2004 with progressive cough, dyspnea, and chest X-ray/High Resolution Computerized Tomography (HRCT) abnormalities suggesting ILD were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical findings, investigations, chest skiagrams, HRCT, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung biopsy reports were analyzed. An acute presentation of symptoms was seen in 4 cases (25%). Velcro crackles were the commonest clinical finding, present in 15 cases (93.8%). Serial X-rays revealed findings suggestive of ILD in 12 cases (75%) and HRCT was diagnostic in 13 cases (86.6%). Spirometry done in 5 cases showed a restrictive ventilatory defect, BAL analysis done in 8 cases demonstrated increased neutrophils and lung biopsy done in 5 cases was consistent with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Mean survival duration of 2 years and 7 months after initial diagnosis was observed.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of ampicillin and a combination of benzyl penicillin and chloramphenicol in the treatment of pneumonias., Design: Randomized controlled trial., Setting: Tertiary care hospital., Subjects: Patients 5 months to 4 years old with pneumonias of < 2 weeks duration. Exclusion criteria included acute bronchiolitis, allergy to penicillin, postmeasles pneumonia or prior administration of trial antibiotics in full dose for more than 2 days., Intervention: Patients were randomized to receive either ampicillin (100 mg/kg/day) or combination of benzyl penicillin (100,000 units/kg/day) and chloramphenicol (100 mg/kg/day). The outcome measure was cure rate., Results: There were 52 and 49 patients in the ampicillin and the combination groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between groups except, nasal flare and cyanosis which were less in benzyl penicillin plus chloramphenicol group. There was also no difference either in the primary outcome, cure rate or secondary outcomes (days for cure, duration of tachypnea, fever and grunt) in the two., Conclusion: Considering the potential toxicity of chloramphenicol and the number of injections and doses to be given for the combination, ampicillin as a single drug could be preferred for the treatment of pneumonias, in this part of the country.

A cross-sectional survey was done to assess the missed opportunity for immunization (MOI) in children under two years of age attending Medical Outpatient, Newborn Follow-up Service and Immunization Clinic of Institute of Child Health and to evaluate interventions. Baseline survey phase-I was done and two interventions: (i) education and awareness of immunization among health personnel; and (ii) attaching immunization slip to the outpatient form were done. After each intervention phase-II and phase-III surveys were carried out. The data from the different phases were analyzed for the effect of interventions. The total number of children surveyed were 634; 423 from Medical Outpatients, 108 from Newborn Follow-up Service and 103 from immunization Clinic. MOI was 35.5%, 23.1% and 9.7% in the above health facilities, respectively. After intervention I, the MOI was 24.5% and 12.2% in Medical Outpatient and Newborn Follow-up Service and none in Immunization Clinic. After intervention-II there was an improvement in immunization of 18.4%, 30.4% and 16.0% in the three health facilities mentioned above. MOI was avoided because the medical officers advised immunization in the above children. The difference in the MOI among Medical Outpatient and Immunization Clinic between baseline, phase-I and phase-II were significant (p < 0.001). It is concluded that MOI can be brought down by creating awareness periodically and that attaching an immunization schedule to the outpatient forms is an effective method of reducing MOI.

To know the usefulness of Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis (BM), it was performed in all the 114 consecutive samples of CSF with polymorphs from 114 prospectively recruited children aged 2 months to 11 years. Definite diagnosis of BM based on culture and/or LAT was evident in 55. Among the 46 LAT positive, culture was positive in 3 only. Major organisms identified by LAT were H. influenzae B (HiB) in 28 and S. pneumoniae (SP) in 15. Ninety per cent of HiB and 67% of SP bacterial meningitis were under one year of age. Fever > 7 days prior to admission was not uncommon (38%) and 26% had received prior antibiotics. Meningeal signs were present in 64%. CSF cells were < 500/mm3 in 24% and sugar was > 50% of blood level in 23%. There was no significant difference in the immediate outcome between HiB and SP meningitis. The case fatality was 22% and was significantly high in cases who had altered level of consciousness on admission (p = 0.02). It is concluded that LAT is very useful for rapid diagnosis of BM.

In order to identify the role of intramuscular injection (IM) as a provoking factor for poliomyelitis, a case control study as done at the Institute of Child Health, Madras from May 1988 to May 1989. The case was defined as acute poliomyelitis if he had acute asymmetric flaccid paralysis of lower motor neurone type without objective sensory disturbance following a short episode of fever. Controls were taken from children attending outpatient department for fever. Two controls matched for aged and sex were recruited for each case. Recruitment, data collection and clinical examination were done by a single pediatrician. IM injection received within 30 days prior to onset of paralysis or illness was considered to be the risk factor. The total number of cases and controls recruited were 257 and 515, respectively. Among cases, 172 (66.9%) out of 257 and among controls 252 (48.9%) out of 515, received IM injection within one month earlier to onset of paralysis or illness. The overall risk of paralysis, estimated for IM injection, was increased [odds ratio (OR) 2.1 (95% CI, 1.5-3.0)]. The maximum risk for paralysis was observed to be 2 weeks preceding the illness; the ORs for < 7 days was 2.2 (95% CI, 1.6-3.2) and for 7-13 days 3.2 (95% CI, 1.8 to 5.8). The risk of paralysis associated with IM injection was similar for unimmunized and immunized cases (OR 2.4 and 2.2). Multiple injections were not associated with a higher risk of developing paralysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We conducted a case control study to identify the risk factors for death among hospitalized children with acute pneumonia at the Institute of Child Health, Madras. All the 70 patients who died of pneumonia constituted the case--patients and 140 children recovered from pneumonia, selected by systematic sampling, during the same period served as controls. By univariate analysis, the risk factors for death in pneumonia observed were associated illnesses--Odds Ratio (OR) 22.2. (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.8-51.4; p = < 0.001); congenital anomalies--OR 10.4 (2.9-37.8; p = < 0.001); severe pneumonia--OR 4.2 (1.2-14.4; p = 0.09); marasmic status--OR 2.9 (1.5-5.7; p = 0.001); age under 6 months--OR 2.8 (1.3-5.7; p = 0.004); and severity of the pneumonia (lobar versus segmental)--OR 2.0 (0.9-4.5; p = 0.09). By logistic regression analysis the following risk factors were significant--associated illnesses. (51.6; 18-146.9; p = < 0.001); age under 6 months (6.5; 2-20.6; p = < 0.001), marasmic status (5.8; 2.2-15.6; p = < 0.001); and congenital anomalies (3.8; 2.0-7.1; p = < 0.001). These risk factors should be kept in mind by the clinicians for appropriate intervention at an earlier stage to minimize death.

