Post COVID-19 Symptoms: A Neglected Domain

Background: COVID -19 is the most important public health problem of recent time. Most people who have COVID-19 recovers completely within a few weeks but some people continue to have symptoms after initial recovery. Objective: To assess the prevalence of Post COVID symptoms, to assess requirement of treatment and to make recommendation for Post COVID care. Methods: Present cross sectional study was done among patients who recovered from COVID-19 in Meerut district. Mobile numbers of COVID patients were obtained from records, Total 100 randomly selected patients were contacted using google form and information regarding post covid symptoms in between 6 weeks to 12 weeks after recovery from COVID was obtained. Result: 87%patients developed one or more post covid symptoms. Weakness was reported to be most common problem (55%), followed by body ache (26%) and neuropsychiatric symptoms such as difficulty in concentration and insomnia (22%). Every fifth patient reported that symptoms persisted for more than 1 month. Though most of the respondents classified their symptoms as mild and moderate (52.5% and 37.9% respectively), 47% of the symptomatic patients have to take some treatment for these symptoms. Conclusion: Post COVID symptoms are common but usually less severe . Some form of treatment was required to deal with problem. Almost one in five patients reported that symptoms persisted for more than one month. The results highlight the need for post Covid care for COVID recovered patients

Implementation challenges of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana: A Cross- Sectional study in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh

Background: Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has been launched to provide financial protection expenditure to nearly 500 million vulnerable Indians. For expanding the coverage under the scheme, it is necessary to understand the perspective of health care service providers involved in the scheme. Aim & Objective: To find out the bottlenecks in implementation of PMJAY scheme using empanelled hospitals’ perspective Settings and Design: Cross sectional study Methods and Material: 8 Public and 23 Private hospitals were selected through Simple Random Sampling from the list of PMJAY empanelled hospitals. The PMJAY Medical Officer co-ordinators in the empanelled hospitals were interviewed using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Statistical analysis used: Data was analysed using descriptive statistics in Epiinfo software. Results: Among the 31 empanelled hospitals studied, 93.5% were satisfied with the process for empanelment under PMJAY. 64.5% hospitals were not satisfied with the Health Benefit Packages. 77.4% hospitals perceived the PMJAY to be poorer as compared to private health insurance with reasons being poor grievance reprisal, poor claim processing and settlement, denial of reimbursement of health packages, poor rates of health packages and little information about the scheme. Conclusions: Various hurdles are being faced in the implementation of the scheme. There definitely remains a huge scope for further improvements so as to enhance the insurance coverage in the country

Myths and misbelieves regarding COVID vaccines in India

Background: - COVID-19 is the most important public health problem of recent time. Many people require hospitalization after infection. COVID vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease. Due to extensive negative publicity through social media channels/platforms,significant number of individuals are not coming forward for vaccination. Therefore, study is needed to evaluate adverse effects associated with different vaccines available in India. Objectives: - To assess the adverse effects associated with COVID-19 vaccination and compare the side effect of two most commonly used COVID vaccines in India. Methods:- In the current report, a cross sectional study was conducted among beneficiaries of COVID-19 vaccines at the vaccination center of the LLRM Medical college, India. After institutional ethical clearance and informed consent, patients were asked about the symptoms they experienced after vaccination. A very simple random sampling approach was used to select beneficiaries. Information was collected on predesigned Google form and total 391 patients submitted the responses. Results:- Out of total respondents 77 % individuals reported one or more symptoms. Fever was reported to be most common problem (59.3%) followed by body ache (57.5%). Out of total beneficiaries, 68.3% experienced mild symptoms while 23% remain asymptomatic. Only few subjects reported moderate adverse effects (8.7%).  None of the respondent reported severe and serious adverse effect. Conclusions:- Vaccine associated adverse effects were found less than 3 days and of mild variety in most of the beneficiaries. There was no difference in adverse effect profile of two commonly used vaccines in India. People must come forward for vaccination in mass without fearing of adverse effects of vaccines

Obesity in Adolescents: Prevalence and Association with Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Factors

