NepMed Repository :: Browsing by Author "Karmacharya, B"

Browsing by Author "Karmacharya, B"

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Adolescent Health Risk and Behavior Survey: A School Based Survey in Central Nepal
(Kathmandu University, 2017) Thapa, B; Powell, J; Yi, J; McGee, J; Landis, J; Rein, L; Kim, S; Shrestha, S; Karmacharya, B
ABSTRACT Background A comprehensive study of adolescent health risk specific to the Dhulikhel catchment area has not been performed. Objective This survey assesses trends in demographics, nutrition, hygiene and related infrastructure, causes of injury, violence, mental health, substance abuse, and menstrual hygiene. Method A 40 question survey was adapted from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, translated into the Nepali language, and administered to 1200 students in eight different schools in central Nepal. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Result The data has identified nutrition, infrastructure, mental health, and menstrual hygiene as areas for improvement. The number of adolescents who reported going hungry some, most, or all of the time (30.5%, 25.8%, 13.9%) reveals a need for better food access. Approximately 44.5 % of students had no access to soap and water at school. Students who endorse dissatisfaction with themselves was 6.5% and those with suicidal ideation or attempt was 11.8% of the surveyed population. A significantly greater percentage of students who reported suicidal ideation also reported engaging in behaviors related to physical violence, substance abuse, being dissatisfaction with themselves, insomnia due to anxiety, and loneliness. Of the female students, 40.1% reported missing school at least once in the last three months due to their period. Conclusion This data shows a need for better food access, improved infrastructure in schools in central Nepal, and the need to address the prevalence of mental health issues through program interventions. KEY WORDS Adolescent health, School health, Survey
Complete elimination of tetanus is still elusive in developing countries: A review of adult tetanus cases from referral hospital in Eastern Nepal
(Kathmandu University, 2007) Joshi, S; Agarwal, B; Malla, G; Karmacharya, B
Aim: To analyse demography, clinical presentation, treatment, complications and outcome of patients with tetanus over a 2-year period. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of all patients with tetanus admitted to the intensive care unit of B.P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal between July 2004 and June 2006. Results: Tetanus accounted for 1.1 % of our ICU admission. Eight tetanus patients (mean age 52 years; M: F ratio 7:1) were admitted. The tetanus prone wounds of seven patients were managed at home. The most common presenting complaints were trismus and stiffness of neck and back (87.5%). Elective intubation was followed by tracheostomy in all the patients. Overall mean duration of ventilatory support was 12.5 days. Treatments given in ICU were diazepam, magnesium sulphate, tetanus immunoglobulin, metronidazole, wound management and supportive measures. Five patients (62.5%) developed autonomic instability and three patients had ventilatory associated pneumonia (37.5%). Average ICU stay was 15.1 days while hospital stay was 20.1 days. Five patients (62.5%) survived the course of disease. Two patients (25%) left the hospital against medical advice while the other (12.5%) died in ICU. Conclusion: Tetanus is a vaccine preventable disease. Tetanus prone wounds should be managed appropriately. Respiratory compromise and autonomic instability are the main causes of morbidity and mortality. Early recognition, intense support and prompt treatment improves morbidity and mortality of patients diagnosed with tetanus.
Prevalence and Correlates of Tobacco Use in a Suburban community of Nepal: Findings from the Dhulikhel Heart Study
(Kathmandu University, 2017) Karmacharya, B; Shrestha, A; Fitzpatrick, AL; Koju, R; Sotodehnia, N; Xu, DR
