Surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) can be lifesaving for preterm babies with respiratory distress because of surfactant deficiency. Attempts have been made over the last two decades to make surfactant administration as smooth and as nontraumatic as possible. Lesser invasive techniques, such as less invasive surfactant administration, minimally invasive surfactant therapy, intrapartum pharyngeal surfactant therapy, and the laryngeal mask airway, are preferred over invasive techniques like intubate surfactant extubation to reduce trauma and peridosing adverse effects. However, at present, aerosolized surfactant (AS) via nebulization remains the only truly noninvasive method of SRT. Many animal and human studies have shown promising results with the use of AS with similar clinical effects to an instilled surfactant with greater safety potential. But still AS has not been adapted to routine neonatal care. There is still scope for studies to further strengthen the role of AS. Also, SRT is a constantly changing field with new innovations revolutionizing and replacing old techniques.

Background: Acute diarrhoeal disease among children under 5 years remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In India, diarrhoea attributes to 13% of under-5 mortality. As most diarrhoeal diseases have feco-oral route of transmission, the source of water supply, sanitary measures and personal hygiene are important factors in prevention of same. This study aims to determine various risk factors for diarrhoeal illnesses.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional observational case-control study done among under-5 children hospitalized during rainy months in paediatric ward of tertiary care centre. Information regarding participant’s age, sex, immunization status and breast feeding practices collected from the mother or caregiver of the child using a structured questionnaire.Results: Out of 55 cases and 55 controls enrolled, there was no significant difference in birth weight, gender, immunization status, socio economic profile, hygiene practices and sanitation facility between two groups. Statistically significant difference (p 0.01717) was seen in wasting associated with cases and controls however no difference in proportion of stunting was noted. The cases showed early age of start of complimentary feeding (5.86± 1.38m) and less duration of total breast feeding (15.94±4.09m) as compared to controls. Bottle feeding was seen in 69% cases as compared to 53% controls.Conclusions: In socio economically and environmentally similar conditions, faulty feeding is a significant risk factor for diarrhoeal illness in under 5 children. Wasting is also a significant risk factor associated with the same.

Objectives: Platelets play an important role in normal homeostasis and thrombus formation. They help in reducing vascular permeability, mediating inflammatory processes, promoting wound healing and host defence mechanisms. The aim of this was to estimate the prevalence of thrombocytopaenia, to categorise thrombocytopaenia according to the severity and to evaluate the role of thrombocytopaenia as a prognostic marker in patients admitted in PICU. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational study over a period of 15 months. One hundred and eighty patients of age 1 month–17 years, critically ill, admitted in PICU or transferred from paediatric ward were enrolled. Those, who had thrombocytopaenia during admission or during PICU stay, were labelled as ‘Thrombocytopaenia’ group, while the remaining patients who did not have thrombocytopaenia were grouped as ‘No thrombocytopaenia’ group. Results: The prevalence of thrombocytopaenia in PICU was 37.78% category wise, 35.29%, 33.82%, 19.12% and 11.76% of patients had mild, moderate, severe and very severe thrombocytopaenia, respectively. Mean duration of stay in PICU was more with severe and very severe thrombocytopaenia, followed by moderate and mild thrombocytopaenia, which was statistically significant (P = 0.00037). Mortality was higher in thrombocytopaenic group as compared to non-thrombocytopaenic patients expired, which was statistically significant (P = 0.001013). Conclusion: The prevalence of thrombocytopaenia in this study was similar to other studies. Severity of thrombocytopaenia correlated well with the duration of PICU stay. Overall mortality was 22.22% in this study.