The nutritional response to home enteral nutrition (HEN) was evaluated in a prospective study of 44 consecutive children (median age 48 months) who received HEN for more than 1 month (median duration 6 months). Three groups were studied: 17 children were stunted, 14 were wasted and 13 were adequately nourished but unlikely to maintain oral intake during anticipated nutritional stress. In the stunted group (median duration of HEN 15 months) there was a significant correlation between improvements in height-for-age z scores and duration of feeds (r = 0.63; p = 0.006). In the wasted group (median duration of HEN 4 months) all anthropometric indices improved significantly (p < 0.05). HEN was also successful in maintaining nutritional status in the third group. Thus, supplementary HEN is an effective method of nutritional support for a variety of indications, provided concurrent advice from a nutritional care team is available.

The investigations revealed the source of the nosocomial outbreak which is crucial for initiating appropriate control measures.

Respiratory infections are caused by a vast number of pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Many of these have nonspecific symptoms and do not have a final diagnosis in resource-limited settings-due to either economic reasons or lack of diagnostic facilities. A good understanding of the tests available would be of immense help, especially in critically ill patients in whom knowing the exact causative organism is mandatory to shift from empirical treatment to a more specific treatment plan. There are even rapid test formats which have good sensitivity for common respiratory infections encountered in outpatient setup .