1.Adverse events associated with Measles and Rubella vaccination campaign 2019 in India
Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research 2021;10(1):44-46
Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to study the various adverse reactions caused post measles and rubella vaccination done during measles rubella (MR) vaccine campaign in India.
Materials and Methods:
Prospective, observational study was done in a government tertiary care pediatric intensive care unit. Children aged between 9 months to 15 years, who presented with adverse effects (severe enough to warrant admission) within 7 days of MR vaccine administration.
Results:
Most common presenting complaint was fever (44.8%), followed by vomiting (34.5%), abdominal pain and dizziness (31%). Abnormal body movements were noted in two children (6.8%) on first day and in one child on fifth day of vaccine administration. Two children (6.8%) presented with generalized macular rashes all over the body on 4th day after vaccination. Altered sensorium on same day of vaccine administration was the presenting symptom of one child. All children improved gradually and were discharged after few days with no mortality or long-term morbidity. Investigations were done according to the protocol of the unit; nothing came significant to be reported. Neither of the children had positive blood culture.
Conclusion
MR vaccination programs are scientifically sound, highly recommended and proven effective globally. Causality assessment of adverse events is still an evolving science, and despite taking all the measures and adopting all the available scientific methods, sometimes it is not possible to incontrovertibly prove the causal association of an event with a vaccine. Much more advancement in this area is needed.
2.The Clinical, Etiological, and Demographic Profile of Children Aged 1 to 14 Years with Seizures Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Gwalior District, India: A Cross-Sectional Study
Vasudevan MANI ; Ghanshyam DAS ; Arvind GUPTA ; Ajay GAUR ; Durgesh SHUKLA
Annals of Child Neurology 2024;32(2):92-98
Purpose:
The clinical profile of seizures among children exhibits ethnic and geographical variations. The objective of this study was to examine the clinical, etiological, and demographic profiles of childhood seizures.
Methods:
This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study. Data were collected on the socio-demographic profile, details of the clinical presentation of seizure episodes, past history of meningitis, and neuroimaging (i.e., computed tomography [CT] scans), as well as the history of risk factors. Numbers, percentages, the chi-square test, and the Fisher exact test statistic were calculated. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results:
This study included 102 patients, of whom 82 experienced generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) and the remaining 20 had focal seizures. The most common age at presentation was between 1 and 4 years (55.9%). Approximately 70.0% of the children experienced postictal confusion and drowsiness, 38.2% had fever or sleep deprivation, and 25.5% suffered from headaches or vomiting. Postictal confusion and drowsiness were significantly more prevalent in children with GTCS (76.8%) compared to those with focal seizures (45.0%). Cerebral edema was the most common abnormality detected on CT scans in children with GTCS (n=6).
Conclusion
Younger age, neonatal brain insult, and family history were found to be associated with a higher risk of seizure episodes. Postictal confusion and drowsiness were identified as the most common clinical features. Postictal confusion and drowsiness were significantly more prevalent in GTCS compared to focal seizures. Cerebral edema was the most common abnormality observed in GTCS on CT neuroimaging.