Indian Journal of Trauma and Emergency Pediatrics

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the commonest parasitic infestation of the brain caused by Taenia solium larvae and a preventable cause of epilepsy worldwide. NCC may be parenchymal or extraparenchymal, and its clinical presentation may vary based on the location, number, and host immuneresponse to the cysts. Seizures are more frequently seen in children, and single colloidal parenchymal cyst is the common radiologic finding in pediatric NCC. The diagnosis is generally by neuroimaging, a scolex within the cyst being pathognomic; however, serology may help when the neuroimaging is inconclusive. Initial treatment generally focuses on symptomatic management by antiepileptics and corticosteroids. Albendazole is the cysticidal drug of choice in most cases; praziquental is added for multiple lesions. The outcome depends on the type, location, number of lesions, seizure recurrences and radiologic resolution of the lesions. Single lesions have a better prognosis. In endemic areas, NCC should be a differential in any child presenting with recentonset seizures, headache, vomiting, or focal motor deficits, in the absence of another known neurological condition. Due to the potentially eradicable nature of cysticercosis, preventive measures need to be encouraged.

Key words: Children; Cysticercus; Epilepsy; Neurocysticercosis; Parasitic disease; Ring enhancing lesion; Taenia solium; Tapeworm.

Background: Dengue has a broad range spectrum of clinical presentations and many times unpredictable clinical evolution and outcome. Though the disease is complex in its manifestations, management is relatively simple hence it is very important to be able to predict which patients are more likely to land up in complications like bleeding manifestation and death. There is a paucity of literature on this. Objective: To study blood investigation parameters as predictive tool for predicting bleeding manifestations and death in children with dengue like illnesses. Methods: We enrolled all the consecutive admissions to pediatric ward of a tertiary care teaching hospital satisfying the inclusion criteria from February 2014 to May 2015. Blood investigations were sent and patients were assessed for appearance of bleeding manifestations and death. Results: 200 children were enrolled of age group 3 month to 12 years. Investigation parameters are predictors of outcome of bleeding in mortality group Vs survivals (TLC - 4.81±2.69 Vs 5.97±4.84; p=0.031, Platelet-65.50±32.89 Vs 79.66±39.46; p=0.010, Highest haematocrit-40.67±3.89 Vs 38.77±4.45; p=0.003). Patients having bleeding have more dengue positivity (p=0.0001) with maximum positivity for NS1 69%. Hb% on admission and lowest Hb% were significantly lower in mortality group than in survival group. Conclusion: 3 patients died and bleeding manifestations were present in 74 patients out of 200 patients. Investigation parameters are predictors of outcome of bleeding in mortality group Vs survivals. Dengue positivity was not a significant factor for prediction of death.

Background: Burn injury is one of the biggest public health issue in terms of mortality, mor-bidity, and permanent incapacity. Pediatric burns have a longrun social impact. This impact is more distinguished within the north-eastern population of India, where their incidence and morbidity are high. The aim of this retrospective hospital based study was to produce a recent prospective to epidemiologic information on Pediatric burns in this region and to recommend future preventive methods. Methods: Children up to eighteen years age attending a State Medical facility at Dibrugarh between January 2018 and December 2020 were included in the study. Information relating to age, sex, etiology, total body area (TBSA), circumstances of injury, and clinical assessment were taken into thought and analyzed to confirm the predictors of outcome of the extent of Burns. Results: There have been three hundred children included in the study. Age, variety of burns, mode of injury, presence or absence of inhalation injury, gender, and time of year for admission were found to have an effect on the outcome of the Burn concerned. Fidgeting with flammable substances and unattended fireworks was conjointly found to be major explanation for burns in Children. Electrical burns conjointly fashioned a vital range of presenting burn patients, chiefly involving teenagers. Contrary to different earlier analysis that steered by a high incidence of suicidal burns our study failed to find any incidence of suicidal burns in Children. Conclusions: This study conjointly highlights many problems like overcrowding, lack of awareness, dangerous cookery practices, and improper use of fuel oil. Concerned authorities ought to acknowledge the issues, formulate methods, unfold awareness, and ban or replace unsafe substances answerable for most burn accidents.

Key words: Pediatric burns; North-east India; During COVID-19 pandemic.