ABSTRACT
It has been validated beyond doubt that High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) chest and to some extent chest radiographs have a role in corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19). Much less is known about the role of lung ultrasonography (LUS) in COVID-19. In this paper, our main purpose was to gauge the relationship between LUS and chest HRCT in reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) documented cases of COVID-19, as well as in those with high suspicion of COVID-19 with negative RT-PCR. It was a prospective study carried out at our tertiary care hospital, namely, SKIMS Soura. The total number of patients in this study were 152 (200 patients were selected out of which only 152 had undergone both LUS and chest HRCT). The patients were subjected to both LUS and chest HRCT. The radiologist who performed LUS was blinded to clinical findings and HRCT was evaluated by a radiologist with about a decade of experience. The LUS findings compatible with the disease were subpleural consolidations, B-lines and irregular pleural lines. Findings that were compatible with COVID-19 on chest HRCT were bibasilar, subpleural predominant ground glass opacities, crazy paving and consolidations. COVID-19-positive patients were taken up for chest HRCT for disease severity stratification and were also subjected to LUS. On HRCT chest, the imaging abnormalities compatible with COVID-19 were evident in 110 individuals (72.37%), and on Lung Ultrasound they were observed in 120 individuals (78.95%). Imaging of COVID-19 patients assessed by both LUS and HRCT chest,, showed a positive correlation (p < 0.0001). The study revealed a sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of 76.62%, a positive predictive value of 78.57% and a negative predictive value of 86.76%. None of the individuals with a diagnosis of COVID-19 on HRCT were missed on LUS. An excellent correlation was derived between the LUS score and CT total severity score (p < 0.0001 with a kappa of 0.431). Similar precision compared with chest HRCT in the detection of chest flaws in COVID-19 patients was obtained on LUS.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Intestinal ascariasis is considered as state subject in our valley of Kashmir. The aim of our study was to analyse the age, clinical presentation, diagnosis, surgical complications, and management of Ascaris lumbricoides in children and adults. METHODS: Total of 312 patients above 2 years of age with definite clinical and radiological diagnosis of intestinal ascariasis and associated complications were included in our study. All our patients received anthelminthic drug (Albenzadole 400 mg stat) after termination of acute phase and attached to our Out-Patient Department for follow-up. Each patient was given second dose of antihelminthic drug at second follow-up visit. RESULTS: Total of 312 subjects included 131 (41.99%) males and 181 (58.01%) females. The highest number of patients was in age group of 6-10 years (46.47%). Colicky abdomen pain was the most common presentation and present in 80.12% patients followed by vomiting (64.1%). Palpable worm bolus was a cardinal sign present in 46.47% of our subjects. Two-hundred sixty-five (84.94%) patients responded uneventfully and were relieved of colic and obstruction after conservative non-operative treatment. Twenty (6.41%) patients underwent enterotomy and evacuation of worms, 2 (0.64%) subjects underwent resection anastomosis, and 8 (2.56%) patients had laparotomy and milking of worms into colon. None of patient expired during the study period. CONCLUSION: Ascaris lumbricoides is common cause of acute abdomen in our valley attributed to poor hygiene and low socioeconomic background. In patients of high clinical suspicion of worm obstruction, prompt investigations should be advised to reach a definitive diagnosis and prevent the development of complications. Significant efforts must be channelised at political and society levels for the prevention of this disease. Mass deworming programs should be adopted to overcome this menace.
