BACKGROUND Acute appendicitis is a common clinical emergency presenting as acute abdominal pain. The presenting symptoms of appendicitis quite often overlap with other causes of acute abdomen making it difficult to make a correct diagnosis at an early stage of presentation. The diagnostic dilemma is further compounded by the fact that the classic clinical symptoms may not be present in about half of the cases. Improved diagnostic accuracy not only helps in taking early management decisions but also curtails negative appendectomy rates. One of the common scoring systems is Alvarado system (1) which is based on clinical and laboratory investigations of acute appendicitis. It includes pain migration to RIF, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, tenderness, rebound tenderness, fever, leukocytosis and shift of WBC to the left. Another scoring system RIPASA score has been in use in Asian countries that takes into consideration for age, sex, urine analysis, guarding, Rovsing sign, Asian origin in addition to the variables in Alvarado score. We wanted to compare Alvarado and RIPASA scoring systems.

Background: Fishermen community are involved in dangerous and complex profession and have diverse and untold constrains like work overtime in sea- nightshifts and late- night return from sea which worsen their morbid conditions.  Objectives were to explore the health seeking behaviour and challenges faced by the fishermen community to utilize the health care facility in Puducherry.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 102 individuals in the selected villages of fishermen community in Puducherry based on convenient sampling during September 2019 to November 2019.Results: Majority 63 (62.4%) utilized government hospitals for various illness. Nearly one-third of people 35 (34.5%) visited private hospital for their ailments and another 4 (3.9%) preferred pharmacies for their illness. More than half of the study participants working as an active fisherman 59 (57.8%) had approached health care facility during their illness (p<0.037). Around 54 (52.9%) subjects belonged to lower middle class visited health facility during their illness (p<0.046). Free of cost, 24×7 services, and easy accessibility, were reported as the commonest reason for choosing public health facility. Doctors availability, less time consumption and quality of medical care were the reasons for preferring private practitioners.Conclusions: Strengthening of public health care services near the fishermen community area is required to promote their health seeking behaviour. Also, special focus to be given for appropriate transport facility and arranging specialized healthcare professionals for this community.

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Background: People who fail to fulfill their roles and carryout responsibilities or whose behavior is inappropriate to the situation are viewed as Mental Illnesses.About 450 million people suffer from mental of behavioural disorders worldwide today, it was said that mental health problems are more common in developed world than developing world. Aim:This study was aimed to assess the knowledge about mental health and mental illness among Adolescents population. Methodology:A Quantitative Descriptive research design was used. 30 Adolescents were selected by using Purposive sampling technique who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and who were available during the period of data collection at selected Lawspetarea , Puducherry. Data was collected by using Self Structured Questionnaire. Results:It represents the Level of Knowledge among 14(46.7%) of them comes under Moderate Knowledge, 10 (33.3%) of them comes under Adequate Knowledge and 6(20%) of them comes under Inadequate Knowledge. Conclusion: The study conducted among 30 Adolescents. It reveals the significant with demographic variables such as staying in status at the level of knowledge. Majority of Adolescents have moderate knowledge. We provide opportunities for adolescents to gain knowledge regarding mental health and mental illness.