A study of prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and validation of Immunoglobulin M for Mycoplasma pneumoniae in the diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is one of the most common causes of childhood community-acquiredpneumonia (CAP) and common cause of mortality and morbidity in young children. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is promising withhigher specificity and superior sensitivity to that of culture or single point serology. Objective: This study was conducted to estimate theprevalence of MPP, and to compare the efficacy of PCR and immunoglobulin M (IgM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)for the diagnosis of MPP among CAP in children. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in children between 2 monthsand 12 years of age admitted with clinical and radiological features of pneumonia. The children were presumed clinically to have MPinfection as per IAP guidelines when they had a cough and fever for more than 5 days. A predesigned proforma was used to collecthistory and clinical examination findings. Routine investigations such as complete blood count, C-reactive protein, chest X-ray, andblood culture were done. Those suspected of infection with MP infection were further subjected to PCR and IgM ELISA. Results: MP(27%) was found to be an important cause of CAP in children between 2 and 8 years. The most common clinical symptoms were coughand fever (100%) followed by myalgia (20.8%), arthralgia (16.6%), and rashes (12.5%). PCR is the rapid reliable diagnostic test witha sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 93%. IgM ELISA is equally effective diagnostic test with sensitivity of 83% and specificity of100%. Conclusion: MP is an emerging cause of CAP in school going as well as preschool children. Although PCR is an alternative testof culture, use of simple test like IgM ELISA will reduce the cost of investigation and help us in arriving at definitive diagnosis of MP

A study of abuse including physical, substance, and sexual abuse among urban adolescent children

Background: Adolescents are the future citizens of a country, and it is imperative to systematically address their needs. The prevalenceof abuse including physical and sexual, by these adolescents as well as against them, have been increased. Objective: The study wasundertaken to estimate the prevalence of abuse including physical, substance, and sexual abuse in adolescents of Bengaluru urban.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among the adolescents aged 10-19 years in Bengaluru. A pretestedself-designed semi-structured questionnaire which included demographic profile and details of the substance abuse (physical and sexualabuse), juvenile delinquency was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: A total of 303 adolescents were enrolledduring the study period, out of which 167 adolescents were from school and 136 adolescents from the slum. Most children (54.1%)belonged to the age group of 14-16 years. Smoking (48.5%) was the most common form of abuse among the parents. The most commonsubstance abuse seen among children was smoking (30%). Majority were involved in violence with other adolescents (71%). Sexualabuse was seen more in slum children as compared to school children. Substance abuse among children was mostly influenced byfriends in 70 (40.7%) cases. Conclusion: Substance abuse was common in male slum adolescents for which peer pressure and curiositywere the main influences. More than one-quarter of slum adolescents reported physical abuse while sexual abuse was more commonlyreported in female slum adolescents