Epidemiology and Clinical Profile of Snakebites in Goa and Surrounding Areas.

Background: Clinico-epidemiological profile of snake envenomation varies in different regions; however, data from India is inadequate. This study was planned to obtain such data from Goa, to help in quick identification of envenomation, prompt treatment and help in building a national database.

Methods: In this prospective observational study,all patients presenting to emergency department between April 2016 to August 2017 with history of snakebite and meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled and analysed.

Prevalence and determinants of hypertension in apparently healthy schoolchildren in India: A multi-center study.

Background Hypertension in children is often under recognized, especially in developing countries. Data from rural areas of developing countries is particularly lacking. Objectives To study prevalence of hypertension and its determinants in apparently health school children from predominantly rural populations of India.

Echocardiographic prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Indian school children using World Heart Federation criteria - A multi site extension of RHEUMATIC study (the e-RHEUMATIC study).

Objectives: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) continues to be major public health burden in developing world. Echocardiographic screening in school children has shown that subclinical RHD cases are several times more than clinical cases. Recent reports have used World Heart Federation (WHF) criteria.

Rickettsial Infections in Goa-Not Just Scrub Typhus!

Background And Objective: Rickettsial infections are an important cause of undifferentiated febrile illness in tropics. While scrub typhus was reported from Goa, other rickettsial infections have not been reported earlier. The present study was planned to identify pattern of rickettsial infections in Goa.

The neurological effects of methyl bromide intoxication.

Used primarily as a fumigant or as a substrate in chemical processes, methyl bromide is a highly toxic gas. The gas is usually absorbed by inhalation and effects on the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and brain are seen. Numerous instances of acute and chronic neurologic injury have been reported: acute poisoning results in seizures, myoclonus, ataxia or cerebral oedema beginning as early as 30 min after exposure while subacute or chronic intoxication presents with diverse slowly progressive neurological and neurobehavioral symptoms.

Scrub typhus in patients reporting with acute febrile illness at a tertiary health care institution in Goa.

Background & Objectives: Scrub typhus is one of the differential diagnoses of haemorrhagic fevers especially if associated with jaundice and/or renal failure. Goa State in the western region of India has been witnessing increased incidence of such fevers, therefore, the present study was undertaken to identify whether scrub typhus is the aetiological agent.

Methods: Adult patients presenting with undiagnosed febrile illness between June 2009 to October 2010, were evaluated.

Adult lead encephalopathy.

The neurotoxicity of lead to the adult brain is less well-known than that seen in children. It may present as acute severe encephalopathy or as chronic cognitive and behavioural symptoms, either in isolation or with systemic features of lead intoxication. Magnetic resonance imaging findings in lead encephalopathy vary.

Bilateral thalamic necrosis following ingestion of ridge gourd infested with coelomycete fungi (Diplodia).

Bilateral thalamic lesions detected on magnetic resonance imaging have a wide differential diagnosis. This report describes a previously healthy young man who developed bilateral thalamic necrosis with seizures, vomiting, hepatitis, neutrophilic leukocytosis and metabolic acidosis following consumption of raw dried fruits of the ridge gourd plant (Luffa acutangula) prescribed by a traditional medicine practitioner. These fruits were subsequently shown to be infested with spores and conidiomata of Diplodia, a coelomycete fungus known to cause neurotoxicity in farm animals.

Shone's complex.

Shone's complex is a rare congenital heart disease consisting of multiple levels of left sided obstructive lesions including supravalvar mitral ring, parachute mitral valve, subaortic stenosis and coarctation of aorta. The present case report describes a case of complete form of Shone's complex that was incidentally detected in an adult.