Background: Burn is the coagulation necrosis of tissue caused as a result of application of heat which is categorized depending upon its depth. Amputation in burn patient is widely reported especially in severe burn to enhance survival. Though the number of amputations is low in civilian population but it represents a significantly large economic loss. Objective was to do a retrospective and prospective study of amputation in burn patients in Kashmir.Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively from July 2007 to June 2017 and prospectively from July 2017 to June 2019 in department of plastic and reconstructive surgery, SKIMS, Srinagar. For prospective group the patients were admitted and resuscitated as per the protocol and then shifted to the burn unit. The patients were closely monitored and the procedures like early and delayed amputation were done as needed.Results: We had finally a total of 35 patients with 24 in retrospective and 11 in prospective group. In retrospective group, 9 patients had minor while as 15 had major amputation. Majority of the patients were in the age group of 20-40 years (58.3%). In prospective group, 6 patients had major while as 5 patients had minor amputation. Majority of the patients belonged to the age group of 20-40 years (45.5%).Conclusions: The amputation rate in burn patients is not reassuring in Kashmir with minor or major amputation needed in almost all patients and the most effected age group is the “productive age group” representing a significant economic loss.

Background: Viral hepatitis is a major health problem worldwide. It is caused by at least five hepatotropic viruses, hepatitis A virus being the commonest one. The virus is responsible for most forms of acute benign hepatitis, although fulminant hepatic failure can occur. HAV spreads mainly through the fecal-oral route and hence is preventable by precautionary methods. Hepatitis A vaccine is available and highly effective in preventing disease. Objective of current study was to find the incidence of hepatitis A in children with features of acute icteric hepatitis of district Shopian of Kashmir.Methods: We sampled 83 children aged above 1 year to 17 years who attended the hospital for different features suggestive of hepatitis and evaluated them after proper and detailed history followed by relevant investigations and serology. Cases were labelled positive or negative on the basis of HAV IgM antibody.Results: We had 83 cases, 36 were boys (43.37%) and 47 were girls (56.62%). The girls made just more than a half of the cases and the boys just below half the cases. 13.25% (11 cases) were aged 1 to 4 years (none was below 2 years), 32.53% (27) were 4 to 7years, 32.53% (27) were 7 to 10 years, 16.87% (14) were 10 to 13 years, only 4.82% (4 cases) reported were 13 to 17 years. All 83 proved to be hepatitis A (100%).Conclusions: This study found that the incidence of hepatitis A in children with features of acute icteric hepatitis is very high in the children of district Shopian & a survey with a very large sample size will be ideal.

Background: Covid-19 disease emerged nearly two and a half years back and lead to a pandemic whose severity ranged from a mild to a severe disease, those who were vaccinated had an asymptomatic infection or had a mild variety of the disease. Objective: We aimed to compare the serum antibody levels in vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects. Method: Antibody levels in vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects were measured and compared. Results: Of the 200 subjects, the vaccinated subjects had a higher antibody level (mean 5616.13 AU/ml) against the unvaccinated subjects (mean 181.22 AU/ml), hence a greater protection against the Covid.

Objective: Respiratory disorders are the most common cause of admission for neonatal intensive care unit whose incidence ranges from 4% in term babies and 20% in post-terms to 30% in pre-terms. The incidence increases with decreasing gestational age and birth weight. Severity of distress is assessed by scoring systems. There is no study conducted in this tertiary center; for this reason, we took this study to identify the etiology and risk factors for neonates admitted. Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective study done at a tertiary care center in NICU of GB Pant hospital, Srinagar, for a period of 6 months between January 2020 and June 2020. A total of 320 babies were taken up for the study with 187 (58.4%) male and 133 (41.6%) female babies. Respiratory distress was defined as having any two signs of respiratory rate of >60 breaths/min, subcostal or intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, grunting, with or without cyanosis. Results: A total of 320 babies were included in the study with 58.4% male babies and 41.6% female babies. 65% were born by cesarean section and 35% by vaginal delivery. 71.8% babies were born at term and 28.2% babies pre-term. 32.5% had birth weight of <2.5 kg and 67.5% had more than 2.5 kg. 95.62% had a respiratory cause of distress with 60.9% TTN, 27.8% RDS, 6.25% MAS, and 0.62% congenital pneumonia. Only 4.37% cases had a non-respiratory cause with 2.5% sepsis, 1.25% congenital heart disease, and 0.62% congenital diaphragmatic hernia as cause of respiratory distress. Conclusion: 95.62% cases of distress had a respiratory cause with TTN and RDS accounting for a majority of the cases both of which can be easily averted by taking necessary preventive measures by assessing the antenatal risk factors or managed effectively by identifying the cases early on post-partum.