<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Allergic rhinitis is the most prevalent of allergic diseases in the world. Pharmacotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment.  Nasal corticosteroids being the most applicable drugs for its treatment. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of fluticasone propionate (FP) and mometasone furoate (MF) nasal sprays in the treatment of allergic rhinitis based on total nasal symptom score (TNSS) questionnaire.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, comparative study was conducted among 80 allergic rhinitis patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were randomly assigned to two groups: FP and MF groups. FP group received 200 µg dose of FP nasal spray (1 spray/nostril) daily and the MF group received 100 µg dose of MF nasal spray (1 spray/nostril) daily for 8 weeks. The effects of the two agents were compared based on TNSS questionnaire in 0, 4 and 8 weeks after the beginning of the treatment.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> At the end of eight weeks of treatment, both groups showed statistically significant (p&lt;0.005) improvements from their baseline TNSS. Mean TNSS was reduced from to 9.46 to 2.716 in FP group and from 10.18 to 2.504 in MF group.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Both the groups showed a significant therapeutic benefit in patients with allergic rhinitis. Even though, the difference between the two is not significant for 8 weeks therapy.   </p>

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> There is a range of negative consequences on the oral mucosa caused by the tobacco and alcohol from inceptive light mucosal changes to a full-blown malignancy. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of oral lesions resulting from the habits of addiction and prevalence of oral soft tissues changes with alcohol consumption, smoking, chewing and both type habits in individual residing in slums.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This cross-sectional study was carried out in the slums of Jammu city. A questionnaire was used to obtain the information on substance abuse habits followed by oral clinical examination in selected population of 1200 individuals &gt;15 years of age. The data collected were statistically analysed using chi-square test.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Of the 1200 study population, 816 were males and 384 were females and 72% were addicted to one or the other form of tobacco and alcohol. 32.6% showed oral mucosal changes, out of these, smoker’s melanosis was found in 10.4%, leukoplakia in 9.1%, oral submucus fibrosis in 6.6%, oral lichen planus in 2.8%, chewer’s mucosa in 2%, lichenoid oral lesion in 1.2%, erythroplakia in 0.5%.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The increased production and use of tobacco in India have led to increased prevalence of oral mucosal lesions. Community preventive and control programmes should be aimed at high risk individuals based on the epidemiological data gathered through such studies to reduce the burden of illness caused due to substance abuse.</p>

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Ear, nose and throat (ENT) emergencies are very common throughout the world. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment in the hands of expert will result in reduction of morbidity, mortality and referrals.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This retrospective study was conducted on 352 patients reporting in out-patient department (OPD) and emergency of District Hospital Ramban from June 2016 to May 2017. Demographic data as well as diagnosis were studied. The type of anaesthesia and type of procedure and outcome of emergency case were recorded. Patients with terminal cancer care admitted were excluded from the study.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 352 patients, 204 males and 148 females were included in present study. The commonest emergency was foreign body (69.03%), trauma (11.9%), epistaxis (9.6%), and abscess (6.8%). Procedures done were foreign body removal, fracture reductions, soft tissue injury repair, incision and drainage, packing and cauterisation.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Foreign body is the most common cause of ENT emergency and it is a preventable accident. Education of parents and public at large will go a long way in reducing these preventable mishaps in children. Timely management of emergencies in the hand of experts reduces the mortality and complication rate.</p>

Background: Otomycosis is the fungal infection of the external ear with bothersome symptoms. The target of the study was to verify the frequency and identification of fungi responsible for the otomycosis and to give the most appropriate treatment. The aims and objectives of the study was to study clinical profile, causative fungal organisms of otomycosis, detect in vitro efficacy of various antifungal solutions against the fungi detected and to establish clinical efficacy of various topical antimycotic solutions in otomycosis in Kashmir. Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of ENT, GMC, Srinagar from February 2014 to July 2015. 152 clinically suspected otomycosis patients were subjected to mycological tests including Gram staining, 10% KOH staining, GTT, SDA and CBL stain to identify the organism. Clotrimazole, terbinafine, lulliconazole, sertaconazole and combination of 1% clotrimazole, chloremphenicol, beclomethasone were given randomly in equal number of these patients. Patients were followed for 4 weeks and results of different antifungals were evaluated clinically. Results: Out of 152 patients 61.8% were females and most of the patients belonged to age group of 25-34 yrs. Most of the patients reported in summer season. Otalgia and itching was the most common symptom. Aspergillus was the most common species identified whereas Candida albicans was the most common individual organism isolated. Lulliconazole was most effective drug whereas combination of 1% clotrimazole, chloremphenicol, beclomethasone was least effective. Conclusions: Clinical suspicion of otomycosis is important to prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics. Diagnosis of otomycosis is usually made by clinical findings with pruritis being most common symptom followed by otalgia. Invitro sensitivity test is of great importance to choose the most active antifungal agents. Patients are advised to avoid removing of ear wax by stiff materials.

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Kashmir valley witnessed devastating floods in the month of September 2014. The target of the study was to assess the changes in clinical profile of otomycosis and fungi responsible for the disease, in-vitro sensitivity of different fungi to various commercially available antimycotic solutions and clinical efficacy of various topical antimycotic solutions in otomycosis in pre and post flood period.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This study was conducted in the Department of ENT, GMC, Srinagar from February 2014 to July 2015. 152 clinically suspected otomycosis patients were subjected to mycological tests to identify the organism. Clotrimazole, terbinafine, lulliconazole, sertaconazole and combination of 1% clotrimazole, chloramphenicol, beclomethasone was given randomly in equal number of these patients and were followed for 4 weeks. Results of different antifungals were evaluated clinically.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The trend varies in pre and post flood period. <em>Candida albicans</em> was the most common organism isolated in pre-flood period whereas <em>Aspergillus flavus</em> was the most common organism isolated in post flood period. In the pre flood period <em>Candida</em> and <em>Aspergillus</em> species had equal rate of isolation. However, in post flood period <em>Aspergillus</em> was most common species isolated. Effect of lulliconazole and terbinafine was same in pre and post flood time but serticonazole and fluconazole showed slight variation in effectiveness in post flood period. Clotrimazole and combination of 1% clotrimazole, chloramphenicol and beclomethasone were least effective post flood.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Flood had its impact on profile of otomycosis. <em>A. flavus</em> became more common species in post flood period. It was observed that flood had some impact on drug treatment too but further studies and tests are needed to confirm the effectiveness of drugs on treatment of otomycosis.</p>