Introduction: Overweight and obesity has become a worldwide epidemic and is a growing public health concern. The increase in prevalence and severity of obesity among children and adolescents has been attributed largely to behavioral factors such as changing eating habits and sedentary lifestyles. Objective: To determine prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity among adolescents and its association with sociodemographic factors and lifestyle. Methods: Present cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban field practice area under the Community Medicine Department of LLRM Medical College, Meerut, among 872 adolescents. All localities in the field area were covered and house to house survey was done. Questions were asked about eating patterns, physical activity and sedentary lifestyle. Data was collected and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 17.43, 6.88%, respectively. Obesity was significantly higher among females, those who indulged in unhealthy eating habits were physically inactive, watched television for a longer duration and ate junk while watching television. Conclusion: In the present study, we found that high junk food consumption and a sedentary lifestyle were found to be significantly associated with childhood overweight/obesity. As a result, timely interventions should be taken to improve awareness about healthy lifestyle behavior to prevent obesity and its complications among adolescents

Effect of sleep on blood pressure among adults of urban slums: A Cross sectional study

Introduction: Hypertension, the “Silent, Invisible killer” - is a modern day’s universal epidemic. The adult populations in slum area are more vulnerable for hypertension as they are so busy in the fulfilment of even day to day basic needs and care, family commitments and economic stress. Aim and objectives: To estimate the prevalence of hypertension among the adults (25-44 years) and to study the effect of sleep on blood pressure levels. Methodology: The present cross-sectional study was carried among adults aged between 25 to 44 years residing in the slums of Meerut District. 30 Cluster Sampling technique was used. The slum was selected as a cluster unit. During the visit by house-to-house survey, members of the family were listed and eligible person were interviewed and examined. Data collected on a structured and pretested questionnaire. Results: Prevalence of hypertension among those who had sleep duration of >8 hours per day was 44.8% followed by 20.1% and 17.5% among those who had 7-8 hours and less than 7 hours of sleep time respectively. It was found that 24.2% monophasic sleep pattern follower were hypertensives while the prevalence was 19.4% in biphasic pattern. Conclusion: Majority (55.4%) had a sleep duration between 7-8 hours, followed by 33.9% and 10.7% with <7 hours and >8 hours of sleep time respectively. Majority (61.3%) of the study population were having monophasic sleep pattern, while 36.3% were biphasic and 2.4% were multiphasic

Noncompliance to DOTS: How it can be Decreased

Background: Tuberculosis is a communicable disease requiring prolonged treatment. The therapeutic regimens as recommended by WHO have been shown to be highly effective for both preventing and treating tuberculosis but poor adherence to medication is a major barrier to its global control. Aim: The aim was to elicit reasons of treatment default from a cohort of tuberculosis patients treated under Directly Observed Treatment Short course chemotherapy. Settings and design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Agra city using the multistage simple random sampling. Materials and Methods: A total of 900 patients attending DOTS centres of the selected designated microscopy centers (DMCs) were included in the study from January 2007 onward. The information was obtained from treatment cards of patients and those who defaulted were further interviewed in community. Statistical analysis: Chi-square test was applied to observe the significance of association using the Epi Info software (version 6). Results: More default was observed among the age group of >45 years (22.8%), male (18.7%), business men (30.6%), and retired and unemployed patients. Other factors associated with higher default were pulmonary disease (18.2%), retreatment cases (30.6%) and category II patients (26.4%). Important reasons of default were side effects following medication (43.2%), improvement in symptoms (14.4%), and lack of time (13.5%). No relief in symptoms and lack of awareness were other important reasons. Conclusions: Noncompliance was found to be mainly due to side effects of medicines, lack of time, and unawareness. So educating the patient about various aspects of tuberculosis and some measures to decrease side effects are of utmost importance

Cr (VI) induced changes in the activity of few ion dependent ATPases in three <span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-IN; mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-IN">vital organs of mudskipper <i>Periophthalmus dipes </i>(Pisces: Gobidae)</span>

