Diagnostic and treatment delay among new pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Southern India: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Delay in diagnosis and treatment enhances tuberculosis (TB) transmission and mortality. Understanding causes for delay can help in TB elimination by 2025, the stated goal of India.

Objectives: Estimate diagnostic and treatment delay in Ernakulam district of Kerala, identify associated factors, and determine health-seeking behavior and knowledge regarding TB among new pulmonary TB patients.

Prevalence of bronchial asthma and factors associated with it among higher secondary school children in Ernakulam district, Kerala, Southern India.

Context: Bronchial asthma is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and cause of frequent absenteeism among children and adolescents. Studies reporting the prevalence of bronchial asthma among adolescents from India are limited and the available studies report wide geographic variations in the prevalence of bronchial asthma.

Aims: The current study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of bronchial asthma among higher secondary school children and to identify various factors associated with it in Ernakulam district, Kerala, Southern India.