Acute Poisoning among Children Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Acute poisoning is one of the critical causes of hospital admission in children worldwide. Understanding the clinico-demographic profile of childhood poisoning will help in developing targeted prevention strategies. This study aimed to find the prevalence of acute poisoning cases among children admitted to a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among 4972 children admitted in the pediatric ward, High Dependency Care Unit, and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital in Nepal. The data were collected from the hospital records from over three years between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2022 after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. A convenience sampling method was used. Data related to the clinical and demographic data were collected from the patients with acute poisoning and analyzed. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated. RESULTS: Out of 4972 paediatric cases admitted to the hospital, acute poisoning was seen in 57 (1.14%) (0.81-1.39, 95% Confidence Interval) patients. Out of these acute poisoning cases, 31 (54.39%) were accidental. The mean age was 10.10±5.40 years with 35 (61.40%) patients from the adolescent age group. CONCLUSIONS: This study conducted in a Nepalese tertiary care hospital identifies acute poisoning as a notable concern among pediatric admissions.

Microsurgical treatment of posterior circulation aneurysms: an institutional experience from Nepal.

Background: Management strategies and outcomes of patients with posterior circulation aneurysms are varied due to uncertainty in the optimal treatment modality and limited experience of neurosurgeons. Data are scarce regarding patients with posterior circulation aneurysms from developing countries. This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics, management strategies and outcome of patients with these aneurysms treated microsurgically in an academic institute in Nepal. Methods: The clinical records of patients confirmed to have posterior circulation aneurysms treated microsurgically between July 2014 and July 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic and clinical characteristics, morphometric characteristics of aneurysms, management strategies, postoperative complications, and 1-year outcomes were described. Results: Out of 220 aneurysms in 190 patients, 20 were posterior circulation aneurysms. The median age of the patients was 43 (15-60) years. All were ruptured aneurysms. The admission Hunt and Hess grades of 18 (90%) patients were less than or equal to III. The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (8) was the commonest location. The postoperative complications rate was 20%, with the overall mortality of 10%. 80% of patients had a favourable outcome at 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: The patient characteristics and outcome are comparable with those described in the literature from other countries. With an individualized and careful selection strategy, our results are satisfactory despite fewer operations.

Diagnostic challenge: a case report of primary breast tuberculosis mimicking recurrent pyogenic breast abscess.

Introduction: Breast tuberculosis (BTB) is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis with its primary form considered even rarer. Case presentation: A 28-year-old female initially diagnosed with a breast abscess presented with chronic right breast pain and nipple discharge. Despite initial treatment, symptoms recurred, and further investigations revealed a space-occupying lesion. Fine needle aspiration confirmed recurrent breast abscess, but subsequent DNA detection of tubercular bacilli in the pus sample led to a diagnosis of primary BTB, necessitating antitubercular therapy. Clinical discussion: BTB, being rare and often misdiagnosed as an abscess, poses diagnostic challenges. However, persistent symptoms despite treatment should prompt consideration of BTB in TB endemic regions. Conclusion: Primary BTB might not have any systemic symptoms to drag the clinician towards a possible diagnosis so culturing the aspirate for acid-fast bacilli or looking for MTB DNA in the available clinical sample should always be kept in mind for better outcomes.

Spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders in neurology outpatient department: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) are a growing global health concern with a rise in prevalence with the aging population, leading to increased healthcare utilization and costs. Understanding its prevalence is crucial for effective diagnostics and resource allocation, especially in developing nations with limited resources. This study aims to explore the frequency and types of NDDs, while also collecting demographic, clinical, and neuro-radiological data from patients with NDDs attending a tertiary care hospital in Nepal. Methods: This was a single-center based cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at a Neurology outpatient department in a tertiary level hospital in Nepal in which patients aged 18 and above diagnosed with NDDs (May 2023-July 2023) were included. Data were collected and analyzed in SPSS Inc. This study has been presented by the STROBES guidelines. Results: The mean age of the 71 patients included in the study was 65.6 ± 13.3 years. Parkinsonian disorder (n = 41, 57.7%) was the most common NDD diagnosed. Patients belonging to the age group 60-79 years represented 62% of all outpatient visits. Tremors of the upper extremity and impairment of memory were the most commonly encountered first symptoms at onset. Predominant cognitive changes in our study were memory impairment and mood changes. Extrapyramidal features such as gait disturbance, resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia were present. More than half of the patients had age-related cerebral atrophy on neuroimaging followed by chronic small vessel ischemic changes. Conclusion: Diagnosing NDDs poses challenges, and our study underscores Parkinsonian disorder, specifically Parkinson's disease, as the prevailing neurodegenerative condition in our population. Emphasizing its prevalence among the elderly, particularly with tremors as the primary presenting symptom, highlights the necessity for targeted interventions in this demographic.

