Indian public health standards (IPHS) for community health centres.

The health care system in India has expanded considerably over the last few decades but the quality of the services is not up to the mark due to various reasons. Hence standards are being introduced in order to improve the quality of services. A task group under the chairmanship of Director General of Health Services, Government of India was constituted to recommend the standards to be called as Indian Public Health Standards. IPHS are a set of standards envisaged to improve the quality of health care delivery in the country under the National Rural Health Mission.

Vascular clogging, mononuclear cell margination, and enhanced vascular permeability in the pathogenesis of human cerebral malaria.

To document histopathologic evidence on the pathogenic mechanism of human cerebral malaria, we used light microscopy to study brain specimens from 23 patients who died of central nervous system involvement with Plasmodium falciparum. Sequestration of parasitized red blood cells (PRBCs) leading to cerebral capillary clogging was seen. In a few specimens, vascular clogging by PRBCs was associated with margination of mononuclear cells. In others, capillaries were virtually empty and lymphocytes and monocytes were seen in apposition (marginated) to the capillary endothelial surface. The endothelial cells appeared plump, hypertrophied, and prominent. The capillary wall appeared thickened by fibrinous material. Massive intercellular brain edema along with extravasated red blood cells, mononuclear cells, and plasmatic fluid was also noticed. In addition to hypoxia induced by PRBC-mediated vascular clogging, marginating mononuclear cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. The precise role played by this phenomenon needs further evaluation.

Plasma antioxidants and lipid peroxidation products in falciparum malaria.

To investigate the influence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria on plasma antioxidants and lipid peroxidation, plasma ascorbate, urate, total protein and albumin, ceruloplasmin and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in two groups of 42 patients each, one with mild and the other with severe falciparum malaria, and in an equal number of age- and sex-matched control subjects. Plasma MDA was found to be significantly higher in malaria patients, and the increase was proportional to the severity of the disease. Of the antioxidants, ascorbate and albumin decreased with severity of disease while urate and ceruloplasmin increased. Only ascorbate correlated inversely with MDA both in mild (r = -0.341, P < 0.05) and severe malaria (r = 0.545, P < 0.01). While plasma albumin correlated inversely (r = -0.442, P < 0.01), urate and ceruloplasmin correlated directly (r = 0.419, P < 0.01 and r = 0.349, P < 0.05, respectively) only in patients with severe malaria. These antioxidants also correlated well with markers of disease severity, indicating the influence of disease severity in regulating their levels in plasma. The presence of significant quantities of ascorbate and albumin, along with increases in some of the other antioxidants and MDA, indicates ineffectiveness of the antioxidant defense system in controlling plasma lipid peroxide content. Increased amounts of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material could have been the result of spillover from increased tissue peroxidation or the presence of pro-oxidants in malarial plasma.

Prevalence of paralytic poliomyelitis in Pondicherry, South India.

A community health survey conducted in 16 villages of three blocks of Union Territory of Pondicherry detected lame children affected by poliomyelitis among other problems identified. The survey was conducted from July 1980 to September 1981. The survey method was house-to-house, covering 97% of the houses in the study area. Prevalence of lameness due to poliomyelitis among children aged from 6 to 15 years was 1.6 per thousand. These results were compared with those of the school health survey conducted by the School Health Education Bureau, Pondicherry, for the year 1980-1, which gave an estimate of 0.7 per thousand. The community health examination also confirmed that most of those affected were under 15 and that boys were more vulnerable than girls, as reported by other workers.

Hepatopathy in complicated falciparum malaria: report from eastern India.

A prospective study done in 216 children with complicated falciparum malaria showed hepatopathy in 33.3% of cases with a higher incidence in children aged above five years. Bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase were moderately raised in most cases. No significant association with other common complications and no higher risk of mortality was observed.

alpha, beta-Arteether for the treatment of complicated falciparum malaria.

alpha, beta-Arteether is an ethyl ether derivative of artemisinin which is an efficient schizontocidal drug in mild falciparum malaria. The present study reports the efficacy of the drug in severe falciparum malaria. Fifty patients with severe falciparum malaria were given intramuscular arteether, 150 mg, once daily on 3 consecutive days. The median fever clearance time was 72 h (range 12-120 h) and the median parasite clearance time was 2 d (range 1-4 d). Rapid recovery from coma was observed in cerebral malaria patients (after a median of 18 h, range 6-72 h). The recovery from other complications was also faster and complete. Two patients died; both had cerebral malaria and haemolytic jaundice, one had respiratory distress needing ventilatory support and the other had severe anaemia. Recrudescence within 28 d was observed in 7 patients. Drug toxicity or significant side effects were not noticed in any patient.

Increased cerebrospinal fluid protein and lipid peroxidation products in patients with cerebral malaria.

