Introduction: The admission of the baby to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be a stressful predicament for parents. This study aims to evaluate parental stress levels and the factors impacting them. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the NICU of a tertiary care centre for 3 months. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics of parents, neonates and Parental Stressor Scale: NICU (PSS: NICU) to measure parental stress. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and an independent t-test. Results: P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Most of the parents reported medium stress levels (3–3.9). The mean total parental stress score of parents was 3.31 (0.36). Amongst the PSS: NICU subscales, the NICU sight and sound caused maximum stress to the parents (mean = 3.35 [0.48]) followed by the relationship with the baby and parental role (mean = 3.34 [0.44]). Mothers felt more stressed as compared to fathers (mean = 3.60 [0.23] vs. 3.08 [0.28]; P < 0.05). Conclusion: Higher parental stress levels were seen in lower age group (18–25 years), less than high school education, unemployed and previous history of neonatal death, outborn deliveries, pre-term (gestational age <37 weeks), birth weight <1500 g, longer duration of respiratory support (>3 days), intubated with ventilatory support, not started on feeds and not given kangaroo mother care. Parents of NICU-admitted neonates are under significant stress, and there is a necessity to provide family-centred care.

Introduction: Acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), most commonly pneumonia, are one of the major reasons for which children are brought to the hospitals. Effective reduction of mortality due to pneumonia is possible if children suffering from pneumonia are treated appropriately and promptly. Hypoxemia is the most serious manifestation and strong risk factor for mortality among children with acute lower respiratory tract infections. Early detection and treatment of hypoxemia is important in the management of these children. So in our study, we tried to determine prevalence of hypoxemia in children with acute respiratory tract infections. Methods: It was a prospective cross sectional study on 150 children aged 2 months-60 months with acute respiratory symptoms (<14 days). The children who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were evaluated and examined thoroughly and their data was recorded in a pretested proforma. Statistical analysis was done with IBM SPSS 18. Results: Present study revealed prevalence of hypoxemia to be 35.3% with no significant correlation of age. Conclusion: Hypoxemia is present in almost one third of <5 children admitted with acute LRTIs and it is significantly associated with immediate outcome. Therefore sufficient measures should be employed to detect and manage hypoxemia.

Introduction: Acute lower respiratory tract infection specifically pneumonia, account for considerable number of deaths in under 5 children in our country. Hypoxemia is a dangerous sign which needs to be promptly treated. We have taken up this study in order to point out clinical predictors of hypoxemia so that they can be used at peripheral levels where pulse oxymetry the gold standard for measurement of percent oxygen saturation is unavailable. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the pediatric intensive care unit of a medical college over a period of one year. This is a prospective cross sectional study. Children in the age group of 2-60 months were included in the study as per the inclusion criteria. Oxygen saturation of <95% was taken as cut off for hypoxemia. Results: 150 children were studied out of which 35.3% had hypoxemia. Breathlessness, fever, irritability, inability to drink/breast feed, unusual sleepiness, convulsions were the presenting symptoms, out of these fever was present in 84% of children. The most frequent clinical sign was tachypnea (92%), followed by nasal flaring, chest indrawing and crepitations. There were 6 deaths, which were in the hypoxemic group, and no deaths were in the non-hypoxemic group. Conclusion: No single sign is a good predictor of hypoxemia but a combination of signs when used can act as a surrogate for pulse oxymeter. These signs with high positive predictive value can be easily taught to primary health care workers in the peripheral health centers where pulse oxymeters are not available.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a chronic disorder distinguished by continuous joint inflammation; the usual indicators of joint inflammation include pain, swelling and limitation of mobility. "Idiopathic" indicates that we do not know the aetiology of the disease and "juvenile", in this situation, means that the beginning of the symptoms generally occurs before 16 years of age. JIA is categorized into oligoarticular, polyarticular, systemic, psoriatic, enthesitis-related and undifferentiated arthritis. To assist better comprehend JIA for research objectives; generally agreed categorization criteria are applied. Although these are not diagnostic, they can assist guide physicians when treating a youngster with arthritis. One of the most extensively used categorization criteria was developed by the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) in 1995 by expert consensus, and has undergone additional adjustments. In this nation, the number of JIA is huge: the estimated prevalence ranges from 350 000 to 1.3 million. Almost all children with arthritis experience chronic or recurring pain with 70 percent impairment in physical activities. Approximately half of patients with JIA have limited use of upper limbs or hands and difficulty with hand strength.