Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 and its prevention among medical and dental students in an educational institution in Telangana.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a global pandemic, threatening millions of lives worldwide. Everyone was overwhelmed by the plethora of information from different sources, creating confusion, misconceptions, and panic in the community. AIMS: This study aimed to estimate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among medical and dental students toward COVID-19 and to identify factors influencing them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students enrolled in MBBS and BDS courses, and KAP scores were calculated using a self-administered questionnaire. The statistical analysis was done by unpaired t test and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: MBBS students had higher KAP scores when compared with BDS students. Knowledge gaps were discovered in the areas of COVID-19 transmission through blood, World Health Organization (WHO)-designated variants of concern, disinfectant usage, and mandatory vaccination. A majority (91.33%) of the students had a positive attitude toward COVID-19. Better knowledge and practice scores were significantly associated with vaccinated students and those who trusted government website resources. CONCLUSION: Curriculum modifications and creative teaching strategies can fill the lacunae in the KAP scores. Medical and dental students, as torchbearers of the healthcare fraternity, can play a critical role in raising awareness during public health emergencies.

Bilateral submandibular swelling diagnosed as tuberculous lymphadenitis in an asymptomatic patient: A rare case report.

In India, tuberculosis (TB) is a prevalent systemic disease and number of people who die with TB is increasing year by year. TB can be life-threatening, and there is a high mortality rate of systemic infection with TB. Although extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) is a rare form of TB, its prevalence is increasing day-by-day. Reported here is a case of a 28-year-old female patient with a painless swelling bilaterally in the submandibular region. She was diagnosed with bilateral submandibular tuberculous lymphadenitis. Tuberculous lymphadenitis, when occurring in the cervical region, continues to be a common cause of EPTB. Thorough knowledge of this condition is important as it can help in early diagnosis leading to prompt treatment of the patient and prevent further complications.