Correlation of sociodemographic factors and intestinal parasites in pregnant women

Background: Pregnant women often experience more severe intestinal parasitic infections than their non-pregnant counterparts. Intestinal parasitic infections also disturb pregnancy at the maternal and fetal level. Objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of intestinal parasites in pregnant women and its relationship with various socio-demographic factors.Methods: A single stool specimen was collected. A saline and iodine mount was examined microscopically to demonstrate the intestinal parasites. Formol ether Concentration technique was performed to increase the yield of the eggs and larvae. Modified acid-fast staining was done for opportunistic parasitic infections.Results: In this study 300 pregnant women were screened for presence of intestinal parasites. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 42.67%. Women who practiced hand washing regularly and had knowledge about parasites had lesser infection. The dietary practice of taking green leafy vegetables had protective effect during pregnancy. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was almost same in both rural and urban women. Higher prevalence of intestinal parasites was found in lower socioeconomic class. Women who used river as source of water supply had slightly more prevalence than those who used municipal water. The prevalence of hookworm infection was more in women who never wore sandals.Conclusions: The high prevalence of intestinal parasites in the pregnant women indicates faecal pollution of soil and domestic water supply.  Education and awareness regarding intestinal parasites need to be done during their routine antenatal visits. Emphasis should be made on consistent hand washing, consumption of washed leafy vegetables and use of footwear. Deworming of pregnant women should be considered in the national guidelines

A case of strongyloidiasis in pregnancy

Helminthic infections such as Strongyloides stercoralis occurs commonly in immunocompromised states. However, they can rarely occur in normal individuals also. A 23 year old multigravida presented at 39 weeks gestation with watery diarrhoea. She was evaluated and diagnosed of strongyloidiasis. Medical management was given and pregnancy outcome was successful. This case is reported because strongyloidiasis is a rare and underreported occurrence in pregnancy, which can occasionally be fatal

Onychomycosis: dermatophytes to yeasts: an experience in and around Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Background: Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection having wide range of prevalence in different geographical regions. It becomes imperative to know prevalent causative agent in local area to improve quality of life of patients. Present study was aimed to study epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects of onychomycosisMethods: Study was carried out prospectively at a tertiary care teaching hospital Nail scrapings of 630 clinically suspected cases of onychomycosis over a period of 5 years (January 2012 to December 2016) were subjected to KOH examination and culture.Results: Young adults in age group of 21-40 years (67.61%) were predominantly affected with male to female ratio of 1.8:1. Overall prevalence of onychomycosis of the present study is 58.41%. Yeasts were isolated in 47.86%, dermatophytes in 30.71% and non dermatophytic filamentous fungi in 21.43%Conclusions: Present study demonstrates a shift in causative agents from dermatophytes to yeasts.

Biliary fascioliasis: Management in a child using endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography

A 9-year-old boy presented with right upper abdominal pain and fever. The radiologic investigations revealed multiple cholangitic abscesses with cholangitis and worms in common bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatographic (ERCP) sphincterotomy, basketing, ballooning and extraction of Fasciola hepatica worms from the common bile duct were done