Indian J Med Res
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Cause of death assignment from verbal autopsy (VA) questionnaires is conventionally accomplished through physician review. However, since recently, computer softwares have been developed to assign the cause of death. The present study evaluated the performance of computer software in assigning the cause of death from the VA, as compared to physician review. ⋯ In comparison to physicians, assignment of causes of death by InterVA- 4 was only 'fair'. Hence, it may be appropriate to continue with physician review as the optimal option available in the current scenario.
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Scrub typhus, an acute febrile Rickettsial disease is caused by the bacterial pathogen Orientia tsutsugamushi which is spread by the bite of infected chigger mite vectors belonging to the family Trombiculidae. A study was undertaken to find out the prevalence of scrub typhus among the indigenous population from Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. ⋯ Early diagnosis and effective management will protect this indigenous population from this disease. This report would help in creating awareness regarding scrub typhus infection among clinicians and public health authorities in the region and take appropriate measures for treatment and control.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) adversely affects various functional and structural domains of the lungs, in addition to having an array of extra-pulmonary effects which affect overall well-being of a patient. This study was aimed at measuring the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in COPD patients and relating the severity of disease and other factors with the degree of impairment of HRQOL. ⋯ HRQOL is impaired in patients with COPD, and it deteriorates with increasing severity of the disease. The onset of COPD at a younger age has a much more significant deterioration of HRQOL, due to the early onset of symptoms and complications. These findings call for better early care and integration of pulmonary rehabilitation programmes into current health policies.
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Antibiotic administration within one hour of presentation is a standard of care goal in the treatment of febrile neutropenia (FN). The objective of this study was to find the proportion of children with FN who had a time to antibiotic administration (TTA) of ≤60 min and evaluate causes for delay. ⋯ Two-thirds of the patients achieved the target TTA of ≤60 min. Patients seen during the daytime and on weekends had a delay in TTA compared to those presenting at the evening or night or weekdays. Children with a focus for fever received antibiotics earlier. Logistics for admission and awaiting blood counts were chief causes for delay.
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Uncorrected refractive error and cataract are the two most common causes of impairment of vision among elderly persons, and both are treatable. Treatment-seeking in patients is driven by symptom (decreased vision) rather than any anatomical or physiological measurement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the treatment-seeking behavior and barriers to treatment-seeking among elderly persons with impairment of vision in an urban resettlement colony of New Delhi, India. ⋯ A substantial proportion of elderly persons in the urban community have impairment of vision. Lack of felt need was the main reason for not visiting healthcare facility. As quality of spectacles was an important reported deterrent to use of spectacles, provision of appropriate refraction services and low-cost, good quality spectacles would be important.