Objective:To determine the prevalence of major neurological disorders in children less than 10 years of age.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted in the framework of a population based, single centre, cross-sectional study at Ranbir Singh Pura town, 22 km south-west of Jammu city.Results:Eight cases of active epilepsy with a crude prevalence rate of 202 (95% confidence interval [CI] 180-220), five cases of Febrile seizures with a crude prevalence of 126 (95% CI 110-140) and eleven cases of cerebral palsy with a crude prevalence rate of 277 (95% CI 245-309) per 100,000 were found. Very few cases of other major neurological disorders were found. The prevalence rate of these disorders is estimated at same level as for other disorders such as - Post-meningitic sequelae, Infantile hemiparesis, Spinal deformity and Tic disorder is at 25 (95% CI 15-34) per 100,000.Interpretation:On the basis of the data obtained, the present study provides some valuable data on common neurological diseases among children in RS Pura town of Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir.

No abstract

The prevalence rates of cerebral palsy among children <10 years of age in R.S. town compare favorably with studies from developed countries.

Objective:To determine the Prevalence of mental retardation in children 3 to 10 years of age.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted in the framework of a population based, single centre, cross-sectional study at R.S.Pura town, 22 kms south- west of Jammu city.Results:A total of 61 (0.79 percent) of the 7,707 children surveyed had positive screening results on the Ten Questions instrument. 56 (0.72percent) children were diagnosed as suffering from mental retardation. Serious mental retardation was diagnosed in 48 children and mild mental retardation was diagnosed in 8 children. The combined prevalence estimates of mild and serious mental retardation were 7.2/1000. No notable sex differences were observed for either serious or mild retardation.Interpretation:The prevalence rates of mental retardation among children less than 19 years of age in R. S. town compares favorably with studies from developed world.

BACKGROUND:We report on the higher prevalence of deaf-mutes from a village in Jammu and Kashmir State of India.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A cross-sectional study among 79 deaf mutes using pedigree analysis, audiometry, imaging and molecular analysis.RESULTS:A high rate of hereditary deafness with 79 individuals diagnosed to be suffering from non-syndrome deafness in a total population of 2452 individuals residing in the village.INTERPRETATION:Flourishing of intermarriages led to a population with high prevalence of deafness