Background: This study is targeted to find out the nutritional status of adolescents in rural population. Studies were done in urban areas of India on nutritional status and anemia prevalence these studies do not reveal the actual prevalence of anemia and malnutrition among adolescents in the rural areas. The purpose of this study is therefore to determine the nutritional status and prevalence of anemia in rural adolescents.Methods: Five hundred and eight rural adolescent school going and non-school going living in villages around A.V.M.C. and H., Pondicherry of age 10 to 19 years of both sexes were chosen by systemic random sampling. Migration populations were excluded from the study.Results: Among 24 Villages, of which 20 Camps were conducted and 508 Adolescents were included. The non-school going constituted 8.27% among male and 27.39% among female. Among the school going males were 42.2% and female were 30.5%. Among male, in the school going group, 33.96% in early, 36.14% of middle and 43.94% of late adolescents were under nourished, whereas in non-school going male, 50% in early, 58.33% of middle and 20% of late adolescents were under nourished. In case of female adolescent, in the school going group, 49.18% in early, 20.59% of middle and 18.42% of late adolescents were under nourished whereas in non-school going female, 14.29% in early, 36.84% of middle and 45.95% of late adolescents were under nourished. Stunting is more common among boys from 10 years of age to 14 years of age than girls. After 14 years of age stunting is more common in girls than boys. The average stunting was 46.18% in male and to 48.1% in females.Conclusions: Under nutrition was found to be a significant problem in both sexes of rural adolescents. Late adolescents were more undernourished in both sexes. Under nutrition was more common in boys than in girls. Anemia was more common in female than in male in both school going and non-school going. Anemia was more common in non-school going than in school going in both sexes. Severe anemia was more common in female of non-school going group.

Background: Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective child survival interventions which is practiced throughout the world. All countries in the world have an immunization programme to deliver selected vaccines to the targeted beneficiaries, specially focusing on pregnant women, infants and children, who are at a high risk of diseases preventable by vaccines. In India, six vaccines for preventable diseases (VPD) to reduce childhood mortality & morbidity ie. BCG, DPT, OPV, TT was coming into practice in 1978, after WHO immunization programme that was launched in 1974. The purpose of this study was to determine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of mothers regarding their understanding of immunization in rural areas in and around Pondicherry through the questionnaire is prepared in English and Tamil. Methods: Five hundred and one mothers of children from 0 to 5 years of age were included in the study. Questionnaire was carried out in mothers to assess the following parameters; The age of the mother, educational status, socioeconomic status, awareness and knowledge of immunization in previous siblings, knowledge about newer vaccines. Results: Out of 501 mothers included in the study, the mean age of the mother whose child undergoing vaccination is 25.88+4 years. The predominant mothers have completed higher education and mean annual income was 86,682.00. Birth order of the child showed no significance. Majority of children (62.6%) included in the study were born at Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospital. The results were analyzed through chi square test and they were significant for role of education (p value = 0.000), effect on maternal age (p value = 0.000) and not significant with birth order. Finally, correlating the effect of Delivery Place on antenatal vaccine awareness, Children who were born at ACMCH, showed higher significance rate in the knowledge of Antenatal Vaccine (p value = 0.000), proper dosage to be given (p value = 0.034), primary vaccination (p value = 0.000). Also, they were not aware of special vaccination (p value = 0.025) and the risk of not immunizing their children (p value = 0.016). Conclusions: Vaccination is the cost-effective preventive intervention carried out by the government to completely eliminate the preventable diseases by vaccines. There is a 100% immunization coverage up to 18 months were recorded for children born at our hospital. This is because of the incentive schemes practiced at our institute. The knowledge and awareness of antenatal vaccination is approximately 70-80 % of the mother's. Over all 30% of mothers are not aware that immunization can be done during minor ailments and after minor adverse reactions. Health professionals play a major role in creating both Immunization awareness and administration in prescribed date to mothers. In spite of awareness through various sources, knowledge on special vaccination to mothers is yet very poor. Initiative programme has to be taken to overcome this.

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is not uncommon in people of Asian origin. It presents as sudden onset paralysis resulting from hypokalemia due to intracellular shift of potassium because of thyroid hormone sensitive Sodium-Potassium ATPase. A 34-year-old male with history of weight loss, palpitation and increased sweating for three months presented with sudden onset weakness of both lower limbs, two hours post-dinner. On investigation, he was found to be having hypokalemia as well as thyrotoxicosis. His potassium was corrected and was put on non-selective beta blocker and carbimazole. The patient improved within 24 hours and was discharged with advice to continue with Inderal and Carbimazole and report after one month. Hyperthyroidism should be included in differential diagnosis of sudden onset lower limb weakness.

Background: Overweight / obesity is a major risk factor for non-communicable disease (NCD). Neck circumference (NC), a measure of upper body fat, can be used to predict obesity and its related disorders.Objectives: To find the association of NC and obesity with blood pressure (BP) in children aged 6-12 years. Method:A cross-sectional observational study was carried out over a period of 5 months; 800 children aged 6 to 12 years were included in the study and their body mass index (BMI), NC and BP were recorded with standard techniques. Children with malnutrition, neck abnormalities and metabolic disorders were excluded from the study. All variables were analysed using SPSS version 21. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the best cut-off value of NC to predict obesity and hypertension.Results: Of 800 children, 463 (57.9%) were boys and 337 (42.1%) were girls; 46 (9.9%) boys and 16 (4.7%) girls were obese and 55 (11.9%) boys and 46 (13.6%) girls were hypertensive. NC had a significant correlation with BMI in both boys and girls (p <0.001). Median NC in boys was 28 (26-29) and 27 (26-29) in girls. The best cut-off value of NC by ROC curve to identify obese boys was 24.5-25.5cm with a sensitivity of 93.5% and a specificity of 9.6%. The best cut-off value of NC by ROC curve to identify obese girls was 24.5-25.5cm with a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity 12.8%. The best cut-off value of NC by ROC curve to identify _________________________________________ 1

Background: The knowledge and practice of exclusive breastfeeding has been prejudiced by demographic, social, cultural, biophysical, and psychosocial factors. About two-thirds of under-five deaths in India are associated with inappropriate infant feeding practices. Objective of this study was to assess the awareness, knowledge and practice of breastfeeding among the mothers attending to the tertiary care institute at Puducherry, India.Methods: This hospital-based, cross-sectional study was carried out among 150 postnatal mothers who attended immunization clinics, post-natal and paediatric wards at the tertiary care hospital at Puducherry collecting data about breastfeeding knowledge and practices using a structured interview.Results: The breastfeeding practices were significantly poorer in terms of initiation, feeding colostrums, timing and frequency of feeding and inclusion of pre-lacteal feeds among obese women compared to the normal weighted mothers. The breastfeeding knowledge and attitude was healthy among the mothers as depicted by the awareness of nutritive value of breast milk by majority (84%) of mothers.Conclusions: The mothers had poor knowledge regarding initiation of breastfeeding and administration of colostrum. There was a positive attitude about exclusive breastfeeding, frequency of feeding and social aspects of breastfeeding.