Cough Syrup Use in Infants, A Dangerous Practice

Sleep disturbance is a very common finding in patients with persistent cough1. This is especially apparent in infants with common cold or influenza and the continuous crying can lead to considerable distress for the parents. Cough syrups which are easily available as over the counter medications can induce sleep, and many parents turn to this medication when their infant is suffering from persistent cough

Cholera on high alert

Madam, cholera is an acute bacterial infection of the intestine caused by the Vibrio cholera bacteria. Cholera spreads via the faecal-oral route and causes severe diarrhoeal infection. According to the World Health Organization, every year, three million to five million cases of cholera appear; among them 100,000-200,000 deaths occur globally [1]. The disease has been associated with seven pandemics in the past. The first pandemic of cholera occurred in 1817 [2]. In the 19th century, an outbreak of cholera in the Ganges delta, in India, led to the spread of cholera across the world. Six subsequent pandemics of cholera have since then killed millions of people. Later, in 1961, 1971, and 1991, outbreaks occurred in South Asia, Africa, and America respectively. Cholera is now endemic in most Southeast Asian countries, including Pakistan. ---Continu

Knowledge and perception regarding prostate cancer among men in Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: To assess the perception and attitude towards prostate cancer and its screening practices in Pakistan. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi June to October 2019, and comprised male subjects aged >40 years with no prior diagnosis of prostate cancer who were enrolled from the community.  Data was collected using a structured questionnaire which was available in English and Urdu languages. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. Results: Of the 383 subjects, 144(37.6%) were aged 40-49 years, 302(78.9%) were married, 120(31.3%) had received education up to the secondary level, and 204(53.3%) earned <Rs20,000 per month. Overall, 217(56.7%) participants had not heard about prostate cancer and 64(16.7%) were aware of the relevant diagnostic tests. There was a significant association of knowledge about prostate cancer and its diagnosis with the level of education and monthly income (p<0.05). Overall, 134(35.1%) subjects did not feel the need to get a screening test in the absence of urological complaints, 344(89.9%) had never been screened, and 327(85.4%) had never been advised by their physicians to get themselves screened for prostate cancer. Conclusion: The level of knowledge regarding prostate cancer and its screening practices was poor, and the attitude towards its screening was negative. Key Words: PSA, DRE screening, Knowledge, Pakistani men, Prostate cancer. Continuous..