Nondysraphic intramedullary spinal cord lipoma: a case report.

Introduction: Intramedullary nondysraphic spinal lipomas are extremely rare among primary spinal cord tumors. These patients present with nonspecific sensory symptoms followed by deterioration of motor symptoms. As the safety margins for neurological preservation are thin, meticulously locating the extent of the tumor and choosing the resection modalities is essential. Case report: The authors report a rare case of a 35-year-old male who presented with progressive difficulty in walking for 6 months associated with numbness and tingling sensation in the bilateral upper and lower limbs. He was diagnosed with nondysraphic intramedullary cervicothoracic lipoma and underwent subtotal resection of the tumor. Conclusion: Nondysraphic intramedullary spinal cord lipomas are rare and may present as nonspecific neurological symptoms. Hence, they should be considered differentials of intramedullary spinal cord tumors. Surgery appears to be the mainstay of treatment.

A rare case of coexistence of meningioma and glioma in a single patient: A case report from Nepal.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Primary brain tumors are less frequent as compared to metastatic brain tumors. Meningioma and glioma are common primary brain tumors. The patho-physiologies of meningioma and glioma are disparate. The concurrence of these two lesions in same patient is extremely rare, only few such cases are documented till now. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of an elderly male presenting with sudden weakness of left limbs. He had weakness in his left limbs (muscle power was 4/5 and 4/5 respectively). There was no weakness in his right limbs. There was decreased sensation in his left hand and below left knee, while sensations of his right limbs were intact. Bilateral plantar reflex was down going. Bulk and tone of his limbs were normal. His higher mental function and cranial nerves were normal. There was no facial deviation. Cerebellar sign, meningeal irritation, clonus was absent. The rest of systemic examination findings were regular. CT scan and MRI of brain revealed right frontal meningioma and right parietal high-grade glioma. He underwent right temporoparietal craniotomy and excision of both tumors. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of fibrous meningioma and high-grade glial tumor. He was discharged in stable condition. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: This case demonstrates rare phenomenon of simultaneous occurrence of meningioma and glioma in the same patient without any known predisposing factors. The exact mechanism behind this phenomenon is unclear. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of co-existence of multiple primary brain tumors with different histologies in same patient.

Unveiling the enigmatic connection: Belly dancer's dyskinesia as an unusual manifestation of normal pressure hydrocephalus: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Normal pressure hydrocephalus is rarely associated with Belly dancer's dyskinesia and seizure. Abstract: Belly dancer's dyskinesia (BDD) is characterized by bilateral, sluggish, involuntary, repetitive, and rhythmic motions of the anterior abdominal wall. We present a rare case of a 78-year-old man diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus associated with BDD and seizure who presented with left-sided weakness of the body and abnormal body movements.

Presentation and diagnosis of neonatal tuberous sclerosis complex: A case report and literature review.

Tuberous sclerosis is an uncommon neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by hamartomatous growths with unpredictable progression. Diagnosing and managing neonatal tuberous sclerosis can be challenging. We report a rare case of a 30-day-old male born out of a non-consanguineous marriage who presented with poor suckling and persistent abnormal body movement, required prolonged intensive care, and was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis with multisystem involvement.

Clinico-radiological correlation with outcome in acute epidural haematoma: a tertiary centre experience from Nepal.

Background: Epidural haematoma (EDH) accounts for up to 15% of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases and remains the most common cause of mortality and disability. Several clinical and radiological factors affect patient outcomes. This study aims to correlate patients' clinical and radiological profiles with acute EDH outcomes. Methods: A retrospective, single-centred, consecutive case series was conducted on the patients diagnosed with an acute EDH admitted to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) between May 2019 and April 2023. The modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to assess the outcome. Univariate analysis and Kruskal-Wallis H test with Dunn-Bonferroni post-hoc test was conducted. Results: There were 107 patients diagnosed with EDH, of which 52.3% were less than 20 years old with male preponderance. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury (64.5%), and most cases were referred to, not brought directly. The majority had a GCS score greater than or equal to 13 (85%) at presentation, and only 5.5% had a GCS score less than or equal to 8. According to the mRS, most patients had favourable outcomes, with 88.7% having no significant disability and 11.3% having a slight disability. Conclusion: This case series is the largest and most recent report from Nepal and demonstrated that GCS, pupillary response, skull fracture, neurological symptoms, pre-hospital and intra-hospital delay, and management modalities are critical factors in determining the total hospital and ICU stay but did not have an impact on the mRS scores.

Neglected Fungating Giant basal cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review.

Key Clinical Message: Gaint fungating BCC is rare and aggressive. Early health-seeking behavior may result in positive outcomes. Abstract: Fungating giant basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a rare and aggressive form of BCC infrequently reported in the literature. We present a giant BCC case in an old female from a rural area with a poor socioeconomic profile.

