Informatics Publishing Limited

Rekha Thapar ¹, B. B. Darshan ¹, Bhaskaran Unnikrishnan ¹, Prasanna Mithra ¹, Nithin Kumar ¹, Vaman Kulkarni ¹, Ramesh Holla ¹, Avinash Kumar ¹, Tanuj Kanchan ²

Affiliations
1 Departments of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, IN
2 Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the clinic‑epidemiological profile of snakebite cases admitted at a Tertiary Care Centre in South India. Materials and Methods: A record based retrospective study was carried out at Kasturbha Medical College affiliated hospitals in Mangalore. All the snakebite cases admitted to the hospitals from January 2007 to December 2011 were included in the study. Data were collected using a pretested semi‑structured questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 11.5). The results are expressed as percentages. Results: The study included 198 cases of snakebite victims. The majority of the cases were males (68.2%). The mean age of the study population was 34.8 years. Maximum numbers of snakebite cases were reported during the month of September to December (47.9%). The peak time of snakebite was between 18.01 and 24.00 h which was reported in 40.5% of the cases. Lower extremities were the most common site of bite in more than three‑fourth of the cases (80.9%). The most common symptoms were a pain (45.9%) and swelling (44.9%). The case fatality rate was observed to be 3.0%. Conclusion: Snakebite still remains a major public health problem in this part of the world. Knowledge must be imparted regarding the prevention of snakebites through community health programs. Messages regarding prompt reporting of such cases and importance of effective treatment must be disseminated among people through mass media and role plays.

Keywords

Mangalore, Public Health, Snakebite, South India.

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Sanjay Kini ¹, Avinash Kumar ², B. Unnikrishnan ³, Siddharudha Shivalli ⁴, Vaman Kulkarni ², Prasanna Mithra ², Nithin Kumar ²

Affiliations
1 Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Srinivas Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Mangalore,
2 Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, IN
3 Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, IN
4 Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, GB

Abstract

Background: Neck circumference can be a simple screening tool for measurement of overweight and obesity. The present study aims to depict neck circumference as a valid measurement of obesity and tries to find out its correlation with BMI and waist circumference among young adults in the age group of 20-30 years.

Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in 6 coastal villages of Udupi taluk, Udupi district, Karnataka, among 750 subjects. A pre-tested, semi structured questionnaire was administered to the study subjects after obtaining their consent. The questionnaire comprised of details on socio-demographic variables and anthropometric measurements.

Results: The study showed a strong positive correlation (r) between weight (0.7), waist circumference (0.7) and hip circumference (0.7) with neck circumference among the males, it showed a correlation of (0.6) for all the parameters like weight, waist circumference and hip circumference among the females. ROC analysis showed that the cut off for males at 36.25 cm has a sensitivity of 80% and specificity 77% and the area under the curve is 0.84. Whereas the cutoff for females was found to be 31.75 cm having the sensitivity of 69% and specificity 77% and the area under curve was 0.73.

Conclusion: Neck circumference (NC) measurement is simple and time saving screening measure that can be used to identify overweight and obesity. Patients with NC >36.25 cm cm for men and >31.75 cm for women require additional evaluation of overweight/obesity.

Keywords

Neck Circumference, Waist Circumference, Obesity.

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Natasha Aquinas ¹, Vaman Kulkarni ², Ashwini Hegde ³, Radhakrishna M. ³

Affiliations
1 Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Biotechnology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, IN
2 Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (A Constituent Unit of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka), IN
3 Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (A Constituent Unit of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka), IN

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common diseases, and globally, it ranks second, first being AIDS. It has been said that one-third of the global population is already infected with M. tuberculosis. By 2020, an estimated 200 million of these people would contract TB. A very crucial step for containment of TB is to make sure that there is understanding of its risk factors, mode of transmission, and diagnosis. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and understanding of MBBS students at coastal Karnataka, India Medical College, about Tuberculosis. Methodology: An online survey was conducted addressing areas of general factors, risk and transmission factors, diagnosis factors, treatment, and prevention factors. A total of 31 statements were given in the online survey. Results: The respondents showed overall good knowledge about Tuberculosis. The females had a better understanding than males, and the interns scored better on the study than the other MBBS students. Conclusion: This study has shown that the students have high essential awareness about TB. However, section by section analysis shows that knowledge about a few topics needs to be strengthened.

Keywords

Tuberculosis, Survey, Medical students, Knowledge.

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