Membrane lipid peroxidation by reactive oxygen species leading to increased capillary permeability is considered an important event in the pathogenesis of severe malaria. A significant decrease in plasma albumin and increases in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed in 73 patients with cerebral malaria, compared to values in 23 control patients. The greatest effect was noticed in the most severely ill patients. The ratio of CSF protein to plasma albumin was increased in the patients compared to the controls, and in fatal cases of cerebral malaria compared to non-fatal cases. Brain necropsies showed oedema, fibrin deposits and mononuclear cell infiltration. It is proposed that cerebral oedema due to enhanced permeability of vascular endothelium induced by increased lipid peroxidation plays a crucial role in the causation of cerebral malaria.

Hypoglycaemia in severe falciparum malaria.

The incidence of hypoglycaemia and the role of quinine in its causation was assessed in 46 patients with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Plasma glucose and immunoreactive insulin were estimated before, during and after quinine therapy. In 5 patients the plasma glucose was in the hypoglycaemic range, the lowest value being 0.67 mmol/litre (12 mg/dl) in a pregnant patient. Most of the remaining patients showed a significant fall in plasma glucose (P less than 0.05), but not to the hypoglycaemic range, and an increase in plasma insulin after quinine (P less than 0.01). A good correlation was found between these changes (r = 0.79, P less than 0.01). Patients with severe P. falciparum malaria, particularly those on quinine therapy, should be watched carefully for developing hypoglycaemia.

Effectiveness of alpha,beta-arteether in acute falciparum malaria.

With the emergence of widespread chloroquine resistance and a world-wide scarcity of quinine, a search for newer antimalarial drugs has become imperative. Different derivatives of qinghaosu have been successfully tried. alpha,beta-Arteether, an ethyl derivative of qinghaosu, was administered to 51 patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria, in a dose of 150 mg intramuscularly once a day on 3 consecutive days. Complete parasite clearance from the peripheral blood was observed in 80% of the patients at 48 h and in 98% at 72 h. The median parasite clearance time was 2 d (range 1-4 d). 65% of the patients became afebrile within 48 h and 81% by 72 h. The mean fever clearance time was 52.04 h (standard deviation 27.09). No side effect was seen. Patients were followed-up for 4 weeks; 7 were readmitted with P. falciparum infection but it could not be ascertained definitely whether these cases were reinfections or recrudescences. alpha-beta Arteether was a safe, effective and convenient drug for treating P. falciparum malaria. This is the first clinical study with arteether in falciparum malaria.

Influence of serum albumin & total protein on fructosamine measurement.

To assess the effect of serum albumin and total protein on the fructosamine level 57 hypoalbuminaemic patients (serum albumin less than 30 g/1), of whom 44 were nondiabetics and 13 were diabetics, were studied. Fructosamine levels of hypoalbuminaemic diabetics was increased only marginally in comparison to healthy controls (P greater than 0.05) whereas in 122 other normalbuminaemic diabetics, the level was found to be significantly higher (P less than 0.001). In control subjects, the correlation between fructosamine and serum albumin (r = 0.69, P less than 0.001) was better than that of total protein (r = 0.42, P less than 0.01) whereas in hypoalbuminaemic patients the pattern was reversed (r = 0.51 and 0.59 respectively), indicating substantial contribution by the globulins. A working formula suggesting approximate contribution of each gram of albumin and globulin in healthy subjects was calculated. It is inferred that the use of serum fructosamine for assessment of glycaemic status could be misleading in patients with lower albumin values. Calculating serum fructosamine values from serum albumin alone in these patients is likely to be inaccurate, as it ignores the contribution of globulins which can be substantial in certain disease conditions. A gross idea regarding the glycaemic status can be obtained by comparing actual and calculated values of fructosamine from the formula.

AIDS in India: recent trends in opportunistic infections.

The first case of AIDS in India was reported in 1986. Subsequently, a surveillance system was developed in 1987. The data from this surveillance activity suggest that the HIV infection has now spread to the general population and to all parts of the country, except Arunachal Pradesh in North-eastern India. With the changing scenario of the AIDS epidemic, a host of opportunistic infections add to the present endemic state of some already existing infections like tuberculosis. This report analyses the AIDS cases in India, reported to the National AIDS Control Organization over the years between 1986 to 1997. A total of 3,551 AIDS cases had been reported till 31st May 1997. Tuberculosis (pulmonary and extrapulmonary) is the major opportunistic infection affecting 62% of the cases followed by candidiasis seen in 57% of the patients. In 1997, of the 390 AIDS cases analysed, tuberculosis (pulmonary and extrapulmonary) accounted for 56.5% of the total cases whereas candidiasis was seen in 61% of the cases. An increasing trend was observed with tuberculosis from 58% in 1986-1992 to 68.5% in 1995. No trend could be established in the case of candidiasis, though, a high prevalence of 66% was seen in the cases between 1986 and 1992. An increase was also observed in cases of PCP, cerebral toxoplasmosis and Kaposi sarcoma. In the AIDS cases, chronic diarrhea (76%), weight loss (87%) and fever (85%) appeared to be the major presenting symptoms. But, of the 390 AIDS cases reported in 1997, only 47% of them were suffering from chronic diarrhea. With increase in the number of AIDS cases, India is burdened with a dual epidemic of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. The National AIDS Control Organization in India, is involved in training clinicians and laboratory personnel in the diagnosis and management of the AIDS cases. With better diagnosis of the opportunistic infections, especially diarrhea, in AIDS patients, a better picture will emerge regarding the opportunistic infections which would help clinicians and health planners to tackle the AIDS epidemic in a more effective manner.

