samiran bisai

Palmoplantar psoriasis (PPP) and hyperkeratotic eczema (HPKE) are common and troublesome entities affecting the palms and soles. The diagnosis is made clinically, but differentiation is difficult; histopathology helps but is often impossible in daily practice. Dermoscopy is increasingly utilized to diagnose inflammatory disorders and has been used to differentiate PPP from HPKE. The present study was carried out to evaluate the role of dermoscopy in the differentiation of PPP and HPKE in a tertiary care center of eastern India. This hospital-based observational study included 20 patients with each of clinically diagnosed PPP and HPKE. Dermoscopy examinations were done, and the results were tabulated and summarized. Fisher’s exact test was employed to assess statistical significances in differences. Diffuse white and yellow scales were found in both PPP and HPKE without any significant difference. Brown orange globules, clustered dotted vessels, yellow, orange crusts, and perilesional scaling were found more in HPKE (P < 0.05). On the other hand, uniformly dotted vessels and background erythema were more characteristic of PPP (P < 0.05). The results of the current study had deviations from the results of studies done abroad, which can be ascribed to differences in skin color. Dermoscopy is a valuable tool to sort out diagnostic dilemmas in cases of PPP and HPKE. It should be used more commonly to gain more experience and information in the diagnosis of inflammatory dermatoses.

Prevalence of undernutrition in developing countries, though on the declining trend, is still a cause for alarm.The prevalence in India is among the highest in the world. In such a scenario,this study was undertaken to find out the nutritional status of under five children attending the pediatric OPD of a tertiary care hospital of North East india. The study was an OPD based cross sectional study carried out at the Pediatric OPD, NEIGRIHMS, Shillong.The study was carried out from 1stJanuary 2012 – 31st December 2012. Weight and Height was taken by trained staff following standard anthropometric techniques. A total of 6624 children aged 0-60 months were included in the study. A total of 6624 children aged 0-60 months were enrolled during 1st January 2012 – 31st December 2012 in the Pediatric OPD, NEIGRIHMS. Out of these, 6183 children were included in the present analyses. Overall the prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was 19.7%, 35.5% and 8.5% respectively. Of these, 9.0%, 19.7% and 3.4% children were found to be severely underweight, stunted and wasted. It was observed that the prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was significantly higher in boys than girls. Based on the World Health Organization classification of severity in malnutrition, the overall prevalence of underweight (>19%) and stunting (>30%) was high. While the prevalence rates of wasting (5–9%) were medium. The nutritional status of the subjects is unsatisfactory. There is scope for a detailed community based study and nutritional interventions.

To assess the overall nutritional status of Santal tribal preschool children of Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. Methods and Materials: A cross sectional study was conducted from February 2012 to September, 2012 of a Santal community in the rural area of Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal. The study children were selected multi stage cluster sampling method. The level of underweight, stunting and wasting was assessed using standard deviation (SD) classification as against National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference standards. This study comprises of 299 (boys=153, girls=146) Santal preschool children age between 0-5 years to assess the prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting. The overall prevalence of underweight was 65.2%, out of, 54.2% and 11.0% children are found to be moderate and severe underweight. It is found that the severe underweight was significantly higher among girls than boys (15.1% vs 7.2%, p<0.05). The girls had 2.3 fold greater risk of being severely underweight. Overall the prevalence of stunting was 54.2%. Among them, 31.4% and 22.7% children were experiencing moderate and severe stunting. Moreover, the overall prevalence of wasting was 20.1%, out of, 17.4% and 2.7% children were found to be moderate and severe wasting. According to World Health Organization (WHO) classification for assessing severity of malnutrition, this study found very high rates of malnutrition in the form of underweight, stunting and wasting, indicating a critical situation. Therefore, respective authority should be undertaken an effective public health strategy to combat child malnutrition among socio-economically vulnerable communities in India and adjoining countries.

Malnutrition among tribal preschool children is highly prevalent in almost all states of India and is the predisposing factor for morbidity as well as mortality. Aim of the study was to detect prevalence of malnutrition and their associated factors. This cross-sectional study on 141 children aged 1-5 years, of Lodha tribal were included in the present study. Data was collected in pre-structured questionnaire, which included household socio-demographic data, morbidity status of child and anthropometric measurements like height, weight. Statistical analyses were undertaken using MedCalc statistical software. The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the form of underweight, stunting, wasting and overweight was 40.4%, 29.8%, 34.0%, 5.0%, respectively. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of severity of malnutrition, the overall prevalence of underweight and wasting was very high, indicating a critical situation. The reported morbidity was 20.6% and majority of children suffered from diarrhoea (7.8%). The results revealed that morbidity status, number of sibling, mother literacy status had significant association on underweight more importantly (P<0.05(; rate of underweight was significantly higher among children who had reported morbidity, no of sibs 3 and above and or illiterate mothers. They had 3.7, 2.15 and 2.81 times greater risk of being underweight. Similarly, children having morbidity had more than 3 times greater chance of developing wasting. The Lodha pre-school children were suffering from nutritional stress which was associated with reported morbidity, mother’s lack of education and high number of siblings.

Childhood undernutrition among tribal children is a serious public health problem in India. The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of undernutrition (underweight, stunting and wasting) among Lodha children of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India. This cross sectional study was conducted in a village of Paschim Medinipur district. A total of 165 (early childhood=74, late childhood=91) children aged 1-14 years were measured and included in the present study following simple random method. The children were further divided into two categories: early childhood: under 6 years (<72 months) and late childhood: ≥72 months. Anthropometric measurements such as height and weight were made following standard techniques. Children were considered underweight, stunting and wasting as weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height Z-score below –2 standard deviation using the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference population. The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was 33.9%, 26.1% and 19.4 %, respectively. Of these, 9.1%, 9.7% and 3.6% children were found to be severely underweight, stunted and wasted. Moreover, the prevalence of underweight (47.3% vs 23.1%) and stunting (35.1% vs 18.7%) was significantly higher in early childhood compared to during late childhood. They had 2.05 (RR= 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31– 3.20) and 1.88 (CI: 1.11–3.19) times greater chance to be underweight and stunted than during late childhood. Whereas, the prevalence of wasting was similar in both groups (20.3% vs 18.9%; RR=1.09; CI:0.58-2.02). Similarly, the rates of severe underweight (early childhood vs late childhood: 16.2% vs 3.3%) and stunting (20.3% vs 1.1%) were significantly higher in early childhood. They had 4.92 (CI: 1.44–16.79) fold and 18.45 (CI: 2.49-136.42) fold more risk to be an underweight and stunted compared to during late childhood. The nutritional status of the Lodha children, especially during early childhood was unsatisfactory. There is an urgent requirement to improve the nutritional status of children in this ethnic group.