Search

Objectives: The objective of the study was to study the clinical presentations, predisposing factors, and underlying conditions associated with Strongyloidiasis. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from 2018 to 2021on patients who presented with medical complaints in a tertiary care hospital, and 19 were diagnosed with strongyloidiasis by stool wet mount examination. Other relevant details were collected to analyze the risk factors. Results: A total of 19 cases were found positive for strongyloidiasis. Males 13 (68.4%) were more and females 6 (31.6%), and most of them were above 50 years age group (73.7%). Among the cases, respiratory symptoms (42.1%) were predominantly observed, followed by gastrointestinal (31.6%). Multiple predisposing factors such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, corticosteroid usage, TB, diabetes, alcohol, and asthma have been identified in strongyloidiasis cases. Peripheral eosinophilia is a frequent finding in the complete blood picture. Conclusions: Strongyloidiasis should be strongly suspected in every immune compromised patient presenting with gastrointestinal, respiratory manifestations, or peripheral eosinophilia, and asymptomatic immune competent patients with comorbid conditions.

Background: Teaching clinical skills is generally done by bedside teaching (BT). Clinical teaching stations (CTSs) are specially designed for the final year medics. Methods: The aim was to evaluate and compare the impact of CTS with BT on the final year medical undergraduates. Evaluation of the effectiveness of CTS among the participants was the primary objective with a % change in academic performance. A teaching program was conducted in two phases with each phase having two sessions, covering respiratory system (RS), gastrointestinal tract (GIT), cardiovascular system (CVS), and central nervous system (CNS). In the first phase, RS and GIT and in the second phase CVS and CNS were taught by TS and BT methods. Each session lasted for 2 weeks. Results: Thirty participants were grouped into two. The total mean ± SD score was 22.57 (±3.86) and 24.4 (±4.32) for BT and TS, respectively. Mean scores were higher in students who were taught by CTS but were statistically not significant (p>0.05) in both phases. There was no significant gender difference in the impact of the two teaching methodologies. The number of students who excelled was more with TS whereas, the scores were moderate with BT. All (100%) participants unanimously agreed that CTS is more effective and interactive and helped in better understanding of the subject. Conclusion: TS as a teaching tool is realistic with repeatable clinical scenarios and objective assessment. BT provides students with the required clinical skills, TS can enhance the knowledge and application. TS can be used as a supplementary tool along with BT.

Objective To report cases of neurocysticercosis (NCC) from three neighboring districts of Andhra Pradesh state in India where NCC burden was never explored before. Methods A total of 160 patients presenting with recent onset seizures were recruited from neurology, general medicine, and pediatric outpatient clinics of a local major tertiary care teaching hospital serving above districts during the period 2011–2014. Brain imaging was performed in all the above cases. A commercial immunoglobulin G-ELISA kit (sensitivity = 85%; specificity = 94%) was employed for the serological diagnosis of NCC. Results The recruited patients presented with generalized, simple partial, and complex partial seizures (55%, 31.25% and 13.75% respectively). NCC was diagnosed in 44 of 160 (27.5%) seizure cases based on imaging characteristics, and a positive serum antibody ELISA. No association was detected between seropositivity with the number and location of the lesion(s) in the brain. Conclusions The possible potentiality of NCC could be identified as an underlying cause of the recent onset of seizures in this region as explored in the present study. It is recommended that NCC should be suspected as one of the major differential in every recent onset seizure with or without a radio imaging supportive diagnosis, especially in areas endemic for taeniasis/cysticercosis.