Browsing by Author "Dilip Kumar Paul"

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Efficacy of high-dose Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in controlling acute watery diarrhea in Indian children: A randomized controlled trial
(2009) Sriparna Basu; Dilip Kumar Paul; Sutapa Ganguly; Mridula Chatterjee; Pranab Kumar Chandra
AIM: To evaluate the effective dose of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) as probiotic in acute watery diarrhea (AWD) in Indian children. SETTING: Hospital-based study. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, blinded trial. METHODS: All patients of AWD admitted over 1 year were included in the study. They were randomized into 3 groups to receive either only oral rehydration solution (ORS) (group A/control), ORS+LGG powder containing 10 colony forming units (CFU) (group B), or ORS+LGG powder containing 10 CFU (group C) twice daily for a minimum period of 7 days or until diarrhea stopped along with correction of dehydration. None of them received any other drug such as antibiotic or antidiarrheal medication. The duration and frequency of diarrhea and vomiting were studied. Data were analyzed by SPSS-10 software. RESULTS: The study comprised of 559 patients, group A/controls (n=185), group B (n=188), and group C (n=186). All the groups were similar with respect to age, number of breastfed infants, presentation with dehydration, degree of protein energy malnutrition, and rotavirus infection. The frequency and duration of diarrhea, requirement for intravenous therapy, and hospital stay were significantly lower in both the intervention groups compared with the controls. There was no significant difference between the 2 intervention groups. No complication was observed from the doses of LGG used. CONCLUSIONS: Both the doses of LGG (10 and 10 CFU) were equally effective to decrease the frequency and duration of diarrhea and reduction in hospital stay in patients of AWD. © 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
Risk factors for mortality from neonatal tetanus: 7 years experience in North Bengal, India
(2006) Sriparna Basu; Dilip Kumar Paul; Sutapa Ganguly; Pranab Kumar Chandra
Background: Neonatal tetanus (NNT), a preventable disease, remains an important cause of infant mortality in developing countries such as India. Objectives: To evaluate the demographic and clinical data of NNT in North Bengal, India and determine the risk factors for mortality. Methods: Hospital records of all cases of NNT admitted over a 7-year period (1997-2003) were analysed. Demographic data, clinical presentation, progression and outcome were evaluated and comparisons made between the group who survived and those who died. Results: The overall mortality was 66.3%. The group who survived had a significantly greater mean bodyweight on admission, later onset of the disease and were hospitalised early. Risus sardonicus, generalised rigidity, fever, intercurrent infections and respiratory arrest were significantly more common in the fatal group. Conclusion: Although over the 7 years improvement was observed in admissions for NNT, maternal literacy and the economic status of families, there is a persisting lack of awareness regarding antenatal care, and deliveries are still conducted unhygienically by untrained persons. © 2006 The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.