A multicentric study with arteether in patients of uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

Two hundred and sixty seven patients of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria completed study in a multicentric phase III clinical trial of Arteether. Arteether was given intramuscularly in a dose of 150 mg daily for three consecutive days. Each patient was followed upto 28 days of alpha, beta arteether therapy. The cure rate was 97% with fever clearance time between 1-7 days (24-168 hours) and parasite clearance time between 1-3 days (24-72 hours). Parasite reappearance rate was found to be 3% and reported at only three of the centres. Following the treatment no adverse effect was observed on haematological, biochemical and vital clinical parameters.

Severe falciparum malaria.

Falciparum malaria affect all ages with multiple-systemic complications which varies in different age group. We studied 242 children with complicated Falciparum malaria with a median age of 6.5 years to look for occurrence of different complications in younger and older age groups and overall mortality picture. Unarousable coma (40.5%), severe anemia (26.03%), repeated seizures (46.2%) and hepatopathy (32.2%) were commonest complications. Under five children had higher risk of development of cerebral malaria (P<0.01), severe anemia (P<0.05) and seizures (P<0.001); whereas above five children had higher risk of acute renal failure (P<0.05) and malarial hepatopathy (P<0.02). Over all mortality was 9.9%, cerebral malaria being the commonest cause (6.6%). Multi-system involvement was seen in 58.4% cases of death. Children having pulmonary edema, shock and cerebral malaria had high case fatality rate.

Epidemiological study of measles in Singur, West Bengal.

A measles survey in 10 villages of Rural Health Unit and Training Centre, Singur revealed 581 cases of measles from January to June 1986. The overall attack rate was 40/1000. The highest attack rate (43.5 per cent) was observed in the age group of 1-2 years followed by 6-8 months age group. 11.5 per cent of the cases were below the age of 9 months and 10.4 per cent cases were above the age of 15 years. 42.3 per cent of cases developed one or the other complications. Diarrhoea and respiratory infections were the two common complications. Case fatality rate was only 0.17 per cent. Epidemiological aspects of these observations are discussed.

Status of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to chloroquine in Orissa.

Orissa is known for its contribution of 15-20% of malaria cases to the national total. Deaths due to malaria in the state are also not uncommon. Proportion of P. falciparum cases have reached to 85%. In the recent years over 0.3 million confirmed malaria cases have been reported each year. Annual consumption of chloroquine in the state is over 170 lakh tablets. A 17 year study on monitoring of choloroquine resistance in P. falciparum in Orissa revealed that out of a total of 1165 tests conducted in vivo, in 12% of the cases RI level of resistance was detected. And 4.4% cases were of RII and 1.9% RIII level. 51% of the sample tested in vitro showed P. falciparum resistance to chloroquine. P. falciparum resistance to chloroquine appears to have been developed by the parasite over the length and breadth of the state. Strengthening of the monitoring of drug resistance in P. falciparum in the state is indicated.

Health economics--concepts and conceptual problems.

Awareness of the economic manifestation of health and diseases and the limited resources allocated to health care services has brought to the focus a new discipline - health economics. Cost accounting, cost benefit, cost effectiveness methods etc. are increasingly becoming an integral part of the health management and evaluation of health programmes. Various concepts and problems relating to health economics are discussed in the present paper. More efforts should be made to conduct health economic studies in hospitals and health centres by which the process of standardisation of the concepts, would be easier. Health economics should also find its due place in the medical curriculum.

PIP: A new discipline, health economics, which reflects the relationship between the health objective procuring adequate health care and the financial resources available, is becoming increasingly important. The WHO definition of health, that health is a "state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity," is criticized for not lending itself to direct measurement of the health of the individual or community. This concept should include consideration of the process of being well as well as the absence of disease. It must also recognize that services to promote health, to prevent, diagnose and treat disease and rehabilitate incapacitated people must be included in the concept. For economic analysis purposes, health services can be classified into medical care, public health services and environmental public health services. It is suggested that the cost of education and training of medical personnel and medical research should be included in computing the cost of health services. In defining economic concepts many factors including capital and current costs, and depreciation must be considered. In addition all health economists have differentiated the direct cost of sickness including cost of prevention, detection, treatment, rehabilitation, research, training, and capital investments from indirect costs which include loss of output to the economy, disability and premature death. Using these concepts, some understanding of cost trends, cost accounting, cost benefit analysis and cost efficiency analysis should be made available in the medical curriculum and for health administrators so that health management can be more standardized and effective.