Archana V.’s scientific contributions

The term IRIS is almost solely used in human immunodeficiency virus seropositive patients who initiated anti-retroviral therapy (ART), the term paradoxical reaction is generally used to describe a clinical worsening of tuberculosis disease after the initiation of antituberculosis treatment. Distinguishing this paradoxical reaction (PR) from disease progression or treatment failure is an important issue in CNS tuberculosis management. Thus, one must keep a watch for neurological deterioration in a child with Central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS TB). We are presenting a case of a non-Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) child who developed TB-IRIS while on anti-tubercular drugs, who subsequently responded to steroids along with continuation of antitubercular treatment (ATT).

Background: H1N1 influenza pandemic began in Mexico in 2009 and soon spread to the other parts of the globe. The 2009 H1N1 virus contained a unique combination of gene segments that had not previously been identified in humans or animals. Objective: To study the clinical and epidemiological profile and outcome of H1N1 influenza among children admitted to pediatric ward and intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: Prospective data of 82 children with suspected influenza illness were collected, and throat swabs sentfor reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing for H1N1. Epidemiological characteristics were analyzed in terms of clinical presentation and outcome. Results: Of the total 82 children with suspected influenza, majority (56.09%) were males, and majority (51.2%) were in the age group of 1-5 years. Throat swab was positive for H1N1 isolate in 22 (26.8%) cases. Clinically, all of them had flu-like illness. All 22 (100%) confirmed H1N1 cases had fever, 21 (95.4%) had cough, 18 (81.8%) had breathlessness, and 15 (68.1%)had running nose. 18 (81.8%) had chest X-ray abnormalities. 1 (4.5%) required mechanical ventilation and 1 (4.5%) succumbed to the illness. Conclusion: Fever, cough, breathlessness, and chest X-ray abnormalities were the most common presentation. A high index of suspicion of swine flu, during epidemics, and early treatment will lessen the mortality rates.