ABSTRACT
Background: Guttate psoriasis has a well-known association with streptococcal throat infections, but the effects of these infections in patients with chronic plaque type of psoriasis remains to be evaluated. In Bangladesh several studies were done on psoriasis but no data about association between streptococcal throat infection and plaque type psoriasis are available so far. Considering the co-morbidities of psoriasis patients, it might be justifiable to find out the events that provoke the initiation or exacerbation of psoriatic disease process. Objective: To observe the association of streptococcus with plaque type of psoriasis. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted in the department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka. Forty seven patients clinically and histopathologically diagnosed as having plaque psoriasis were selected as cases and patients with skin diseases other than psoriasis were selected as controls. Results: In this study majority of subjects (55%) were diagnosed as chronic plaque psoriasis. Among the subjects with guttate flare of chronic plaque psoriasis 64.2% gave a positive history of sore throat. ASO titer was raised (>200 IU/mL) in 28 (59.5%) patients of chronic plaque psoriasis and 7 (17.9%) patients of non-psoriatic respondents. The difference between two groups was significant (p<0.05). Streptococcus pyogenes was found in 12 (25.5%) in chronic plaque psoriasis patients versus in 4 (10.2%) in controls (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study shows that streptococcal throat infections are associated with plaque psoriasis and early treatment of throat infections may be beneficial for plaque type of psoriasis patients.
ABSTRACT
Background: Among the several human species of malarial parasites, Plasmodium falciparum can cause severe infection and if left untreated, there may be fatal complications. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment have been proposed to reduce the morbidity and mortality from malaria. Objective: To assess the diagnostic efficacy of antigen detection by immunochromatographic test (ICT) at different levels of parasitemia for diagnosis of malaria. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in the department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College for a period of one year from July 2005 to June 2006. A total of 98 clinically suspected malaria patients were included in this study. Peripheral blood films (PBF) were examined under microscope and parasite count/μL of blood was performed. Subsequently ICT for malaria antigen was done for each case. Results: Out of 59 cases positive by microscopic examination of blood films, 54 cases had parasitemia >600 parasites/μL of blood and all these cases were positive by ICT for malaria antigen. Rest 5 cases showed parasitemia <600 parasites/μL of blood and one case was found positive by ICT for malaria antigen. Conclusion: Immunochromatographic test can be used for early diagnosis of malaria with hyperparasitemia, especially for cerebral malaria.