SUMMARYPurpose: To assess the association between epilepsy and exposure to the parasites, Toxocara canis and Taenia solium in a slum-community in India. Methods: A door-to-door survey to determine the prevalence of epilepsy was carried out by trained field workers. For every case, one age-and gender-matched control was selected from the same community. Serologic evaluation was carried out to detect antibodies against T. canis and T. solium. Key Findings: The crude prevalence of active epilepsy was 7.2 per 1,000. We enrolled 114 people with active epilepsy and 114 controls. The prevalence of antibodies to T. canis was similar in people with active epilepsy (4.7%; 5 of 106 people) and in controls (5.7%; 6 of 106 people). The prevalence of antibodies to T. solium was 25.5% (27 of 106) in people with active epilepsy, significantly higher than in controls (12.3%; 13 of 106 cases; p = 0.02). Adjusted conditional (fixed-effects) logistic regression estimated an odds ratio of 2.8 (95% confidence interval 1.2-6.8) for detection of T. solium antibodies. Nineteen people with active epilepsy demonstrated evidence of neurocysticercosis (NCC) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including 7 (36.5%) with solitary cysticercus granuloma. Significance: Our findings do not support an association between epilepsy and exposure to T. canis in the community studied. A significant association between T. solium exposure and epilepsy was observed. Of those with active epilepsy and evidence of NCC on MRI, a large proportion demonstrated solitary cysticercus granuloma.

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe and dehydrating diarrhea in children aged under 5 years. We undertook this hospital-based surveillance study to examine the possible relationship between the severity of diarrhea and the various G-group rotaviruses circulating in India. Stool samples (n = 2,051) were systematically collected from 4,711 children aged <5 years admitted with severe acute gastroenteritis to 12 medical school centers from April 2011 to July 2012. Rotavirus testing was undertaken using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay kit for the rotavirus VP6 antigen (Premier Rotaclone Qualitative ELISA). Rotavirus positive samples were genotyped for VP7 and VP4 antigens by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction at a central laboratory. Of the stool samples tested for rotavirus antigen, 541 (26.4%) were positive for VP6 antigen. Single serotype infections from 377 stool samples were compared in terms of gastroenteritis severity. Among those with G1 rotavirus infection, very severe diarrhea (Vesikari score ≥ 16) was reported in 59 (33.9%) children, severe diarrhea (Vesikari score 11–15) in 104 (59.8%), moderate (Vesikari score 6–10) and mild diarrhea (Vesikari score 0–5) in 11 (6.3%). Among those with G2 infection, very severe diarrhea was reported in 26 (27.4%) children, severe diarrhea in 46 (48.4%), and moderate and mild diarrhea in 23 (24.2 %). Among those with G9 infection, very severe diarrhea was reported in 47 (54.5%) children, severe diarrhea in 29 (33.6%), and moderate and mild diarrhea in 10 (11.9%). Among those with G12 infection, very severe diarrhea was reported in 9 (40.9%) children and severe diarrhea in 13 (59.1%). The results of this study indicate some association between rotavirus serotypes and severity of gastroenteritis.

BACKGROUNDAgeing is a natural process. By 2020, the number of people aged 60 years and older will outnumber children younger than 5 years in the entire world. This natural phenomenon of population ageing is rampant in developing countries like India while data and studies regarding health conditions and prevalence of multimorbidity is lacking.

Background:Obesity is a complex, multi-factorial chronic disease. Overweight and obesity are the fifth leading risk for global deaths.Objectives:To find the prevalence and risk factors for obesity in women aged 20-60 years in Ludhiana city.Methods:The present study is a community based cross sectional study carried out in an urban area of Ludhiana among women aged 20-60 years. Among the study population of 324 women, a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to record the socio-demographic and anthropometric profile of women. Chi square test and logistic regression was used to find the association of obesity and hypertension with socio-demographic variables.Results:The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 12.7% and 29.6% respectively. Obesity was found to be more common among middle-aged Punjabi housewives belonging to upper socio-economic strata. There was strong association between overweight/obesity and hypertension.

Background: The availability and affordability of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are critical to the success of public health initiatives enabling care for people with epilepsy in the community. Objective: To pilot survey the availability and affordability of AEDs in the community. Methods: Field workers used standard WHO–Health Action International approaches and collected data on the availability of, and maximum retail prices of originator brands and least price generics of AEDs in 46 randomly selected public ( n = 29), private ( n = 8), and charitable ( n = 9) pharmacy outlets. Median price ratios were computed apropos international reference prices of corresponding medications and affordability gauged with reference to daily wage of lowest paid worker. Results: Only 10 outlets (7 – private, 3 – public, and none – charitable) stocked at least one essential AED. Median price ratios varied between 1.1 and 1.5 essentially reflecting the difference between the least price generics and originator brands. Of note, carbamazepine-retard, 200 mg put up the slightest difference in prices of originator and least price generic brands and also was the most affordable AED. Conclusions: The availability and affordability of most AEDs were poor and hence, this needs to be studied on a wider scale and thereafter efforts to improve both the availability and affordability are desirable in order to address the huge treatment gap for epilepsy in India.