Eagle’s Syndrome: Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management

Objective: To study the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options in Eagle’s Syndrome in a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: The study was conducted at the ENT department of District Headquarter Hospital, Rawalpindi from 1st January 2016 to 31st March 2019.  All the patients who presented in outpatient (OPD) of the ENT department with pain around the ear and throat and diagnosed as a case of Eagle’s syndrome were included in the study. All the data of gender, age, CT scan findings, pain score, and management were noted on a predesigned proforma. Percentages and frequencies were calculated for all the data by using SPSS 21 version. Results: A total of 12 patients were included in the study, with 5 (42%) females and 7 (58%) males. The patient’s age range was from 24 to 68 years. Sharp, sudden onset, nerve-like pain was the major symptom in all cases. The length of the styloid process in 6 patients was between 3-4 cm and in 6 patients between 4-5 cm on a 3-dimensional computerized tomography scan. 100% of patients were managed surgically. In Group A (50%) styloidectomy was done after tonsillectomy while in other Group B (50%) patients styloidectomy was done by tonsil sparing technique. The relief of pain was a little better in patients of Group B. Conclusion: Sudden onset, sharp, shooting pain in the jaw area, around-ear, and in the throat with no other co-morbid should be investigated for Eagle’s syndrome. 3 dimensional CT scan is the best modality to see the length of the styloid process. Styloidectomy with tonsil sparing technique is a little better than tonsillectomy and gives early and permanent relief from this painful condition

Foreign Bodies in Ear, Nose and Throat - A Clinical Audit

To study the pattern of foreignbodies of ear, nose and throat.Method: This prospective study was conducted on85 patients who presented with complaint of foreignbody insertion / impaction.Results: These cases comprised of 46 (54%) males &39 (46%) females having male: female ratio= 1.17: 1.Out of all patients 37 (43.52%) presented with earforeign bodies, 25 patients (29.4%) presented withnasal cavity foreign bodies, 23 patients (27.05%)presented with throat (oropharyngeal /hypopharyngeal) foreign bodies. General anesthesiawas required in 16 cases (18.8%).Most of foreignbodies were removed by house officers undersupervision by Consultants.Conclusion: Foreign bodies remain a majorconcern in ENT practice .Majority of children werechildre

Phytobiocidal management of bacterial wilt of tomato caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi

Phytobiocides are a good alternative to chemicals in managing bacterial diseases including bacterial wilt of tomato caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. In the present research study, finely ground dried powders of seven widely available medicinal plants/weeds species viz., Peganum harmala (esfand or wild rue), Calotropis procera (sodom apple), Melia azedarach (white cedar), Allium sativum (garlic), Adhatoda vasica (malabar nut), Tagetes patula (marigold) and Nerium oleander (oleander) were assessed for their anti-microbial activity, both in-vitro (10% w/v) and in-vivo (10, 20, 30, and 40 g/kg of potted soil) against R. solanacearum. Aqueous extracts (prepared as 10% w/v, soaking for 48-72 h and filtering) of C. procera, A. vasica, and T. patula inhibited the in-vitro growth of the bacterial pathogen over 60% of that produced by the standard antibiotic streptomycin. A. sativum, N. oleander and P. harmala aqueous extracts were less effective while M. azedarach showed no effect against R. solanacearum. The higher dose (40 g/kg of soil) of C. procera, A. vasica and T. patula decreased disease severity quite effectively and increased yield and plant growth characters as much as the standard antibiotic did. No phytotoxicity of medicinal plants powder was observed on tomato plants. Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and terpenoids were detected in the aqueous extracts of T. patula and A. vasica whereas C. procera was found to have only alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponins. Our data suggest that dried powders of T. patula, C. procera and A. vasica (40 g/kg of soil) could be used as an effective component in the integrated disease management programs against bacterial wilt of tomato

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the general population of Pakistan regarding typhoid conjugate vaccine: findings of a cross-sectional study

Typhoid fever, a common enteric disease in Pakistan, caused by Salmonella typhi, is becoming an extended drug-resistant organism and is preventable through the typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV). Public adherence to preventive measures is influenced by knowledge and attitude toward the vaccine. This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the general population of Pakistan toward TCV. The differences in mean scores and factors associated with typhoid conjugate vaccine knowledge, attitudes, and practices were investigated. A total of 918 responses were received with a mean age of 25.9 ± 9.6, 51% were women, and 59.6% had graduation-level education. The majority of them responded that vaccines prevent illness (85.3%) and decrease mortality and disability (92.6%), and typhoid could be prevented by vaccination (86.7%). In total, 77.7 and 80.8% considered TCV safe and effective, respectively. Of 389 participants with children, 53.47% had vaccinated children, according to the extended program on immunization (EPI). Higher family income has a higher odds ratio (OR) for willingness toward booster dose of TCV [crude odds ratio (COR) = 4.920, p–value <0.01; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.853, value of p <0.001], and negative attitude regarding the protective effect of TCV has less willingness toward the booster dose with statistical significance (COR = 0.388, value of p = 0.017; aOR = 0.198, value of p = 0.011). The general population of Pakistan had a good level of knowledge about the benefits of TCV, and attitude and practices are in favor of the usage of TCV. However, a few religious misconceptions are prevalent in public requiring the efforts to overcome them to promote the usage of vaccines to prevent the disease and antibiotic resistance