Journal Issue: Volume: 58 No. 230, October (2020)
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Volume
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Issue Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
JNMA Print ISSN: 0028-2715; Online ISSN: 1815-672X
Journal Volume
Articles
Prevalence of Laryngomalacia among Young Children Presenting with Stridor in a Tertiary Care Hospital
(Nepal Medical Association, 2020) Pokharel, Apar
Abstract:
Introduction: Laryngomalacia is one of the most common causes of stridor in young children. It can be a serious concern to both parents and caregivers. The main objective of this study is to find the prevalence of laryngomalacia among young children presenting with stridor in a tertiary care hospital in central Nepal.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out form 1st December 2017 to 1st May 2020 in children less than two years of age in a tertiary care hospital. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee of the hospital (reference number: 2020/23). Convenient sampling was done. Detailed demography, clinical examination, and video laryngoscopy findings were evaluated to find the prevalence of laryngomalacia among all children with stridor. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20. Point estimate at 95% confidence interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: Out of 430 participants who presented with stridor, the laryngomalacia was found in 234 (66%) (58.7-74.07) cases at a 95% confidence interval. The male: female ratio was 1.7:1. Most children, 192 (67.6%), presented with a milder form of laryngomalacia. The most common type was a mixed type of laryngomalacia in 159 (56%). Sleep-disordered breathing was seen in 113 (39.79%) of children diagnosed with laryngomalacia.
Conclusions: Our study concluded that laryngomalacia was the most common cause of stridor in children less than two years of age. However, in most cases, the problem is not serious and a regular follow-up with weight monitoring is warranted.
Prevalence of Psychoactive Drug Use among Medical Students in a Medical College of Nepal
(Nepal Medical Association, 2020) Shrestha, Jyoti Tara Manandhar; Tiwari, Saurabh; Kushwaha, Dilip Kumar; Bhattarai, Pratigya; Raj, Risu
Abstract:
Introduction: Psychoactive drug is a worrisome and emerging global problem. This is a disturbing matter, especially in the case of medical students, as it affects not only their health and academic performance alone but their clinical efficiency as well. This study aims to determine the prevalence of psychoactive drug use among medical students in a medical college in Nepal.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted after receiving ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Committee (Ref: 258/19) among undergraduate medical students from December 2019 to June 2020. Convenience sampling was used to collect data. Data analysis was done in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Point estimate at 95% confidence interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: The prevalence of psychoactive drug abuse was found to be 76 (44.2%) [CI= 43.6%–44.8%]. The study showed males 59 (59%) were more indulged in abuse than females 17 (23.6%). Alcohol 72 (41.86%) was the most commonly used, then was tobacco 24 (13.95%) followed by cannabis 17(9.88%). Only two students were sedative and opioid abusers. Pleasure 38 (31.70%) and experimentation 29 (24.20%) were the two major causes of substance abuse. Tobacco was used more frequently 14 (58.33%) used daily and found to have more financial
and health-related issues in the last three months.
Conclusions: Even almost half of the students were using some form of psychoactive drugs, the majority of them were occasional users. Proper counseling needs to be done to address this problem. Further study should be conducted to address the influencing factors and adverse outcomes.
Computer Vision Syndrome among Patients Attending the Outpatient Department of Ophthalmology in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2020) Shrestha, Priyanka; Pradhan, Pranil Man Singh; Malla, Om Krishna
Abstract:
Introduction: Computers and digital electronic devices have become an integral part of life. These devices have adverse effects and nowadays are considered leading occupational hazards. Computer vision syndrome comprises of all the ocular, visual and musculoskeletal symptoms secondary to long term computer use. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of computer vision syndrome among people attending the outpatient department of ophthalmology in the tertiary care center in Nepal.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among 70 patients in a tertiary care hospital from January 2017 to June 2017 after obtaining ethical approval from the institutional review committee (Ref: 12042017). Convenient sampling method was applied and the point estimate at 95% confidence interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. Patients using computers for more than one hour were included in the study. All data were entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences version 20.
Results: Among 70 patients, 67 (95.7%) (87.9-99.1 at 95% confidence interval) had one or more symptoms on computer use. The mean duration of computer use was 7.5±5.4 years and average hours of computer use among computer users were 6.9±3 hours. The most common symptom among computer users was headache seen in 46 (62.2%) patients.
Conclusions: Our study showed that a significant number of people using a computer develop one or more symptoms on the long-term use of the computer. Therefore, it is very important to create awareness regarding computer vision syndrome and methods to prevent it among computer users.
Study of Menopausal Symptoms using Menopause Rating Scale at a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2020) Pandey, Asmita; Karki, Chanda; Shrivastava, Veena Rani; Shrestha, Dipty; Gautam, Pratigyan
Abstract:
Introduction: Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation for more than a year resulting from the loss of follicular activity of the ovaries. It is manifested by vasomotor, psychological, and urogenital symptoms which can be assessed by an internationally accepted scale known as Menopause Rating Scale. This study was conducted to find out the issues of perimenopausal women and proceed for management and proper counseling.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among women visiting the gynecological outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital from June 2017 to May 2018 using the Menopause Rating Scale. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (reference number: 20122016). Convenient sampling was done. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0 was used for data analysis. Point estimate at 90% confidence interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: Out of 189 perimenopausal women interviewed, the mean age of menopause was found to be 50.2±2.1 years. The most common gynecological symptoms among the study population was abnormal uterine bleeding 66 (34.9%) followed by abnormal vaginal discharge 50 (26.5%). Among symptoms in Menopause Rating Scale, the depressive mood was found in 99 (52.4%) cases followed by joint and muscular discomfort 88 (46.6%) and bladder problems in 87 (46%). None of the women had a score on the Menopause Rating Scale more than 16 and did not require management for their problem.
Conclusions: Most of the women didn't know menopausal symptoms. However, none required intervention from gynecologists for their problems reflecting better quality of life.
Histopathologic Profile of Salivary Gland Tumors among Specimens from a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2020) Ghartimagar, Dilasma; Ghosh, Arnab; Shrestha, Manish Kiran; Thapa, Sushma; Talwar, Om Prakash
Abstract:
Introduction: Salivary gland tumors are rare, comprising about 3% of all head and neck neoplasms. About 80% of the tumors are in parotids, 10% in submandibular glands and the remainders are distributed in sublingual and minor salivary glands. This study was conducted to evaluate the relative frequencies, types, site of distribution and the histopathological features of salivary gland tumors.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara from January 2011 to December 2019. Ethical approval was taken from the institutional review committee of Manipal College of Medical Sciences (Ref: 314). Convenient sampling was done among specimen. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21.
Results: Among the 130 specimens, the patients’ age ranged from 6 to 78 years with a mean age of 37.26 years for benign tumors and 48.45 years for malignant tumors. There was female predominance with a male to female ratio of 1:1.36. There were 98 cases of benign tumors, commonest being pleomorphic adenoma with 82 (83.67%) cases which was noticed more frequently in fourth decade of life. Among the 32 malignant tumors, mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the commonest tumor 20 (62.5%), followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma 7 (23.33%).
Conclusions: Benign salivary gland tumors were more common than malignant tumors and the most common site of location was the parotid for both the benign and malignant tumors. Female outnumbered the male population in benign tumors whereas males were slightly more than females in malignant tumors. This study corroborated well with other previously published studies.