Girish Chandra Bhatt

Effect of Peer Counselling by Mother Support Groups on Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices: The Lalitpur Experience

Objective Our primary objective was to evaluate the effect of peer counselling by mother support groups (MSGs) in improving the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in the community. Methods We conducted this repeated-measure before and after study in the Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India between 2006 and 2011. We assessed the IYCF practices before and after creating MSGs within the community. The feeding practices were reassessed at two time points–2 (T1) and 5 years (T2) after the intervention and compared with that of the pre-intervention phase (T0). Results The total population covered by the project from the time of its initiation was 105000. A total of 425 (T0), 480 (T1) and 521 (T2) mother infant pairs were selected from this population. There was significant improvement in the following IYCF practices in the community (represented as %; adjOR (95% CI, p) such as initiation of breast feeding within 1 hour at both T1 (71% vs. 11%); 19.6 (13.6, 28.2, p = <0.0001)and T2 (62% vs. 11%); 13.3 (9.4, 18.9, p = <0.0001); use of prelacteal feeds at both T1 (67% vs. 15%); 12.6 (CI: 9.0, 17.6, p<0.0001) and T2 (67% vs. 5%); 44.4 (28.8, 68.4, p = <0.0001); rates of exclusive breast feeding for 6 months at both T1 (50% vs. 7%); 13.6 (7.6, 25.0, p = <0.0001) and T2 (60% vs. 7%); 20.5 (11.3, 37.2, p = <0.0001); initiation of complementary feeding at T1 (85% vs. 54%); 5.6 (3.6, 8.7, p = <0.0001) and T2 (96% vs. 54%); 22.9 (11.8, 44.1, p = <0.0001) and complementary feeding along with continued breast feeding at both T1 (36% vs. 4.5%); 6 (1.15, 31.4, p = 0.033) and T2 (42% vs. 4.5%); 8.06 (1.96, 49.1, p = 0.005) as compared to pre-intervention period (T0) after adjusting for important social and demographic variables. Conclusions Peer counseling by MSGs improved the IYCF practices in the district and could be sustained.

Clinical Profile and Outcome of Japanese Encephalitis in Children Admitted with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is an arthropod borne viral disease. Children are most commonly affected in Southeast Asian region showing symptoms of central nervous system with several complications and death. The clinical characteristics and outcomes in pediatric JE patients hospitalized with acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) are still poorly understood. A prospective study was conducted in pediatric ward of Assam Medical College Hospital to evaluate the clinical profile and outcome of JE in children. A total of 223 hospitalized AES cases were enrolled during March to December 2012. Serum and cerebro spinal fluids were tested for presence of JE specific IgM antibody. 67 (30%) were found to be JE positive. The most common presenting symptoms in JE patients were fever (100%), altered sensorium (83.58%), seizure (82.08%), headache (41.79%), and vomiting (29.85%). Signs of meningeal irritation were present in 55.22% of cases. Around 40.29%, JE patients had GCS ≤ 8. Among the JE patients, 14.7% died before discharge. The complete recoveries were observed in 63.9% of cases, while 21.3% had some sort of disability at the time of discharge. JE is still a major cause of AES in children in this part of India. These significant findings thus seek attentions of the global community to combat JE in children.Japanese encephalitis (JE) is an arthropod borne viral disease. Children are most commonly affected in Southeast Asian region showing symptoms of central nervous system with several complications and death. The clinical characteristics and outcomes in pediatric JE patients hospitalized with acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) are still poorly understood. A prospective study was conducted in pediatric ward of Assam Medical College Hospital to evaluate the clinical profile and outcome of JE in children. A total of 223 hospitalized AES cases were enrolled during March to December 2012. Serum and cerebro spinal fluids were tested for presence of JE specific IgM antibody. 67 (30%) were found to be JE positive. The most common presenting symptoms in JE patients were fever (100%), altered sensorium (83.58%), seizure (82.08%), headache (41.79%), and vomiting (29.85%). Signs of meningeal irritation were present in 55.22% of cases. Around 40.29%, JE patients had GCS ≤ 8. Among the JE patients, 14.7% died before discharge. The complete recoveries were observed in 63.9% of cases, while 21.3% had some sort of disability at the time of discharge. JE is still a major cause of AES in children in this part of India. These significant findings thus seek attentions of the global community to combat JE in children.