45-49Experiments were carried out to assess the dose and duration dependent influence of Cr(VI) to few ion dependent ATPases in liver, brain and muscle of a coastal euryhaline teleost Periophthalmus dipes. Fishes were exposed to three sublethal concentrations (5, 10 and 15 mg/l) of Cr(VI), prepared by using K2CrO4. with normal seawater, for three exposure duration (2, 4 and 6 days). In the present report, effects of Cr(VI) toxicity on total ATPase, (Na+,K+)-ATPase, (Ca++)-ATPase, (Mg++)-ATPase, (Ca++,HCO3-)-ATPase and (Mg++,HCO3-)-ATPase in liver, brain and muscle were evaluated. Though results indicated a general dose and duration-dependent inhibitory trend, exposure duration was predominant over dose in the inhibition of the enzyme activity.</span

Common Mental Disorders and Its Socio-Demographic Correlates Among Women Of Reproductive Age In Urban And Rural Area Of Meerut

Background: Common Mental disorders are distress states manifesting with anxiety, depressive and unexplained somatic symptoms categorized as ‘neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders’ in ICD-10. These are 2-3 times more common in women than in men and also more in urban area than rural. Women of reproductive age are at higher risk especially those with social disadvantage, low income and low education. Aims &amp; Objectives: To assess the prevalence of common mental disorders and associated socio-demographic factors among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) residing in urban and rural area of Meerut. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done in urban and rural area of Meerut from June 2018 to October 2019. 267 women in reproductive age (15-49years) were interviewed in urban as well as rural area using a predesigned pretested questionnaire regarding socio-demographic profile. Self- Reporting Questionnaire-20 was used to determine presence of common mental disorders. Results: Overall prevalence of common mental disorders among women of reproductive age group was 19.8%(106) with 24.2%(65) in urban and 15.4%(41) in rural area. Statistical analysis revealed that various socio-demographic variables like belonging to urban area (24.2%),being widowed/separated (urban-85.7%;rural-75.0%), belonging to broken family(urban-54.5%%; rural-58.3%), being employed(urban-39.6%;rural-33.3%) and lower socio-economic status(urban-54.5%;rural-40.0%) were significantly associated with presence of common mental disorders. In urban women increasing age was also associated with common mental disorders. Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of common mental disorders in both urban and rural area and a significant association with various socio-demographic variables

Impact of Sociodemographic factors on prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents of urban Meerut

Background: Adolescent obesity is becoming a major public health problem in urban areas of India and its prevalence is increasing in all socioeconomic groups irrespective of religion, region and caste. Aims & Objectives: To find out prevalence of overweight & obesity among adolescents and to study its association with sociodemographic factors. Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the area covered by Urban Health and Training Centre of Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College, Meerut. Sample size was estimated by keeping the prevalence as 10% with 95% confidence interval and relative precision of 20%. A total of 872 adolescents were selected randomly using proportional allocation method. Results: The prevalence of overweight was found to be 17.4% and obesity 6.9%. The prevalence was significantly higher among females and in those belonging to nuclear families as well as higher socioeconomic status. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is quite high in the urban area and there is a need to develop an effective programme for the prevention of obesity in these areas

Effects of dyeing and printing industry effluent on acid and alkaline phosphatase in few vital organs of a coastal teleost, <i>Periophthalmus dipes</i>

186-190Experiments were carried out to assess the dose and duration dependent effects of dyeing and printing effluent on the lysosomal enzyme, acid phosphatase and a membrane bound enzyme, alkaline phosphatase in five vital tissues viz. gills, intestine, liver, brain and muscle, of a coastal euryhaline teleost Periophthalmus dipes. Fishes were exposed to different effluent dilution viz. 0.1%, 0.5% and 1% for three test periods (2, 4 and 6 days) and the activity of the enzymes was estimated. The results show both significant inhibition at the lower concentrations and stimulation in the higher effluent concentration. Significant dose and duration dependent changes occurred in the gills whereas, predominant duration dependent changes were noticed in other tissues examined