Indian Journal of Communicable Diseases

Introduction: Malaria is a vector borne disease caused by plasmodium species which is dangerous causing morbidity and mortality globally and in India. In India 1.31 million cases were reported in 2017 which constitutes 6% of total malaria cases in world and total malaria deaths in India were 23990. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge regarding malaria among samples from coastal region of Malpe district, Karnataka. Methodology: The study has adopted a quantitative approach and descriptive survey design to assess the level of knowledge regarding malaria among people in coastal region. A descriptive survey was undertaken among 388 adults in coastal region.
The data collection tools used were demographic proforma with 10 items and a self administered knowledge questionnaire. Frequency and percentage distribution was done for identifying the level of knowledge. Results: Among the total samples (388), 293 samples (75.51%) had average knowledge on malaria, 65 samples (16.75%) had good knowledge, and 30 samples (7.73%) had poor knowledge on malaria. Conclusions: WHO reports that India is unlikely to reduce the incidence of malaria to half by 2020 and the main cause is that of poor surveillance system. The primary preventive measures should be strengthened where the common people are aware about the problem
and encourage group to perform preventive and control measures and reduce morbidity and mortality caused by malaria.

Keywords: Malaria; Level of Knowledge; Coastal Region.
 

Background: Isolated tuberculosis of any joint is a rare entity and often mimics other conditions. Thus, diagnosis and timely treatment is often delayed in these cases. Clinical case: We here report a unique case of tuberculosis of synovial tissue of ankle in a 46 year old female. She had suffered progressive left ankle swelling for ten years and left lower limb weight bearing difficulty since last 2 years prior to the presentation. She was not having past or contact history of tuberculosis. She was not having constitutional symptoms or any evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by MRI study of the joint and typical histopathological findings of trucut biopsy from the thickened synovium. Relevant literature pertaining to tubercular arthritis has also been reviewed at length.

Keywords: Ankle joint; Tuberculosis; Articular TB; Extra pulmonary TB; MRI of joint.
 

Another decade has come up in the arrest of another deadly Coronavirus. On 31st December 2019, the WHO China Country Office was informed of pneumonia like cases of unknown etiology first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. This novel type of Coronavirus was isolated on 7th January 2020 following which China shared its genetic sequence on 12 January, 2020 globally for countries to use in developing specific diagnostic kits. The outbreak of novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was declared as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30th Jan, 2020 by WHO. Since, the entire human population is susceptible to coronavirus because no one has ever had it before—and there is no specific treatment like a vaccine, hence we need to seriously depend on infection control, such as washing hands, reducing contact with affected individuals and quarantines.

Keywords: Novel Coronavirus; Public Health Emergency; Epidemiology; Prevention Strategies.
 

Pandemics have occurred from time to time, with the past and present century witnessing several pandemics of Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses caused by influenza and coronavirus. The world is currently reeling under the pandemic of COVID-19 caused by novel corona virus named SARS-CoV-2 and India also has not been spared. As observed earlier, large scale pandemics have grave impact on many fronts, disrupting health and other services of the country and jeopardizing lives of people. While some setbacks are imminent and unavoidable, the present pandemic can also be considered as an opportunity to make positive changes in the field of public health by improving the system and people’s behaviour. This paper aims to assess various health problems that are likely to occur during and after the epidemic in India and to find ways in which the present situation can be utilized as an opportunity to our benefit and carry forward the currently implemented efforts, to bring about tangible gains in the field of public health.

Keywords: COVID-19; Pandemic; Public health; Setback; Gains; Way Forward.
 

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem, despite noteworthy socioeconomic development and advances in medical science. Globally it has been estimated that 1.9 billion people (1/3 of world’s population ) are infected and 5000 people die of Tb Globally each day. Out of which 95% are in the developing world. In India 1.8 million new cases annually accounting for one fifth of new cases. Two of every 5 persons (>400 million) in general population have latent tuberculosis. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at our tertiary care hospital over a period of 11 months. Children in the age group from 2 months to 12 years attending the Outpatient Department, admitted in the wards and PICU. Results: Study was done on 120 patients. Maximum number of cases were in the 1 to 5 years age group 35(41.34%), 23(27.88%) were in 6 to 10 years age group, 14(17.34%)
were under I year and 12(13.46%) were in the age group 11 to 12 years. Most of the cases 48(57.6%) belonged to low SES. 19(22.11%) cases revealed positive history of contact with adult case of tuberculosis. The present study shows predominant symptoms of presentation are Fever 78(65.38%) and cough 70 (58.65%). One third had weight loss or poor weight gain, Significant lymphadenopathy was observed in 32(26.92%).67(55.76%) has protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and 53(44.23%) cases had normal nutritional status. Conclusion: Maximum number of cases were in the 1 to 5 years age group 35 (41.34%). For each new cases of childhood Tb detected, the possibility of open adult contact is 22.11%. Our study reveals that protective benefit of BCG vaccine against the dissemination of tuberculosis in children is possible only if they have normal nutrition and favourable socioeconomic conditions.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; BCG; Socioeconomic status; Nutrition.