ABSTRACT Background Smoking and oral tobacco use are important risk factors for cancer and other chronic diseases. The distribution of tobacco consumption in Nepal varies across the population subgroups. There is little information on the correlates of tobacco use among suburban population in Nepal. Objective To estimate the prevalence of smoking and oral tobacco use; and determine the socio-demographic and other CVD risk factors associated with them in a suburban population of Dhulikhel, Nepal. Method This cross sectional study utilized data from the first wave of the baseline survey of the Dhulikhel Heart Study (DHS). A total of 2225 households of Dhulikhel city were enumerated and a third of the households (n=735) were randomly selected. Questions on tobacco use were ascertained from 1073 adults age 18 years and older using the questions based on the WHO STEPS survey questionnaire. Result More than a third (36%) of the men were current smokers and 12% reported regular use of oral tobacco. About 14% of the women were current smokers and only 0.5% reported to use oral tobacco regularly.In the multivariate analysis, sex, ethnicity, education, alcohol consumption and body mass index were significantly associated with tobacco use. Males were 2.6 times as likely as females to smoke (95%: 1.53-4.59; p<0.001). Brahmin/Chhetri were 2.8 times more likely to smoke compared to Newars (95% Ci: 1.53-5.18; p=0.001). Education reduced the odds of smoking; compared to those with no formal education, those with up to high school and those with a high school degree or higher were 0.50 (95% CI: 0.27-0.92; p=0.02 ) and 0.38 (95% CI: 0.16-0.91; p=0.03) percent less likely to smoke, respectively. Moderate drinkers were 8 times more likely (95% CI: .54 – 18.40; p<0.001) and high drinkers were 13 times (95% CI: 6.63 – 24.26; p<0.001) compared to non-drinkers. Regarding oral tobacco use males were 15 times as likely as females to use oral tobacco (95% CI: 4.1-58.8; p<0.001). Compared to Newars, Brahmin/Chhetri were 2.7 times as likely to use oral tobacco (95% CI: 1.08 – 6.66; p=0.03). Conclusion Although Nepal has made some progress in passing progressive laws for tobacco control, and national surveys have shown slight reduction on tobacco use, this is far from satisfactory to meet the global target of bringing tobacco consumption to less than 5% by 2040. We recommend future studies to focus on socio-cultural, gender and behavioral aspects of tobacco use in addition to the epidemiological aspects. KEY WORDS Dhulikhel, Heart study, Sub-urban, Tobacco
Results of typhoid perforation management: Our experience in Bir Hospital, Nepal
(Kathmandu University, 2006) Karmacharya, B; Sharma, VK
Objective: To determine the demographic characteristics, clinical features, operative findings and postoperative complications in patients operated for typhoid enteric perforation. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in the Department of General Surgery, Bir Hospital since 2002 to April 2004. Among 189 patients who underwent laparotomy for hollow viscus perforation in two years, ileal perforation was found in 102 patients. Results: The sex ratio of the patients was 4.66:1, in favor of male, with age range of 14-78 years and mean age 28.35 years. Most of the patients (80.39 %) presented with history of fever for two weeks. Half of the patients presented within 24 hours of onset of generalized abdominal pain. Majority (65.67%) had a solitary perforation on the antimeseteric border of terminal ileum. Eighty one percent of patients had trimming of the ulcer margins and primary closure. Complications included wound infection (35.3%), wound dehiscence (17.6%), fecal fistula (7.84%) and hospital mortality (6.86%). Conclusion: Typhoid ulcer perforation is common among developing nations, including Nepal. Postoperative complications following surgical management of perforation are high and increases mortality. Key words: Typhoid perforation, wound dehiscence, hospital mortality
Typhoid fever in Dhulikhel hospital, Nepal
(Kathmandu University, 2004) Sharma, N; Koju, R; Karmacharya, B; Tamang, MD; Makaju, R; Nepali, N; Shrestha, P; Adhikari, D
One hundred and twelve cases of typhoid fever presenting in outpatient and emergency department of Dhulikhel Hospital in Nepal were studied. In this study, it was found that 71% typhoid fever cases were less than 30 years of age group with male to female ratio of 3:1. Fever over 5 days followed by headache and chills were major presenting symptoms. Widal test and blood culture for Salmonella typhi were positive in 59% and 49% cases respectively. Two third of our study population had total leucocyte count of normal range. The fever clearance time was significantly better with ofloxacin compared to ciprofloxacin (p<0.05) and ceftriaxone compared to chloramphenicol (p<0.05). The release from treatment was significantly shorter with ceftriaxone compared to ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol (p<0.01). Ceftriaxone was found to be 100% sensitive to salmonella typhi. Amoxicillin was only 52.1% sensitive to Salmonella typhi. Early diagnosis and institution of appropriate antibiotic therapy is of paramount importance in the management of typhoid patients. Key words: Typhoid fever, salmonella typhi, fever clearance time, release from treatment

Browsing by Author "Karmacharya, B"

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