Perception of smoking habits and related diseases among society

Background: Smoking is practiced by a third of world’s population. Tobacco is leading cause of deaths world over. Six million people (1/8 second) die from tobacco each year. Objective of this study was to study demographic profile and awareness regarding tobacco smoking among people of Rohilkhand, Bareilly.Methods: Randomly selected individuals of Rohilkhand region. Questionnaire method involved.Results: Among 1040 sample size, 70% were males with mean age of 37.68 years. 73.94% population belonged to upper lower socio-economic class. 52% (62.9% male and 26.6% females) were current smokers of which 60.6% were exclusive beedi smokers. 50% were unaware of oral and lung cancer due to smoking. 34% were unaware about effects of passive smoking. 48.48% smokers report cough with expectoration as commonest symptom. 60% finds peer group influential for the behavior. 76.9% smokers are willing to quit smoking. 63.4% are open for counseling. 26% were unaware of ban/law related to smoking in public places. 68% believe there is increasing trend in prevalence of its use, among minors, educational institutes and hospitals.Conclusions: Despite high awareness of ill effects of smoking, there is an increasing trend in prevalence of smoking with an increased involvement of minors attributed to peer pressure. People are unaware of passive smoking and its harmful effect on body. Moreover, advertisements, visuals and captions have failed in making an impact. There occurs a need of awareness programmes, intervention sessions, medical therapy and strict anti-smoking laws by the government, social welfare and healthcare volunteers to help people quit and control the menace in society.

Usual interstitial pneumonia - secondary vs idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background: Interstitial Lung Diseases is a group of disorders where the pulmonary interstitium, alveolar structures and the small airways are affected. Identification of a specific pattern on HRCT, with a thorough clinical evaluation can help a physician in narrowing down the differential diagnosis for the underlying cause. Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP) is a frequently identified pattern. Differentiating patients with definite UIP pattern, into IPF and non-IPF spectrums is important. Aim of this study is to compare UIP patients with a secondary cause vs Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.Methods: Statistically 33 patients having UIP pattern on HRCT were evaluated based on the history of extrapulmonary symptoms, environmental exposure, drugs and subsequent serology testing. Patients were divided into two groups - IPF and UIP with a secondary cause. Both groups were compared on various clinical parameters. Inferences were drawn from the same.Results: Total 66.6% patients were identified to have Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, 33.3% had UIP with a secondary cause. Majority of patients with a secondary cause had Connective Tissue Disorder (90.9%) and one patient of Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP).Conclusions: Absence of extrapulmonary symptoms in UIP patients need no further investigations and can be diagnosed as a case of IPF. However, presence of extrapulmonary symptoms needs further evaluation to diagnose the underlying disease and start treatment for the same.

Assessment of Symptomatic Post Tuberculosis Patients by Spirometry and Chest X Ray

Introduction: TB is an infectious disease caused by thebacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis which typically affectsthe lungs. The disease is spread by the people who are sick withactive pulmonary TB. Up to half of TB survivors have someform of persistent pulmonary symptom despite microbiologiccure. The aim of the study was to assess the symptomatic posttuberculosis patients by using spirometry and chest x ray.Material and methods: The study was conducted in theDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Rohilkhand MedicalCollege and Hospital after seeking clearance from theInstitutional Ethical Committee. The aim of the study was toassess the symptomatic post tuberculosis patients by usingspirometry and chest x ray. The study duration was from 1stNovember 2018 to 31st October 2019 and 100 patients wereenrolled in the study. Data was collected from patients whopresented with symptoms within 6 months of completing theirtreatment for tuberculosis.Results: All the patients (post tubercular) enrolled in thestudy had symptoms (in some form) even after full courseof antitubercular treatment and bacteriological cure andamong these breathlessness was the most common presentingsymptom (96%) followed by cough (58%). Maximum patientshad abnormal findings on chest examination (80%). Fibrosisfollowed by cavitary lesions were the most common findingson chest x ray in post tuberculosis patients. Maximum patientshad restriction (56%) in their spirometry followed by mixedpattern (23%).Conclusion: In patients with restriction on spirometry andhaving symptom of breathlessness and cough, reassurance andpulmonary rehabilitation may play a major role in relievingtheir symptoms whereas in patients with mixed or obstructivepattern on spirometry, bronchodilator therapy along withpulmonary rehabilitation may be helpful in relieving theirsymptoms post tuberculosis treatment.