No infant had hyponateremia, hyperkelemia or low zinc level.

Congenital malformations were studied over a period of five years in 10,100 consecutive births including still births at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla. Out of these, 180 babies had one or the other congenital malformations and the overall incidence was 1.78%. Amongst the 311 still born babies 47 had congenital malformations indicating that the incidence of congenital malformations was much higher in still born babies (15.1%) as compared to the live born babies (1.3%). The malformations involving the central nervous system were the commonest (40%) followed by musculoskeletal system (23.8%) while genitourinary system malformations were the least common and accounted for 3.8% of the cases. Incidence of congenital malformations was the highest in mothers over 35 years of age and gravida four and more. The incidence was 2.8% in both the groups; the incidence of congenital malformation was more in babies weighing < 2500 gms and was 2.6%.

This cross sectional study was done to find the prevalence of sustained hypertension and prehypertension among school children aged 11-17 years. A total of 1085 apparently healthy students from rural and urban schools in hills of northern India were examined using standard methods. Students with blood pressures above the 90th centile were reexamined after four weeks. The mean BMI of the students was 17.5 ± 2.7 kg/m2, 5 (0.4%) were obese, and 39 (3.5%) overweight. After two evaluations, hypertension was identified in 62 (5.9%) children and prehypertension in 130 (12.3%). Urban and rural children had comparable rates of elevated BP (hypertension and prehypertension). Rates of elevated BP were significantly higher (46.5% vs 17%, P<0.001) among those with high BMI (overweight and obese) compared to those with normal BMI. In conclusion, nearly 20% of the school children had elevated blood pressures.

Acute renal failure is an unusual complication of wasp stings. We report three cases who developed acute renal failure after multiple wasp stings (Vespa magnifica). Two patients had evidence of intravascular haemolysis and rhabdomyolysis whereas one patient investigation showed no evidence of intravascular haemolysis or rhabdomyolysis. All three cases had impaired liver functions. Oligo-anuria was seen in all three of the patients and all of them required dialytic support. One patient died of massive gastrointestinal bleeding while the remaining two recovered completely. Although acute renal failure after wasp stings is typically caused by acute tubular necrosis in the setting of haemolysis or rhabdomyolysis, in some patients, renal failure may result from a direct nephrotoxic effect or acute interstitial nephritis from a hypersensitivity reaction to the wasp venom.

Comprehensive molecular characterization of DEC pathotypes, their incidence estimates, and antibiogram patterns will help in ascertaining better diagnostic and therapeutic measures in management of diarrheal diseases.