Epidemiology of typhoid fever in Iran during last five decades from 1962-2011

Typhoid fever is one of the most important infectious diseases transmitted by contaminated food and water. This study aimed at epidemiological features of disease during the last five decades, over the period from 1962-2011. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using typhoid fever national surveillance data. The highest incidence of typhoid fever was registered in 1965 with 133.4 /100,000 cases/year and the lowest in 2011 with 0.52/100,000 cases/year. Typhoid fever incidence in Iran had three phases. Before the year 1969, with high incidence >100 [phase 1], the period between1969-1996 with medium [10-100], [Phase 2] and the phase 3 has inaugurated from 1996 until now with low incidence rate less than 10 /100,000. Kermanshah Province was the most infected area. Most cases were occurred in warm months in 2010. Of 196 [31%] cases were under 15 years old whom were more affected. 53.6% of total cases in 2010 were female and 56.6% stayed in rural area. In 2010, 27.8% cases were confirmed. Among positive cases, the sources of culture were 46.8% stool, 37.2% blood, 14.6% urine and 1.2% bone marrow. Following treatment, 97.8% of cases were recovered completely and in 1.6% of cases had experienced complications and only 0.6% of confirmed cases have been died. As a result of development in socio-economic condition in Iran, the typhoid fever incidence has been dramatically declined from high [133.4/100,000 cases/year] in 1965 to low [0.52/100,000 cases/year] in 2011

Rate of leptospiral meningitis and meningoencephalitis in Tehran

Leptospirosis is an endemic zoonosis in Iran. One of the most important forms of its presentations is meningoencephalitis. The present study was designed to evaluate leptospiral infection in patients with aseptic meningitis or meningoencephalitis in tertiary care hospitals in Tehran. A study was conducted on 20 patients admitted with aseptic meningitis or meningoencephalitis in Imam Hossein Hospital in Tehran. Leptospiral antibodies were detected in acute and convalescent sera and in CSF of infected patients. Fifteen percent of cases [3 cases] were seropositive for leptospiral antibodies by ELISA. All of these cases presented with meningoencephalitis. This study suggests that leptospiral infection can be associated with aseptic meningitis or meningoencephalitis, thus, physicians should consider leptospirosis in differential diagnosis of patients presenting with meningoencephalitis

Epidemiology of acute diarrheal diseases among children under 5 years of age in Tehran, Iran

Acute diarrhea is the fifth leading cause of death due to infectious diseases and responsible for 16.2% of the infectious disease burden in Iran. This study assessed the incidence and some determinants of acute diarrheal diseases in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Using cluster sampling, a population based survey was conducted among 2095 children aged 6 to 60 months in the southern districts of Tehran during May 2005. The incidence of acute diarrhea during the past 2 weeks, the duration and frequency of diarrhea, acute diarrhea in siblings and socioeconomic determinants were gathered by a questionnaire. Totally, 10.3% of children experienced new onset of diarrhea during the past two weeks with the average number of episodes of 2.8 per child. Half of the cases were 6-18 months of age [p<0.001]. The mean [ +/- standard deviation] duration of disease was 4.5 +/- 2.1 days and the frequency of diarrhea was 5.1 +/- 5 episodes per day. In 9.1% of the families, other cases of concurrent acute diarrhea were reported in siblings [OR=1.29, 95%CI:0.67-2.47]. The mean age of the mothers was 31 +/- 7.5 years. Less than 4% of the parents were illiterate. Childhood acute diarrhea remains a public health concern in Tehran. Improving the environmental sanitation and personal hygiene and raising the socioeconomic status of the population will contribute to the elimination of the underlying causes of acute diarrhea

Effect of misoprostol on acute phase of viral hepatitis B in Iran

Most therapeutic interventions in acute phase of viral hepatitis B patients are conservative. Prostaglandins have absorbed many scientists' attention for improving these patients condition, therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate misoprostol [PGE1 Analogue] effect on acute phase of viral hepatitis B. A randomized matched controlled clinical trial was performed on two equal groups each included fifteen male acute phase hepatitis B patients who were anti HBC IgM and HBs Ag positive, hepatitis C negative and their total bilirubin level was more than 10 mg/dl. The experimental group received 800 micro g misoprostole [200 micro g x 4 times a day] while the control group received placebo for 14 days. Their bilirubin and serum transaminases concentrations as well as PT and PTT were checked before and after the therapy and compared by chi square and tstudent tests using SPSS software. At the end of the treatment phase, serum bilirubin, SGPT and PTT were significantly lower in the experimental group. After three weeks follow up, only SGOT was not significantly lower in experimental group. At the end of the 4th and the 5th week after treatment initiation, serum bilirubin, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase and PTT were significantly lower in experimental group. These results confirm that misoprostol improves hepatitis B patients' condition and reduces their serum bilirubin, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase and PTT