To identify the reasons for non-immunization/postponing immunization, parents of 615 poliomyelitis (APM) children and 908 children attending the Outpatient Department (OPD) for other ailments were interviewed. A total of 165 (26.9%), 185 (30.1%) and 264 (43%) among APM and 645 (71%), 183 (20.2%) and 80 (8.8%) among OPD children were immunized, partially immunized and unimmunized, respectively. Forty two per cent and 21% among parents of APM and OPD children, respectively in the unimmunized group were unaware of the need for immunization. The other reasons are minor illnesses, lack of interest, fear of side reaction, non-availability of vaccine or vaccinator. The decision to withhold immunization was mostly by parents when the child had some minor illnesses, mostly respiratory infections. It is recommended to educate the health personnel-clinicians and para-clinical workers by seminar and training and the public through mass media and group contact on the need for and completion of the immunizations.

Six hundred and fourteen acute poliomyelitis children (57% boys) admitted to the Institute of Child Health, Madras, during January 1988 to September 1989 were studied. Diagnosis was based on clinical grounds. The age ranged from 2 months to 75 months. Residents of Madras city area were 31%, the rest being from neighbouring district (55%) and states (14%). Only 24% got protected water supply and 26% had access to safe disposal of excreta. Only a quarter (26.4%) had been immunized with 3 or more doses of oral polio vaccine. Intramuscular injection was given in 70% within one month of onset of paralysis. The commonest presentation was spinal form (80%) followed by spinobulbar (18%) and bulbar form (2%). Paralysis was severe in 72%, moderate in 6% and mild in 22%. Case fatality was 3.3%. The age at paralysis and clinical features in India have not changed over years. We conclude that the immunization programme should be effectively implemented to the maximum efficiency especially for the poor/illiterate community. Clinicians must be educated to avoid unwarranted intramuscular injections for any febrile illness.

This study was conducted to compare the epidemiological and clinical features of acute poliomyelitis among immunized, partially immunized and unimmunized, as these have been postulated to be different amongst these subgroups. Of 614 children with acute poliomyelitis admitted at the Institute of Child Health, Madras, 162 (26.4%) were immunized, 183 (29.8%) were partially immunized and 269 (43.8%) were unimmunized. Poor environmental sanitation, unprotected water source and parental illiteracy were significantly more common among unimmunized group compared to the immunized group. It is concluded that there is no significant difference in symptoms, signs, clinical types, severity of paralysis and case fatality between the immunized, partially immunized and unimmunized.

The objective of the study was to compare the effectiveness of measles vaccine by seroconversion in vaccinated children with non-vaccinated children of 6 to 8 months age group in a city slum community so as to study the feasibility of advancing the age of immunization. Live attenuated lyophilized Schwartz strain of measles vaccine was used. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody was estimated. Seroconversion was defined as either the conversion of negative to positive or a two fold rise in titre. One hundred and thirty two children completed the study. There was no difference in the age, sex and nutritional status between vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups (p greater than 0.7). The seroconversion rate in the vaccinated group was 65% and in the non-vaccinated group was 26%. The age, sex and nutritional status did not significantly affect the seroconversion. Our data suggest that immunization with measles vaccine may be effective as early as 6 months of age. Immunization at 6 months may be needed at least for children in densely populated areas like cities and towns.

Upto 35% of infants aged between 6 and 11 months are infected with measles in India with its associated high morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study is to know the waning pattern of placentally transmitted antibodies (PTA) for measles so that the age at which children are likely to become susceptible to measles infection could be identified. A cross-sectional serological survey of children aged 3 to 11 months in one of the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) area in Madras city slums was done. Venous blood from 376 children was collected and was tested for Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) antibodies by standard microtitration technique. Titre greater than or equal to 1:8 has been considered as protective. The proportion of children with immune level and the Geometric Mean Titre (GMT), declined to the least by 5 months which denotes that most of the infants become susceptible to measles infection from as early as 5 months of age. There is no significant difference in the waning pattern between different age groups, sex and nutritional status. A community study for effectiveness of measles vaccine at 6-8 months of age is needed to know the feasibility of immunization earlier than 9 months of age.