Prevalence of Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease Among School Children.

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are significant public health concerns in the developing countries like India. A total number of 10330 school children were examined clinically for evidence of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease . Those suffering with the disease were subjected to electrocardiographic, rontgenographic and echocardiographic examination. Prevalence of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease was found to be 0.87 per 1000.

Reproducibility and validity of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire in an urban and rural area of northern India.

Background. Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) have been used in epidemiological studies across the world to capture the usual food intake of individuals. As food habits vary in different population groups, FFQs should be validated before use. Hence, we determined the reproducibility and validity of FFQs designed for urban and rural populations of northern India. Methods. Separate FFQs, designed for urban and rural populations using standard methods, were administered to a sample of 200 subjects (100 urban and 100 rural) in the age group of 35–70 years in the beginning (baseline FFQ) of the study and after an interval of 1 year (1-year FFQ) to assess their reproducibility. Six 24-hour dietary-recalls, taken at an interval of 2 months over a period of 1 year, were used as a reference method to test the validity. Crude and energyadjusted nutrient intakes estimated from FFQs and 24-hour dietary-recalls were compared using Pearson correlation coefficients. Bland and Altman plots were also used to test the agreement between the two methods. Results. Nutrient intakes were found to be similar at the baseline and 1-year FFQs in urban and rural areas. The unadjusted Pearson correlation between 24-hour dietaryrecalls and 1-year FFQ ranged from 0.22 for vitamin C to 0.63 for iron in the urban area. It ranged from 0.06 for vitamin C to 0.74 for energy in the rural area. The correlations lowered after adjusting for energy and there was a minimal increase after de-attenuation. Conclusion. The FFQs were reproducible and valid for assessing nutrient intakes except for some micronutrients.

Sjogren Larsson Syndrome.

Sjogren Larsson Syndrome( SLS) is a rare neuroectodermal disorder characterized by congenital icthyosis, mental retardation and spastic diplegia along with pathognomic opthalmological findings. We report two siblings with Sjogren Larsson Syndrome from an Indian family but, without eye involvement.

Epidemiological Study of Morbidity Pattern of Critically Ill Children Admitted in Child Intensive Therapy Unit.

Background : In India 34.3% of the total population is constituted by the most vulnerable segment of our society i.e. infants and children. Malnutrition, respiratory and diarrhoeal diseases are three main scourges of the children but the great devils hovering upon them are lack of proper treatment and management. The present study was conducted to find out the morbidity pattern of our vulnerable children. Aims and Objectives : 1. To find out the prevalence of critically ill children admitted in the hospital. 2. To find out the morbidity pattern of critically ill children admitted in the child intensive therapy unit, in a hospital. Research Question : What is the epidemiological pattern of morbidity in critically ill children of age 1 month to 12 years? Study Design : Cross-sectional Study. Study Participants : All critically ill children coming to the emergency unit of the hospital during study period. Statistical Analysis : Simple percent and proportions, Chi square test.