Magnetic resonance imaging pontine signal abnormality in neurological Wilson disease: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: WD is diagnosed with the help of a brain MRI, which frequently reveals hyperintensities in the lentiform nucleus. But occasionally, high signals can be seen in the pons, thalamus, and midbrain. Abstract: Wilson disease is a rare inherited disorder due to impaired copper excretion. The brain MRI mainly shows hyperintensities in the lentiform nucleus. We report the case of an 18 years old female diagnosed with neurological Wilson disease, presenting with uncommon brain MRI hyperintensities, predominantly in the pons, thalamus, and midbrain.

Biliary atresia and posterior fossa bleed: Chance or causality. A case report and review of the literature.

Key Clinical Message: A newborn with a rare form of biliary atresia had posterior fossa bleed and subarachnoid hemorrhage despite vitamin K prophylaxis, indicating biliary atresia is a causality rather than chance. Abstract: Biliary atresia frequently causes surgical jaundice, resulting in delayed vitamin K deficiency. We report a 28-day-old newborn diagnosed with a rare form of biliary atresia presented with an unusual association of posterior fossa bleed and subarachnoid hemorrhage despite vitamin K prophylaxis. Thus, biliary atresia remains causality rather than chance.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis complicating extensive splanchnic vein thrombosis, a rare manifestation of essential thrombocythemia: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Clinicians should be mindful of the rare occurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in essential thrombocythemia with extensive splanchnic vein thrombosis, especially when patients with ascites exhibit fever and abdominal pain. Abstract: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) complicating extensive splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is a rare manifestation of essential thrombocythemia (ET). In the absence of any hypercoagulable state, JAK2 mutation can be an important risk factor for extensive SVT. Evaluation for SBP is crucial when non-cirrhotic patient exhibits fever, abdominal pain and tenderness in the background of ascites after ruling out common pathologies such as tubercular peritonitis, acute pancreatitis, Budd-Chiari syndrome and ovarian malignancy. We present a case of SBP complicating pre-hepatic portal hypertension with ascites in a 44-years-old female. On further evaluation, extensive SVT with portal cavernoma in the setting of ET was identified. She was managed with cytoreductive therapy and anticoagulation, resulting in symptom resolution.

Refractory Cardiogenic Shock Secondary to Acute Myocarditis in a Child with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Associated with COVID-19: A Case Report.

Children with Coronavirus disease 2019 infection usually have mild symptoms but rarely may present with a life-threatening condition called a multisystem inflammatory syndrome. We report a case of COVID-19-related multisystem inflammatory syndrome in an 8-year-old boy who presented with cardiogenic shock due to acute myocarditis with no features of Kawasaki disease. Cardiogenic shock was refractory to fluids and inotropes. Later, this case was successfully managed with hydrocortisone and intravenous immunoglobulin. Therefore, this case report highlights keeping a lookout for such atypical presentations and early referral to a higher center for timely intervention and aggressive therapy specifically directed against the underlying inflammatory process to ameliorate the outcomes. Keywords: cardiogenic shock; COVID-19; kawasaki disease; myocarditis; Nepal.

Occurrence of osmotic demyelination syndrome in diabetes mellitus: A case report and literature review of various etiologies for osmotic demyelination syndrome.

Osmotic demyelination syndrome is a rare condition reported mainly in the case of rapid correction of hyponatremia, but it can occur even in the case of complicated diabetes mellitus either during rapid correction of hyperglycemia or anytime during the complicated diabetes mellitus. We report a case of complicated diabetes mellitus developing osmotic demyelination syndrome. The patient had presented with altered sensorium and seizure, which was initially diagnosed as hyperglycemia, but during his treatment, the magnetic resonance imaging of brain revealed central pontine myelinolysis. Our search on the causes of osmotic demyelination syndrome other than rapid correction of hyponatremia has revealed several other causes like autoimmune liver disease, Sjogren's syndrome and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in addition to diabetes mellitus.

Isolated extrapontine myelinolysis with neuropsychiatric manifestation: A case report from Nepal.

A referred case of a 34-year-old woman was brought to the emergency room with features of mutism and whole-body rigidity following rapid correction of hyponatremia. On presentation, she was ill looking with tremors on her both hands and legs. She was unresponsive to command and developed involuntary outbursts of laughter and crying. Based on clinical features and neuroimaging, diagnosis of isolated extrapontine myelinolysis was made. She was treated with quetiapine, vitamin B1 and B12 supplements, trihexyphenidyl, levodopa-carbidopa and physiotherapy of limbs. Due to lack of clinical trials for adequate diagnosis and management of extrapontine myelinolysis, this case report highlights the importance of extrapontine myelinolysis with neuropsychiatric manifestation in research world.