Journal Issue: Kathmandu University Medical Journal (KUMJ)
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Volume
1
Number
4
Issue Date
2003
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
1812-2027
Journal Volume
Volume: 1
(1)
Articles
Acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis: an epidemic in august/ September 2003
(Kathmandu University, 2003) DB, Karki; CD, Shrestha; S, Shrestha
Objective: To clinically analyze 400 cases of red eye attending Nepal Eye Hospital in August/ September 2003 and
to study the aetiology of the disease on the clinical basis with available laboratory resources.
Materials and methods: It is a prospective study of 400 cases of acute conjunctivitis visiting Nepal Eye Hospital
during the epidemic of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis in August/September 2003.
Result: 30.5% presented in the age group of 20-29 years. Males presented predominantly (73.3%). Maximum
number of patients presented at two days of onset of symptoms. All 400 cases had red eye, 89.8% had pain, 86.3%
had foreign body sensation and 87.5% had discharge. Bilateral involvement was seen in 73.5% and unilateral
involvement in 26.5%, 4.3 % of the total cases had corneal involvement and 20% of the cases had associated fever
and preauricular lymphadenopathy.
Conclusion: Based on clinical presentation and the report of available laboratory results, picorna virus was found to
be responsible for this epidemic of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis.
Keywords: Haemorrhage, Conjunctivitis, Superficial Punctate Keratitis, Lymphadenopathy, Picorna virus.
Eclampsia : a hospital based retrospective study
(Kathmandu University, 2003) P, Choudhary
Aim and objective: This study was done to see the incidence, epidemiology , clinical profile of eclamptic patients
and the effect of current intervention strategy for Eclampsia on maternal and perinatal outcome.
Methodology: Analysis of case records of all Eclampsia cases from mid-April,2000 to mid-April,2001.
Results: Incidence of Eclampsia has was found to be 2.9 per 1000 deliveries. Eclampsia was primarily a disease of
young women (97.22%) and nulliparas (80.85%). Approximately half of eclamptic patients had some antenatal
care(55.31%)and majority of them had fits before the onset of labor(70.21%). Most eclamptic patients presented
with fits at term pregnancy (72.34%).About three fourth of them started fitting at home (74.46%) but one fourth had
first fit while already admitted in the hospital(25.53%). Caesarean section was common mode of delivery(55.31%).
There was no maternal death. Majority of patients stopped fitting once intervention was started (80.85%) and went
home within three weeks (95.73%). One fifth of babies died [stillbirths (14%), neonatal deaths (6%)].
Conclusion: It appears that current intervention strategy for eclampsia in the maternity hospital is effective in
reducing maternal mortality and morbidity but perinatal outcome still needs to be improved.
Key words: Eclampsia, Maternal outcome, perinatal outcome, magnesium sulphate.
Efficacy and tolerability of Ketotifen in Nepalese asthmatic children: a clinical study
(Kathmandu University, 2003) KN, Shakya; P, Joshi; A, Piya; MR, Baral
Objective To assess the efficacy of Ketotifen in asthmatic children and to record its adverse effects, if any.
Design Prospective clinical trial. Setting Pediatric asthma follow up clinic of a teaching hospital. Participants 23
asthmatic children between 3 and 15 years; 100% completed the trial on full protocol. Interventions Ketotifen 1mg
(adjusted according to body weight, 50 mcg/kg/dose) orally twice daily for 9 months.
Main Outcome measures Primary outcome: Decrease in frequency of asthmatic attacks and severity of
exacerbations with improvements in peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR). Other measures included decrease in
bronchodilator requirement, steroid doses and parental perception regarding patient quality of life.
Results 34.78% children were symptom free by the end of 2nd 3 months and 65.21% had no further attack by the end
of 3 rd 3 months of Ketotifen prophylaxis. Those children with activity and sleep ‘affected’ (8.69%) and ‘may be
affected’ (30.43%) together improved to ‘may be affected’ group (21.73%) by the end of 2nd 3 months and further
reduced to 8.69% by the conclusion of 3 rd 3 months. The duration of exacerbations was reduced in the remaining
cases. Variability of PEFR decreased from 26.08% to 8.69% of children after the 3 rd 3 months of Ketotifen
prophylaxis. No significant adverse effect of therapy was observed during the study.
Conclusion Oral Ketotifen is effective and well tolerated for use in prophylactic treatment of bronchial asthma in
children.
Key Words: Ketotifen, Asthma, Prophylaxis, Efficacy.