Arrowhead chronicles: A case series on arrow injuries in the head and neck region of Bhutanese archers.

Arrow injuries in Bhutan present a unique public health challenge, reflecting the cultural significance of archery in this Himalayan kingdom. Despite being a traditional sport and an integral part of Bhutanese identity, the growing incidence of arrow-related injuries raises concerns about safety and highlights the need for targeted preventive measures. In this case series, we present six cases of arrow injuries in the head and neck region offering insights into our experiences and the challenges encountered in their management.

Special Sensory Function Deficit among Patients with Post-COVID-19 Visiting a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: Several patients who recover from COVID-19 infection continue to have persistent symptoms even after recovery from the disease. The special sensory functions such as taste, smell and hearing are affected by COVID-19 infection even after recovery from the illness. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of special sensory deficits among patients with post-COVID-19 visiting a tertiary care centre.

A rare case of abnormal epithelial migration in the external auditory canal secondary to cotton bud abuse.

The outer third of external auditory canal is cartilaginous and contains pilosebaceous glands and hair follicles. The medial two third is bony, and the skin is devoid of these skin appendages and its secretions. It also has outward migratory property which makes the ear self-cleansing.

Assessment of exposure to pesticides and the knowledge, attitude and practice among farmers of western Bhutan.

An estimated 69% of the population of Bhutan is engaged in agriculture. Farmers are exposed to a wide variety of pesticides during the preparation, transport, storage, mixing and application of pesticides posing a significant health risk. A controlled cross-sectional study of farmers in selected sites of Bhutan was conducted to characterize the level of exposure to pesticides and assess their knowledge attitude and practice on the safe handling of pesticides.

Challenges in epilepsy diagnosis and management in a low-resource setting: An experience from Bhutan.

Epilepsy is an important cause of morbidity and mortality especially in low- and middle-income countries. People with epilepsy (PWE) face difficulties in access to healthcare, appropriate diagnostic tests and anti-seizure medications (ASM). Bhutan is one such country in the Himalayas that has reported doubling of the prevalence of epilepsy from 155.

Implementation fidelity of hospital based directly observed therapy for tuberculosis treatment in Bhutan: mixed-method study.

Background: Direct observed treatment (DOT) has been implemented in Bhutan since 1997 and currently, it is offered in various model of delivery including a combination of hospital based, home based DOT and ambulatory DOT. Overall, treatment success rate for tuberculosis cases is higher than the global target; however, it is still need to be improved. Evaluation to the implementation fidelity of DOT is important to identify potential rooms for improvement.