Changing clinico-laboratory profile of encephalitis patients in the eastern Uttar Pradesh region of India

A cross-sectional study was done on 100 consecutive paediatric patients presenting with acute encephalitis syndrome. The clinico-laboratory features of all patients were recorded in a prestructured performa. Cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples were tested for: Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus; Chandipura virus; coxsackie virus; dengue virus; enterovirus 76; and West Nile virus. Twenty-two (22.0%) patients were confirmed JE cases and 17% had parasitic or bacteriological aetiology. The remaining 61 cases (61.0%) in which no viral aetiological agent was found were grouped as non-JE cases. Peripheral vascular failure, splenomegaly and hypotonia were distinguishing clinical features found in the non-JE patients. A high mortality of 26.5% was seen in patients with confirmed or presumptive viral encephalitis (22/83). A fatal outcome was independently associated with peripheral vascular failure and pallor at the time of admission. Early recognition of these signs may help clinicians to manage these cases.

Complete right lung agenesis with dextrocardia: an unusual cause of respiratory distress.

Pulmonary agenesis, defined as complete absence of bronchus, parenchyma, and vessels is a very rare condition. Herein, we report a 4-month-old infant who presented with fever, cough, and respiratory distress and was misdiagnosed in a peripheral hospital as a case of pneumonia. The child was, later diagnosed as having right lung agenesis with dextrocardia.

Isolated tuberculous liver abscess in immunocompetent children – Report of two cases

Abstract Isolated tuberculous liver abscess (TLA) without active pulmonary or miliary tuberculosis, or other clinical evidence of tuberculosis, is distinctly rare and only few cases have been reported in the literature. We report two cases of isolated TLA in immunocompetent children, treated successfully by percutaneous aspiration followed by systemic antituberculous drugs.

Salmonella typhi presenting as acute glomerulonephritis in twin siblings

Summary Acute glomerulonephritis occurring during the course of enteric fever is a rare entity and only a few cases have been reported in the published literature. We describe two interesting cases of acute glomerulonephritis occurring in twin siblings.

Plasmodium vivax presenting as acute glomerulonephritis in a 3-year-old child

Although acute glomerulonephritis is a rare complication of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, it has not been reported in connection with Plasmodium vivax. We report a case of complicated P. vivax malaria presenting as acute glomerulonephritis. A three-year-old boy presented with high grade fever, a seven-day history of the progressive swelling of his body and a one-day history of vomiting. An examination revealed hypertension (>95th percentile), pallor and hepatosplenomegaly. Investigations showed a platelet count 80,000/mm3 with haematuria [20–30 red blood cells/high power field with more than 80% dysmorphic red blood cells]. A peripheral smear showed the presence of trophozoites of P. vivax. The patient was diagnosed as having P. vivax causing acute glomerulonephritis and was treated successfully with antimalarials and enalapril. With the changing epidemiological pattern of malaria, especially in endemic areas, unusual complications such as acute glomerulonephritis may sometimes present in cases of P. vivax malaria.

A Case of Empyema Thoracic due to Salmonella typhi in 18‑month‑old Child: An Unusual Cause

We herein report an 18-months-old child who presented with high-grade fever, cough, and breathlessness along with tachypnoea and diminished air entry on the left side of the chest, in which a diagnosis of left-sided pleural effusion was made. Salmonella typhi was isolated from the pleural tap culture. The patient had uneventful recovery with appropriate antibiotic therapy. Empyema thoracic as a complication is extremely rare in the absence of an underlying co-morbid illness, is even more uncommon in a child, and is even rarer to find with Salmonella typhi species. After reviewing the available literature we could find only five cases of empyema thoracic due to Salmonella typhi in children with the age range of 9–13 years. We are reporting this case as the youngest child reported with this complication.

Isolated tuberculous liver abscess in a 3-year-old immunocompetent child

Abstract Tuberculous liver abscess without active pulmonary or miliary tuberculosis or other clinical evidence of tuberculosis, is very rare. A 3-year-old immunocompetent boy with isolated tuberculous liver abscess recovered completely on systemic anti-tuberculous drugs.

Japanese Encephalitis Presenting Without Cerebrospinal Fluid Pleocytosis.

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