A Case Study on the Management of Psoriasis (Kitibha) by Ayurvedic Intervention

Psoriasis (Kitibha) is one of the most common chronic skin disorders, which has psychological and social impact on patient’s life. This disease is not contagious and may affect people of any age, but it commonly begins around 15 to 40 years. Psoriasis is commonly red and white hues of scaly patches appearing on the top of skin. This disease is equated to Kitibha in Ayurveda due to its invariable similarities in signs and symptoms. This case study aims to investigate whether Ayurvedic intervention can manage moderate to severe Psoriasis (Kitibha). A 41‑year old male came to the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Guwahati with clinical features indicative of Psoriasis. This case was diagnosed as Kitibha and was managed by Ayurvedic interventions of Kaishore Guggulu 1gm twice a day, Arogyavardhini vati 500mg twice a day, Panchtiktaguggulu Ghrit 3 gm twice a day and Brihat Marichyadi tail local application twice a day for 3 months at OPD level. The response to the treatment was found to be highly effective. At the end of the treatment period and follow up of 1 month as compared with baseline, highly significant changes were observed. Kaishore Guggulu, Arogyavardhini vati, Panchtiktaguggulu Ghrit and Brihat marichyadi tail in the above‑mentioned doses were found to be very effective and safe in moderate to severe case of Psoriasis (Kitibha).

UTERINE ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION TRANSVAGINAL DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY: CASE REPORT

Uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare condition, with fewer than 100 cases reported in the literature. Despite it being rare, it is a potentially life-threatening condition. This case report describes a healthy 29-year-old patient, nulligravida, with an unremarkable medical history, came from gynaecologist for ultrasaound due to complain of irregular heavy PV bleeding. Transvaginal Doppler ultrasonography is a widely available, noninvasive and excellent diagnostic method. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) of the pelvis showed increased vascularity with multidirectional flow of the uterus and a prominent vessel, located on the posterior wall.

Growth and nutritional status of Bengali adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the growth and nutritional status among healthy Bengali adolescent schoolgirls at peri-urban area. METHODS: In this cross sectional study, sample consists of 527 school going adolescent girls, aged 10 to 18 years. The sample of the present study was collected from a peri-urban area (Duttapukur) of north 24 parganas district of West Bengal, India. Standard anthropometric measurements including linear, curvilinear and skinfold thickness were collected from each subject. Percentile curves and nutritional indices were used to determine the growth and nutritional status respectively. RESULTS: The nature of distance curves and percentile curves of the body measurements showed a high rate of increase in 10-11 years of age group corresponding to an earlier adolescent growth spurt than average Indian girls. The adolescent girls in the current study were found to be significantly (p<0.0001) taller than Indian girls and heavier than both Indian and urban Bengali girls but slightly shorter than urban Bengali girls. They are significantly (p<0.0001) shorter and lighter than American girls, which also corresponded to 50(th) percentile curves. Age specific nutritional assessment shows different grades of malnutrition among them. Gomez's classification indicates about 60 % to 70 % adolescent girls show either moderate to mild malnutrition during their growth period. Both the indices of Waterlow's classification show least percentage of least malnutrition among the girls. CONCLUSION: The growth pattern and nutritional status observed among adolescent girls in peri-urban situation show heterogeneity with respect to some anthropometric traits and in conformity with the growth pattern and nutritional status of urban girls.

Whole time domestic child labor in metropolitan city of Kolkata.

We conducted this study to explore the socioeconomic conditions, and health and nutritional status of whole time child domestic labor. 330 children engaged in domestic child labor ranging between 8 to 14 years of age from the metropolitan city of Kolkata were studied. Majority of the domestic child laborers were girls and migrants coming from illiterate families. These children were physically, mentally or sexually abused. Further, they suffered from anemia, gastrointestinal tract infections, vitamin deficiencies, respiratory tract infections and skin diseases along with a high prevalence of malnutrition. The study highlights the poor state of domestic child labor in Kolkata, India.

Nutritional status of Kamar tribal children in Chhattisgarh.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the nutritional status among 309 Kamar children (161 boys and 148 girls) aged 4-12 years. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 24-hours dietary recall method was used to assess dietary intakes of children. Height and weight were recorded and children were classified by WHO criterion (Z-score) using nutritional indices i.e. weight for age, height for age and weight for height. NCHS data were used as reference. Mean energy and protein intake per day were measured and compared with Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) of Indian standards. RESULTS: More than 90 percent of children (both boys and girls) in the age group of 4-6 years suffered by underweight (<-2 SD weight for age), which was comparatively lower in 7-9 and 10-12 years age group children. 84.51 percent of boys suffered by stunting (<-2 SD height for age), which was much higher than girls (47.54%) in 4-6 years age group. Similarly, 80 percent of 4-6 years age group children were affected by wasting (<-2 SD weight for height). The consumption of energy and protein were also much lower among Kamar children than the RDA of India throughout the ages. CONCLUSION: Undernutrition in the form of underweight, stunting and wasting and low consumption of dietary intake (energy and protein) was found to be widely prevalent among Kamar tribal children. Therefore, an urgent dietary intervention programme is necessary. Further studies are required to investigate into problem and to supplement the key nutrients which are required to ensure a good nutritional status in children.