No abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination has been suggested for those with comorbidities, although there are concerns regarding the vaccine's safety. This study aimed to compare the severity and incidence of post-vaccination side effects in people with and without comorbidities. Another aim of this study was also to look for the effect of multimorbidity on adverse events. MethodsThis observational study was conducted from November 2021 to February 2022. Data were collected from all over Pakistan using a self-administered online questionnaire that inquired about the subject's demographic, clinical, and COVID-19 vaccination profiles. Data analysis was done by using SPSS software version 22.0. (Chicago, IL, IBM Corp.). ResultsA total of 421 participants were included in the study, and 31.4% of individuals had underlying comorbidity. The overall mean age was 33 years (range: 13-85 years). This study included recipients of all major types of COVID-19 vaccines being used in Pakistan. Only 67.4% of the subjects had only underlying comorbidity, and hypertension was the most common one out of all comorbidities. Participants with comorbidities were not at a greater risk to produce vaccine-related adverse events when compared to those with no comorbidities. Comorbidity was also found to be statistically non-significant to the severity of the side effects. Only one subject with comorbidity produced a side effect and required hospitalization. Multimorbidity was not associated with a greater incidence of side effects. Multimorbidity was not significantly linked with the severity of the adverse effects, except muscle pain (p<0.05) and breathlessness (p<0.05). ConclusionIt can be concluded that comorbidities do not affect the COVID-19 vaccine's reactogenicity but studies on an extensive scale should be conducted regarding individuals with multiple pre-existing comorbidities.

Self-medication is an important health issues among patients’ behavior in reaction to their ailment. Objectives: To assess self-medication practices and their associated risks in medical & non-medical people of Sialkot, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Methodology: Present study enrolled 250 subjects from Sialkot between October-November 2020 through self-administered web-based questionnaire. It assessed demographic details, prevalence and practice of self-medication along-with the attitude of respondents towards self-medication and associated side effects. Statistical analysis: Data was analyzed by SPSS, v-24. Results: Among enrolled subjects, mean age was 21 ± 1.8 years. Female: Male percentages were (59.4%: 40.2%). Self-medication was common among 85% subjects. The most common reason for self-medication in medical people was to need a quick relief (42.9%) and in non-medical people were previous experience with symptoms (35.2%). Conclusion: We concluded that habit of self-medication is a common practice among educated generation knowing the fact that it harms their lives. Hence, need of hour is to educate them in-order to ensure safe practices. Key Words: Self Medication, Prevalence and Risk Factors.

Background:Appendicitis is condition which describes and explain inflammation of appendix. Signs and symptoms of appendicitis are generally severe discomfort in lower right part of abdominal cavity, vomiting, nausea and loss of appetite while around 40% of people do not show these distinctive characteristics of appendicitis. For management of acute appendicitis appendectomy is required on urgent basis. The incidence of surgical wound infections or surgical sites infections are greatly reduced by administration of antibiotics prophylactically. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted for minor and major surgery patients of appendicitis at Sandman Provincial Hospital Quetta and Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Quetta. The study was carried out over period of 4 months between May 2018 and September 2018. Convenient sampling method was adopted for enrolling study patients A standardized data collection form was developed based on recommendations of Center for Disease Control (CDC) guiding principle for inhibition of SSI was used. Ethical approval was obtained from Ethical Committee of Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of Balochistan Quetta. Results: Results showed that majority of patients of appendicitis 133 (68.2%) were from age group 1 to 20 years. Majority of participants that had undergone surgery for appendicitis were male 114 (58.5%). Majority of respondents belonged to the urban area i.e 123. Outcomes on follow up showed majority of the patients had healed their wound which were using prescribed antibiotics for post-operative care. Only one patient reported the sepsis. Metronidazole was prescribed to most of the patient's i.e 183, Ceftriaxone to 162, Gentamicin to 155, Moxifloxacin to 19 among other antibiotics. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that antibiotics are rationally prescribed in tertiary care hospitals of Quetta, also prophylactic and post-operative prescribing of antibiotics yield the desired outcomes.

No abstract