ABSTRACT
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for a large number of cases of chronic liver disease worldwide. A study of clinico-epidemiology of HCV infection was conducted in 214 patients who were seropositive for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, northeastern Thailand, during August 1997 to December 1998. There were 199 males, 15 females and their mean age was 34.96 +/- 9.75 years with a range from 16 to 72 years. The clinical features of acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and asymptomatic HCV infection were 2, 115, 15, 2 and 80 cases. Risk factors for HCV acquisition were intravenous drug use (IVDU), tattooing and blood transfusion in 46.7, 32.2 and 18.8% of cases, respectively. 23.36% had a history of multiple risk factors while 28.9% had no history of risk factor exposure.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Blood Transfusion/adverse effects , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/epidemiology , Female , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Hepatitis C, Chronic/epidemiology , Humans , Liver Cirrhosis/epidemiology , Liver Neoplasms/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/complications , Tattooing/adverse effects , Thailand/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection is a common disease world wide. A study of clinico-epidemiology of HBV infection was conducted in 381 patients who seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Northeastern Thailand, during August 1997 to December 1998. 293 males, 88 females and their mean age was 30.96 +/- 12.78 years with a range from 15 to 77 years. The clinical features of acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and asymptomatic carrier were 2.36, 34.12, 4.99, 1.05 and 57.48% of cases. Possible routes for HBV transmission were family history of hepatitis, tattooing, intravenous drug addict and blood transfusion in 20.3, 11.3, 8.2 and 6.9% of cases, respectively. Signs of chronic liver disease were common in liver cirrhosis and HCC. Acute fulminating hepatitis was not found in this study.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/epidemiology , Female , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Hepatitis B, Chronic/epidemiology , Humans , Liver Cirrhosis/epidemiology , Liver Neoplasms/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Thailand/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Seventeen cases of intestinal capillariasis in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand were reviewed. The mean age was 40.41 years with a range from 21 to 69 years. Most cases had intermittent or continuous voluminous watery diarrhea for one month to three years with hypoalbuminemia. Borborygmi, vague abdominal pain, weight loss and pedal edema were significant associated symptoms. Fecal examination was the most useful for diagnosis by finding the Capillaria philippinensis ova in all cases. Mebendazole 400 mg per day for 20 to 28 days is the treatment of choice. Usually, relapse and death are unusual, inadequate treatment is a major factor.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Animals , Capillaria , Chronic Disease , Diarrhea/diagnosis , Enoplida Infections/complications , Female , Humans , Hypokalemia/diagnosis , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/complications , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Thailand/epidemiologyABSTRACT
We have reported four cases of human pythiosis arteritis from Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand. This unusual human infection occurring perhaps exclusively in thalassemia and hemoglobinopathy patients, should be noted by physicians, who work in areas with a high incidence of hemoglobinopathy, and for patients who present with unexplained arterial insufficiency. As our reported cases occurred within only one year, this condition may be more common than originally suspected and found more frequently if actively searched for.