INTRODUCTIONHypertension (defined as: systolic B.P.>=130mm Hg; diastolic B.P.>=80mm Hg) is a condition in which arterial B.P. is chronically elevated.1 It is the commonest cardiovascular disorder, posing a major public health challenge, a major risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and accounts for 20-50% of all deaths. 2 Raised blood pressure is responsible for 60% of strokes and 50% of coronary ABSTRACT Background: Hypertension, a common cardiovascular disorder accounts for 20-50% of all deaths. This risk can be greatly ameliorated by creating awareness about disease and its effective treatment alongside regular medical check-ups. Therapeutic failures result from patient non-compliance, manifested as intentional or unintentional errors in dosage or schedule, overuse or underuse of prescribed drugs and early termination of therapy. Adherence is helpful for management of hypertension and cost minimization. Non-adherence to the drug treatment is an important factor for uncontrolled hypertension and its complications. Methods: Patients were interviewed individually after taking informed consent, using pretested, predesigned, self-administered and closed ended questionnaire both before and 4 weeks after creating awareness about hypertension and its complications. Compliance measured by self-reporting in which knowledge of the patient about number of antihypertensive drugs being used, formulations of drugs, frequency of administration, duration of taking the drugs and knowledge of complications due to uncontrolled and untreated hypertension were assigned 1 score each. Patient having score of at least 4 out of total 5 was considered compliant. Results: No significant association of compliance with demographic and other variables like age, sex, marital status, economic status, education, urbanization, duration of treatment and drug procurement were noted. A significant increase in compliance in patients on antihypertensive medication was found 4 weeks after creating awareness about hypertension and its complication. A significant increase in compliance scores was also seen in non-compliant patients showing their shifting from non-compliance to compliance group. Overall compliance increased from 59.38% to 84.38%. A percentage decrease from 58.82% to 25% in patients having uncontrolled hypertension was also observed after the awareness about hypertension. Conclusions: Demographic variables, duration of hypertension and drug procurement have no significant effect on compliance to antihypertensive medication. There is persistence and improvement in compliance to antihypertensive medications after an education of the patients about hypertension and its complications.

Background: It is a well-known fact that drug-induced bleeding causes considerable morbidity and mortality. Drugs that induce bleeding do so by affecting either anti-platelet Function and /or coagulation. By the frequency of their use, anti-platelet, a coagulant, thrombolytic and NSAIDs are the most commonly implicated drugs. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is commonest adverse drug reaction associated with hospital admission. Significant number of these could be prevented if simple guidelines are followed. Spontaneous cessation of bleeding occurs in as many as 85% of cases. Early intervention is required in those if bleeding does not stop spontaneously. Objective of the study was to determine the pattern of drug induced bleeding in tertiary care hospital setting. Methods: It was a hospital based observational study conducted during one year study dura on ((June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015) amongst all adult patients admitted to the hospital with drug induced bleeding. Statistical analysis was done by frequency measurement for categorical variables. Chi-square test was used to determine associations. A p-value of<0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: A total number of 110 cases with history of bleeding were enrolled. Commonest drug that caused bleeding was a platelet with 29 (26%) cases followed by combination of 2 or more drugs in 25 (23%) cases, then NSAIDs and anticoagulants in 24 (21%) and 23 (20%) cases respectively. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was the commonest site of bleeding seen in 64 (58%) cases. The commonest drugs causing upper GI bleeding were NSAIDs seen in 24 (37.5%) cases followed by a platelet 22 (34.3%), combined drugs in 09 (14%) cases. (P<0.001) In overall severity most cases of drug induced bleeding had mild bleeding with 61 cases as compared to 38 cases of moderate and 11 cases of severe bleeding. There were significantly higher proportion of mild and moderate bleeding in upper gastrointestinal bleed cases in comparison to other sites of drug induced bleeding in this study (p<0.01). 7 (6.4%) out of 110 patients died and 103 (93.6%) patients recovered and were discharged. Conclusions: Clinical management of bleeds requires careful assessment of the patient, haemodynamic stabilisation, discontinuation of the offending medication and, where appropriate, reversal of the haemorrhagic effects and specific therapies such as endoscopic haemostatic therapy.

<p class="abstract">A stony hard rigid neck is the typical presentation in the angina of Von Ludwig. Suddenly with excruciating pain generalized severe cellulitis of the neck is noticed. It flares up quickly and extends on either side, in the submandibular, sublingual and submental triangles thereby manifesting as a medical emergency. This necessitates a prompt diagnosis and intervention medical or surgical as the case maybe, lest a life maybe lost. A neck swelling secondary to self-manipulation of a loose dental plate with impacted wire is being reported. This odontogenic infection had accessed the deeper tissues of a neck with elevation of the floor of the mouth obstructing the airway with consequent breathlessness and stridor; with need to regain his airway by emergency tracheostomy. At the same time a cervical fasciotomy was undertaken to drain the potentially involved spaces.</p><p class="abstract"> </p>

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