Showing papers by "Khulna Medical College published in 2006"

Snake bite in bangladesh

Abstract: Background: Snake bite is a real emergency and an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to observe different aspects of snake bite including proportion of poisonous snake bites, clinical features of poisoning and outcome of treatment with polyvalent antivenom serum. Patients and Methods: 188 cases of snakebite were prospectively studied from June 2001 to Dec. 2002. Among them 132 were males and 56 were females. Age of the patients ranged from 10-70 yrs. Tourniquet was applied in all the cases of snake bite. Results: Peak incidence 74(39.36%) was in the age group 10-20 yrs. 108(57.44%) cases were venomous and 80(42.55%) were non-venomous. 158(89.04%) case of snake bite occurred out side the house and the common site of bite was lower extremities in 124 (65.95%) cases. Common feature of poisoning was drooping of the upper eyelid in 108 (100%) cases followed by external ophthalmoplegia in 82(75.92%) cases. Out of 108 venomous snake bite cases 101(93.52%) recovered completely and 7(6.66%) died after admission. 60(55.5%) cases recovered with only 20-30 ml (2-3 vials) of polyvalent antivenom serum. Conclusion: Snake bite cases were reported mostly in months of June and July. Young people were mostly affected with clinical presentation of drooping of eyelid and external ophthalmoplegia.

National drug policy of Bangladesh: some pitfalls in implementation.

Abstract: Drug development, manufacturing and marketing have become one of the most important sectors throughout the world for various reasons. Realizing its importance, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stressed the need of a formulated drug policy in every country of the world. Bangladesh responded very early to this. Experiences over the decades have shown that the said policy could not fulfill in toto the declared objectives. Our aim is to describe some of the lacunae for which total implementation of drug policy is still struggling. For this purpose, we meticulously analysed our Drugs Control Ordinance 1982 (with an amendment brought in 1994) and upcoming National Drug Policy. We mainly focussed on three factors pointed out by WHO, which are crucial of a drug policy, which include price limitation, quality and rational use. We found great variations in price which need to be controlled. Regarding quality, safety and efficacy, we have to be more cautious. Rational use of drugs is also an area to be focussed on. Every physician should prescribe proper drug with due indication and in rational way. This pitfall of implementation might happen in many countries of the world and it needs a global discussion so that the future policy makers can mitigate the demand of the nation.