JNMA; journal of the Nepal Medical Association
-
JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc · Oct 2021
Blood Lead Level among Children between 8-18 years of Age by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.
Lead is naturally available toxic heavy metal which is one of the main causes of environmental pollution and produces detrimental effects on health, particularly young children. Lead toxicity has become an emerging global burden of disease varying with the age, socio-economic status, occupation, industrialization, social customs and behaviours. The objective of this study was to find out the baseline blood lead level among children between 8-18 years. ⋯ Lead exposure in the children of urban area of Nepal is considerably high as compared to similar studies coducted in similar settings.
-
JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc · Oct 2021
Non-psychiatric Referral among First Encounter Patients Attending the Psychiatry Out Patient Services of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.
Pathway of psychiatric care is defined as the sequence of contacts with individuals and organizations initiated by the distressed person's efforts and his significant others to seek appropriate health care. This study aimed to find the prevalence of non-psychiatric referral as first encounter among patients attending the psychiatry outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. ⋯ The prevalence of non-psychiatric referral for the patients seen for the first time in the psychiatry outpatient department was similar to findings from studies done in different parts of South East Asia.
-
JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc · Oct 2021
Insufficient Iodine Level in Urine among Children of a Secondary School: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.
Introduction: Iodine deficiency disorders are common endocrinopathies in Nepal. Children are at risk for iodine deficiency disorders. Irreversible mental retardation and brain damage in children are the devastating disorders lead by iodine deficiency. ⋯ Conclusions: Iodine estimation revealed a very high percentage of urine samples containing insufficient levels of iodine is similar as compared to studies done in similar settings. Hence, the school children were at risk of iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency disorders prevention programs should be priority intervention based on available evidence.
-
JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc · Oct 2021
Case ReportsSubretinal Cysticercosis in a Challenging Case: A Case Report.
Ocular cysticercosis occurs rarely and may involve various parts of the eye including subretinal space. We report a case of a 42 years-old female with diminution of vision in the right eye for one month and no vision in the left eye for 10 years. Best corrected visual acuity in the right eye was 5/60. ⋯ The subretinal cyst was removed in toto by pars plana vitrectomy followed by histopathological examination of the cyst which confirmed the diagnosis of cysticercosis. This case report highlights the importance of early diagnosis of subretinal cysticercosis which could threaten the vision in a one-eyed patient. Pars plana vitrectomy could be an effective method for subretinal cyst removal in toto even in a challenging case.
-
JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc · Oct 2021
Back Pain among COVID-19 Positive Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.
The world has been threatened with the emergence of the Novel Corona Virus straining the health care system and creating a global pandemic. This is not the first pandemic, and it certainly will not be the last to affect humanity. As the medical community is exposed to these highly contagious new diseases with arrays of symptoms like fever, cough, shortness of breath, anosmia, insomnia, and myalgia. Back pain can also be considered as one of the symptoms of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, this study aimed to find out the prevalence of back pain among the Health care workers who were tested positive for COVID-19 by the end of their isolation period. ⋯ This study demonstrated that a high proportion of healthcare workers were suffering from back pain and the findings are similar to the data from other international studies.