A community-based bacteriological study of quality of drinking-water and its feedback to a rural community in Western Maharashtra, India

A longitudinal study of the bacteriological quality of rural water supplies was undertaken for a movement towards self-help against diseases, such as diarrhoea, and improved water management through increased community participation. Three hundred and thirteen water samples from different sources, such as well, tank, community standpost, handpumps, percolation lakes, and streams, and from households were collected from six villages in Maharashtra, India, over a one-year period. Overall, 49.8% of the 313 samples were polluted, whereas 45.9% of the samples from piped water supply were polluted. The quality of groundwater was generally good compared to open wells. Irregular and/or inadequate treatment of water, lack of drainage systems, and domestic washing near the wells led to deterioration in the quality of water. No major diarrhoeal epidemics were recorded during the study, although a few sporadic cases were noted during the rainy season. As a result of a continuous feedback of bacteriological findings to the community, perceptions of the people changed with time. An increased awareness was observed through active participation of the people cutting across age-groups and different socioeconomic strata of the society in village activities.     

Respiratory viruses in acute respiratory tract infections in Western India

Objective  To study the circulation pattern of respiratory viruses in out patients department (OPD) and hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infection. Methods  Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 385 children with acute respiratory tract infections attending the OPD (n=199, 51.7%) and admitted to pediatric ward (n=186, 43.2%). Specimens were screened for seven respiratory viruses by immunofluoresence test (IFT) using Respiratory panel 1 screening and identification kit. Results  Viral antigens were detected in 57 (28.6%) and 86 (46.2%) patients from OPD and admitted cases respectively, giving an overall positivity of 143 (37.1%) for respiratory viruses. Of the six respiratory viruses, the most common was respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in 100 (26%) patients, followed by influenza viruses in 21 (5.4%), parainfluenza in 8 (2.07%), adenovirus in 3 (0.8%). One patient had mixed infection of RSV and adenovirus. RSV was most frequently detected in the hospitalized children (39.8%). Conclusion  RSV appeared to be the most common respiratory viral infection in the age group 0–1 year causing hospitalization.     

Paediatric-appropriate facilities in emergency departments of community hospitals in Ontario: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: We assessed whether the paediatric-appropriate facilities were available at Emergency Departments (ED) in community hospitals in a Canadian province.     

Predictors of disease severity in ulcerative colitis patients from Southwestern Ontario

AIM:To understand the demographic characteristics of patients in Southwestern Ontario,Canada with ulcerative colitis(UC)in order to predict disease severity. METHODS:Records from 1996 to 2001 were exam- ined to create a database of UC patients seen in the London Health Sciences Centre South Street Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic.To be included, patients‘charts were required to have information of their disease presentation and a minimum of 5 years of follow-up.Charts were reviewed using standardi...