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Biomedical subjects

N S Deodhar

Publications and source records attributed to N S Deodhar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Epidemiological perspective of domestic and personal hygiene in India.

When the application of epidemiology moves from mass phenomenon in a society or community to the specific family or individual level occurrences, new vistas unfold. The classical epidemiological triad, with its multi-mode influences and interactions, becomes modified as a result of several lifestyle factors coming into operation. It is well known that even under severely adverse climatic conditions, microbes are able to survive, and even propagate, if an appropriate micro-climate is encountered. This principle also applies to human beings. Many incidences of disease or ailments, occurrence or absence, can be traced to the home habitat, micro-ecosystem, human behaviour and lifestyles. Hygienic practices are largely a matter of behaviour and usually have biological and social origin. Human behaviour is influenced and determined by social traditions, customs and culture. Furthermore, factors such as health consciousness, practical knowledge of health sciences, motivation and concern for taking steps for promoting health and preventing disease, can change behaviour and make the lifestyle conducive to health. In a village or slum area, families live in more-or-less the same environment. However, in the event of an outbreak of a communicable disease, many escape the attack. While some experience frequent episodes of illness, others continue to live fairly healthily. Obviously, several social and cultural factors and associated human behaviours seem to make the difference between health and disease. This discussion examines the domestic and personal hygiene in its epidemiological perspective.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed1998

Plague that never was: a review of the alleged plague outbreaks in India in 1994.

Judging by WHO criteria, there was not a single case in India in 1994 that could be taken as a confirmed case of plague. Both clinical and epidemiological features of the illness alleged to be plague were not at all compatible with those of plague-both bubonic and pneumonic types. The bacteriologic and serological evidence was limited to a few cases, and doubtful. PCR is a highly sensitive test, but the specificity of PCR for plague was not verified under field conditions in India. Just by the demonstration of the presence of a causative organism in the environment or in the body tissue, one cannot substantiate occurrence of an infection or disease in man. In view of the assessment and review presented in this paper, one can conclude that the outbreaks of illness that resembled plague during late 1994 in Beed District and Surat were certainly not due to plague. If the Mamla outbreak had not been declared to be plague, the probability of the Surat illness being labeled as plague was negligible. Whatever happened provides a very important lesson of the harm that can occur nationally and globally from decisions based on inadequate or incorrect information.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Funding of health research in India.

An overview of financing of health research in India is presented based on data for the year 1987-88, collected from nearly 298 institutions involved in health research. Only 8 per cent of the funds was derived from foreign sources. Distribution of research funds was highly skewed. Research activity seemed to have concentrated in a few specialty institutes located in the four metropolitan cities. Research activities apparently matched the national health priorities, reproductive health being the most frequently reported area of research. The study concludes that since health is primarily a service sector, its research needs are not fully appreciated. As a result, research allocation in the health sector is lower, as compared to that for many other developmental sectors. The paper highlights some of the implications of this lopsided distribution to research capacity building in the country.

Humans↗
PubMed1983

Investigation report of an epidemic of typhoid fever.

An explosive common-source epidemic of typhoid fever, probably the world's biggest, occurred in Sangli Town (Maharashtra State), India, between December 1975 and February 1976 when, with the incidence rate of 6.59% over this 12-week period, probably more than 9000 cases occurred in a population of about 135 000. Faecal contamination of municipal water supply, which was receiving unsatisfactory and inadequate chlorine treatment, was responsible for the epidemic. Contamination at suitable intervals resulted in a heavy build-up of S. typhi in the population. Massive central contamination of the ill-maintained municipal water-supply system with faecally-contaminated waste-water from a population of about 37 000, in which there were thought to be over 250 typhoid cases, ultimately resulted in the explosive epidemic. The episode underlines the importance of proper maintenance of water supply and excreta disposal systems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Integrated surveys as a tool for early case detection in leprosy control programme.

A project for total leprosy case detection particularly early leprosy cases was undertaken in Wardha District which has a rural population of about 6 lacs in 905 villages, through an integrated survey with the help of all health workers like Leprosy Technicians, Sanitary Inspectors, Co-ordinators, Malaria Workers, Smallpox Vaccinators and Auxillary Nurse Midwives. The training given to the Non Leprosy Health Worker was for a period of 3 days making them just fit to suspect all leprosy cases. The final diagnosis was to be made by the fully trained Leprosy Technicians. The surveys were conducted in batches of 3 to 4 workers. Surveys were conducted for 4 weeks at a stretch and working for 5 days every week. Every year two such integrated surveys were conducted. From November 1973 to December 1975, four such surveys were undertaken. During the other period, Leprosy Technicians were conducting the normal surveys. It was found that through these integrated survey it is possible to undertake the survey of all the villages once in two years and the case detection rate at the end of the 4th survey was found to be 85.5% of the estimated cases in the rural areas. Normally, it would have taken about 5 years to complete the survey of all the villages by the Leprosy Technicians alone, and the case detection rate could not have been more than 70 to 75%. Through this programme, Leprosy patients in every early stages have been detected. The paper discusses the methods, planning and the results obtained.

Adult↗