<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Allergic rhinitis is a common chronic paediatric disorder affecting about 40% of children affected. Allergic rhinitis results in day time fatigue, impairment of cognition and memory which significantly affect the learning process and impact on the school performance of children. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in school going children in Kashmir.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Cross sectional questionnaire based observational study. Study group included the school going children chosen randomly from various schools of urban and rural areas of Kashmir valley aged 6-18 years.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Out of the 402 children prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 28.85%. Prevalance in urban and rural area school going children was 55.2% and 44.8% respectively. The most common symptom was nasal obstruction 79.31%. The most common allergen was dust mite 77.58% and the most common comorbidity was asthma.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The prevalence of allergic rhinitis shows a significant rise in last few years, more common in rural areas, and existing as co-morbidity in a significant proportion of children demanding a comprehensive strategic approach to deal with them.</p><p class="abstract"> </p>

Introduction: Chronic otitis media (COM) is amongst the most common diseases treated by ENT surgeons in India. It has been advocated in lot of research articles that there is no significant difference in tympanoplasty done in active and inactive COM. The objective was to see if cortical mastoidectomy in cases of active mucosal COM, improves the success rate of tympanoplasty measured as per the following parameters: improvement in the hearing threshold by 15 dB, increased graft uptake and reduction in retraction of tympanic membrane in post operative period. Materials and Methods:             This study comprises of 120 patients coming to the ENT OPD from October 2016 to October 2017 with active mucosal COM with central perforation requiring tympanoplasty. These patients were randomly assigned to two groups: Group 1 of 60 subjects in which tympanoplasty without mastoidectomy was done, Group 2 of 60 subjects in which tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy was done. Patients were evaluated after a post operative period of 3 months. Results: The Results were the hearing improvement was 73.33% in group 1 while 83.33% in group 2, graft uptake was 63.33% in group 1 and 80% in group 2, graft retraction was 33.33% and 23.33% in group 1 and group 2 respectively. Conclusion: There was statistically significant difference in results in group with and without mastoidectomy in active mucosal chronic otitis media with respect to graft uptake and improved hearing.

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> DCR is an operation used to treat nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Various types of DCR are conventional, endonasal/endoscopic DCR and endolaser DCR. Several modalities like Kerrison punch and powered drill are used in endoscopic DCR to improve success rate, reduce complications and shorten operative time. Aim of the study were, to compare the advantages of non powered Kerrison  punch over powered drill regarding time in endoscopic DCR and to compare the advantages of non powered Kerrison punch over powered drill regarding complication rate in endoscopic DCR</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The study was carried out at ENT department of Dr. Ulhas Patil Medical College and hospital Jalgaon from March 2017 to July 2018. Total of 61 patients were included in the study (35 Kerrison punch and 33 drill).  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 68 endoscopic DCRs. Procedure success rate among Kerrison punch group was 88.00% vs 91% in drill group. The complications for both groups were statistically not significant(P=0.91).The mean operating time among Kerrison punch group was significantly lower than in drill group 80 vs. 135 min (P=0.0001).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Kerrison punch showed significant reduction in operating time when compared to drill for endoscopic DCR. No statistically significant difference was found between both groups regarding procedures, success rate and complications.</p>

Background:The pioneers of thyroid surgery, Theodor Kocher and Theodor Billroth, developed an acceptable technique of standardized thyroid surgery between 1873 and 1883. The aim of this prospective randomized trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of harmonic scalpel use compared with conventional haemostasis in open thyroid surgery. Methods: A total of 60 consecutive patients underwent open total thyroidectomy were randomized into two groups. Group A with harmonic scalpel and Group B with electrocautery with 30 patients each. Factors including age, sex, pathology, thyroid volume, haemostatic technique, operative time, drainage volume, thyroid weight, postoperative pain, postoperative complications and hospital stay. The results were analysed using the students t-test and x 2 . Results: No significant difference was found between the two groups concerning mean thyroid weight and mean hospital stay. The mean operative time was shorter in the harmonic scalpel group. The total fluid drainage fluid volume was lower in Harmonic scalpel group shorter in. Harmonic scalpel group experienced significantly less postoperative pain at 24 and 48 hours. Conclusions: In patients undergoing thyroidectomy, harmonic scalpel is a reliable and safe tool. AS compared with conventional haemostasis techniques, its use reduces operative times, post-operative pain, drainage volume and transient hypocalcemia.

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