Fatal intracranial bleedings in a viper bite: A case report.

Viper bite envenomation represents a significant occupational hazard among agricultural workers in India. The viper bite envenomation is usually suspected when a patient presents with predominant local symptoms at the bitten site, including pain, swelling, and necrosis. Further, systemic findings such as diffuse intravascular coagulation, hypotension, and shock may alert physicians of viper bite envenomation rather than a neurotoxic snake bite. However, cerebral complications are rare in viper bites but may potentially fatal. Central nervous system involvement in a viper bite is either due to neurotoxins or hemorrhagins present in the venom, which may induce cerebral thrombosis, ischemia, infarction, and hemorrhage. Here we present a case of a previously healthy adult male who succumbed to extensive subarachnoid, intracerebral, and intraventricular hemorrhages involving bilateral cerebral hemispheres following viper snake bite envenomation. This report highlights the importance of anticipating cerebral complications in viper bite envenomation, a rare occurrence. It also emphasizes the need for early antisnake venom administration to prevent and control systemic envenomation and its complications.

Ball of Death: A Fatal Case Report on Accidental Death of a Child After Crude Bomb Explosion.

ABSTRACT: Crude bombs are country-made explosive weapons, usually prepared from locally available materials such as firecrackers or explosives used in mines. These are generally concealed inside the fruits, such as jackfruit, pineapple, and watermelon, to kill wild boars or other animals by poachers in India. Occasionally, crude bombs are remodeled resembling fruit or a ball and placed on the fields, where animals usually raid their crops. Such crude bombs may result in accidental explosions and contribute to the death of unintended targets, including humans. Despite these sporadic incidents reported in media, scientific data are lacking. Here, we report a young child who sustained injuries after an accidental explosion of such a crude bomb. It exploded when the child apparently mistook it for a ball and grasped it firmly while playing with his brother. This case is the first to report the accidental death of a child after the crude bomb's fatal explosion to the best of our knowledge. This report also briefly overviews the emerging menace of crude bombs in India.

Self-Poisoning With Safer Insecticide: A Case Series on Imidacloprid Poisoning.

ABSTRACT: Imidacloprid (IMI) is a systemic insecticide that belongs to the neonicotinoid group of insecticides. It is highly effective against sucking, boring, and root-feeding insects. Besides, it has a favorable toxicological profile on humans. Currently, IMI is the largest selling insecticide in the world by replacing organophosphates and carbamates. It acts as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist in the central nervous system of insects. To date, there is no specific antidote available for IMI poisoning. Despite a better safety profile on humans, severe toxicity from IMI poisoning is not uncommon. Here, we report a series of 4 cases who were admitted to our tertiary care center with a history of IMI poisoning.

The Perspectives of Educators and Learners on E-Learning: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study in a Medical School.

PURPOSE: To determine the challenges, effectiveness, level of reception and acceptance of E-learning by students (learners) and faculty (educators) in a medical college during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An online questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among learners and educators at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, in the month of August 2020. A total of 203 learners and 24 educators participated in the study. The link of the Google form containing the questionnaire was sent to the students and teachers, and the responses obtained were analyzed with SPSS software (version 20). RESULTS: Two hundred three MBBS students and twenty-four faculty members participated in the study. In our study, 34.5% (n=70) learners and 62.5% (n=15) educators preferred supplementation of E-learning with conventional mode of pedagogy in the future. There was a significant correlation between the convenience and the effectiveness of E-learning. Both learners and educators considered E-learning to be moderately effective. The major problems faced by the educators while conducting online sessions were network issues, difficulty in conducting practicals, lack of controlled environment, and lack of attentiveness by the learners. More than half of the students were satisfied with the E-learning provided by the institute. Educators found E-learning to be moderately convenient, whereas they felt conventional classroom teaching is highly convenient. CONCLUSION: Educators and learners were quick to adapt to the online mode of learning but the shift was mired with initial challenges. There is a requirement of capacity building in terms of skill development and digital infrastructure building to ensure seamless and effective E-learning.