Fever prevalence and management among three rural communities in the North West Zone, Somalia

Between March and August 2008 we undertook 2 cross-sectional surveys among 1375 residents of 3 randomly selected villages in the district of Gebiley in the North-West Zone, Somalia. We investigated for the presence of malaria infection and the period prevalence of self-reported fever 14 days prior to both surveys. All blood samples examined were negative for both species of Plasmodium. The period prevalence of 14-day fevers was 4.8% in March and 0.6% in August; the majority of fevers [84.4%] were associated with other symptoms including cough, running nose and sore throat; 48/64 cases had resolved by the day of interview [mean duration 5.4 days]. Only 18 [37.5%] fever cases were managed at a formal health care facility: 7 within 24 hours and 10 within 24-72 hours of onset. None of the fevers were investigated for malaria; they were treated with antibiotics, antipyretics and vitamins

Good outcome of neuromyelitis optica: a case report / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

A 26 year-old Malay man presented with first attack of left eye optic neuritis that recovered fully with intravenous methylprednisolone after 3 weeks. He developed a second attack of optic neuritis in the right eye the following week. Lhermitte sign as well as Uthoff phenomenon were also positive. On day-3, he developed bilateral paraplegia and sensory loss at T8 level, which progressively worsen and became bedridden on day-5. MRI showed bilateral enhance-ment of the optic nerve with the presence of long multisegmental demyelinating plaque in the thoracic to lumbar spinal cord and the brainstem, sparing the brain hemisphere. He was promptly given high dose intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral predni-solone. He was also assigned on intensive neuro-phy-siotherapy. He recovered after 3 months and was able to walk with walking aids. He recovered completely after 7 months and resumed working as site contactor. There was no relapse during the last 1 year follow-up. His final visual acuity improved to 6/9 in the right eye and 6/6 in the left eye. The visual field of the right eye showed per-sistent mild cecocentral scotoma. And diffuse depression.