Intentional pesticide poisoning and pesticide suicides in Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Intentional pesticide poisoning is a major clinical and public health problem in agricultural communities in low and middle income countries like Nepal. Bans of highly hazardous pesticides (HHP) reduce the number of suicides. We aimed to identify these pesticides by reviewing data from major hospitals across the country and from forensic toxicology laboratories. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 10 hospitals for pesticide poisoned patients and two forensic laboratories of Nepal from April 2017 to February 2020. The poison was identified from the history, referral note, and clinical toxidrome in the hospitals and from gas chromatography analysis in the laboratories. Data on demographics, poison, and patient outcome were recorded on a data collection sheet. Simple descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: Among hospital cases (n = 4148), the commonest form of poisoning was self-poisoning (95.8%) while occupation poisoning was rare (0.03%). Case fatality was 5.3% (n = 62). Aluminum phosphide (n = 38/62, 61.3%) was the most commonly identified lethal pesticide for deaths. Forensic toxicology laboratories reported 2535 deaths positive for pesticides, with the compounds most commonly identified being organophosphorus (OP) insecticides (n = 1463/2535; 57.7%), phosphine gas (n = 653/2535; 25.7%; both aluminum [11.8%] and zinc [0.4%] phosphide) and organochlorine insecticides (n = 241/2535; 9.5%). The OP insecticide most commonly identified was dichlorvos (n = 273/450, 60.6%). CONCLUSION: The data held in the routine hospital medical records were incomplete but suggested that case fatality in hospitals was relatively low. The pesticides identified as causing most deaths were dichlorvos and aluminum phosphide. Since this study was completed, dichlorvos has been banned and the most toxic formulation of aluminum phosphide removed from sale. Improving the medical record system and working with forensic toxicology laboratories will allow problematic HHPs to be identified and the effects of the bans in reducing deaths monitored.

A Statement of Solidarity on COVID-19 Pandemic 2020 by the South Asian Family Physicians.

The World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) is a not-for-profit organization and was founded in 1972 by member organizations in 18 countries. WONCA now has 118 Member Organizations in 131 countries and territories with a membership of about 500,000 family doctors and more than 90 percent of the world's population. WONCA has seven regions, each of which has its own regional Council and run their own regional activities including conferences. WONCA South Asia Region is constituted by the national academies and colleges and academic member organizations of this region namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives. In the background of the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, the office bearers, academic leaders, practitioners, and researchers of primary care from the South Asia Region have issued a solidarity statement articulating the role of primary care physicians.

Pleural Fluid Serum Bilirubin Ratio for Differentiating Exudative and Transudative Effusions.

INTRODUCTION: In pleural effusion, differentiating exudative and transudative fluid is an important clinical evaluation. The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of pleural fluid serum bilirubin ratio in differentiating exudative and transudative effusions. In resource-limited settings with no facilities to measure lactate dehydrogenase levels, using pleural fluid bilirubin ratio may help in better clinical decision. METHODS: It was a cross sectional study, conducted in the emergency department of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. All the patients attending for emergency care with pleural effusion from 6th Jan 2015 to 5th Jan 2016 were included. The cases were divided as exudates and transudates on basis of final diagnosis. Serum and pleural fluid specimen were collected and sent for investigations. The data for various laboratory parameters especially those of lights criteria and bilirubin ratio were then analyzed and fluid nature was compared with results from parameters and final diagnoses. RESULTS: Among 103 cases, 74 (71.84%) had exudate and 29 (28.16%) had transudate. The commonest cause of effusion was pneumonia 37 (35.92%), second being tubercular 24 (23.30%) followed by malignant effusion 13 (12.60%), congestive heart failure 12 (11.65%), chronic kidney disease 11 (10.67%) and liver cirrhosis 6 (5.82%). The mean bilirubin ratio for exudates exceeded that for transudates. Considering the cutoff point of 0.6, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were respectively 88.00%, 93.00%, 97.00% & 75.00%. CONCLUSIONS: Pleural fluid serum bilirubin ratio can be utilized as a diagnostic tool for differentiating exudative and transudative effusions.

Gross correlation between waist hip ratio and blood sugar level in a village.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is one of the major public health problems in Nepal. Very few studies on correlation between waist hip ratio and random blood sugar have been done in remote areas of Nepal particularly in minor ethnic groups like Thami. This study attempted to compare waist hip ratio and blood sugar level in Thami community. METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted in sub-health post of Lapilang village of Dolakha district of Nepal. A total of 243 local inhabitants from Thami Tribe participated in the study. Waist hip ratio was calculated after taking measurements of waist and hip using flexible measuring tape; and, blood glucose level was measured by glucometer. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 46.02 years; among participants 126 (51.9%) were males and 117 (48.1%) were females. Mean waist hip ratio was 0.87, mean blood sugar level was 124.5 mg%. Increase in Waist hip ratio correlated significantly with increase in random blood sugar level both in males (p=0.008) and females (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Increase in waist hip ratio is associated with increase in random blood sugar level. Therefore, there is a need of public awareness program to reduce waist circumference thus reducing weight of people to prevent development of diabetes mellitus in long run.