Clinical profile of dengue during 2005 outbreak in Kolkata and predictive markers of dengue haemorrhagic fever.

Epidemics of dengue outbreak are frequent in south-east Asian countries. Dengue is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this region. This prospective observational study was done at Dr BC Roy Memorial for Children during the outbreak in 2005 in Kolkata to know the clinical pattern of dengue cases and to find the possible markers of development of dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Heteropagus twinning on back -- a case report.

Heteropagus twins, also called parasitic twins, are malformation of the foetus where the development of one twin is incomplete. They are attached most commonly to the lower chest and upper abdomen. We report a case of heteropagus twin, where the parasite possessed well-formed limb as well as blind ending intestine.

One year experience of neonatal mortality and morbidity in a state level neonatal intensive care unit and its comparison with national neonatal-perinatal database.

Neonatal mortality is still the leading group among the infant mortality in India. Poor infrastructure, home delivery and lack of facility, trained personnel in rural hospital are the major determining factors leading to neonatal mortality and morbidity including perinatal asphyxia. The data, which is gathered from a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of West Bengal and its statistical interpretation, has thrown light upon the current state of neonatal care in our county.

Chylous ascites following repair of exomphalos major--a report.

In cases of giant omphalocele anterior abdominal wall is so poorly developed that primary closure is not possible without excessive tension. The simplest of innovative strategies in such a situation is to provide epithellalisation of sac with secondary closure of ensuing ventral hernia at a later date. Postsurgical chylous ascites is a known entity and it usually responds with supportive therapy.

Pedicled omental split skin graft: A novel method for reconstruction of full-thickness abdominal wall defect.

Although rare in children, aggressive fibromatosis or desmoid tumors require wide surgical excision for durable relief. The resultant defect poses many challenges for reconstruction. The authors report reconstruction of such a wound using a pedicled omental split skin graft, which resulted from the excision of a locally recurrent desmoid tumor.

Neonatal gastric volvulus: another cause of "Mucousy baby" with gasless abdomen.

Neonatal acute gastric volvulus is rare and often associated with diaphragmatic anomalies. Patients usually present with vomiting and respiratory distress, but excessive salivation, failure to pass a nasogastric tube beyond 20 cms and the presence of a space occupying thoracic lesion should also prompt a search for the entity. The authors describe a case presenting with these atypical findings and stress the importance of the plain radiograph chest to make a diagnosis.

Omental cyst masquerading as ascites.

Two children presented with massive generalised enlargement of abdomen simulating ascites. Common medical causes being excluded. They were treated with antituberculous drugs without any response until the radiological features suggested and surgical exploration proved the condition to be omental cyst.

Clinicobacteriological study of empyema thoracis in infants and children.

Forty-one cases of empyema thoracis admitted in hospital during April, 1985 to August, 1987 were studied. Majority were males (65.9%) and were of less than 2 years of age (70.