A symposium on "Tuberculosis in specific situations" was held in which the problem of TB, one of the most common common community diseases. Deliberations were held in cases involving young children, pregnant women, HIV infected and diabetic patients and those with liver diseases. In diabetic patients, the respiratory defence is low and in pregnant women strong drugs and repeated exposure to X-rays can harm the foetus, opined the experts.

Those who participated in the symposium included Dr Meenu Singh, Dr Jai Kishan, Dr Archana Sood, Dr L.M. Seth, Dr A. Janmeja and Dr S. Kashyap.

Another symposium on "Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation" was held in which the airway management and breathing and maintenance of ventilation were discussed by Dr S. Jain, Dr J. Varma and Dr Sidhu. Talking to Newsline, Dr J.N. Pande, Chief of Medicine, AIIMS, said: "Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is helpful when the heart suddenly stops beating due to a cardiac arrest, road accident, electrocution, drowning, shock or drug reaction. But some training is required, otherwise the success rate is low. However, these steps are extremely helpful for the patient and his life can be saved until medical help is summoned."

Dr Jindal enumerated the steps in such a situation as follows: Immediate action is required since the brain cannot function without oxygen for more than 4 minutes. The patient should be made to lie on a hard and plain surface with his head bent backwards, any extraneous matter should be removed from his mouth, pressure with both hands should be applied at the centre of the chest for compression of heart and artificial respiration should be given simultaneously.

Another symposium on "Pulmonary disease with Eosinophilia" was held in which Dr V.K. Vijayan, Dr J. Whig, Dr S. Hira and Dr R. Guleria deliberated on asthma and tropical eosinophilia. Dr V.K. Vijayan, Director V P Chest Institute, University of Delhi, told Newsline: "Eosinophilia cells are present in blood and are like white blood cells, the excess of which can cause afflictions like cough, difficulty in breathing and can also produce fibrosis in the lung. The treatment specified is that of 21 days but my findings have revealed that this is insufficient and more needs to be done."

The Update was inaugurated by Dr B.K. Sharma and ended with a discussion in which case histories were presented and the problem of drug resistance and treatment failure discussed.