Chloroquine-resistance in plasmodium vivax: the first case detected in Kuwait

A Sri Lankan female developed the typical signs and symptoms of malaria one month after her arrival in Kuwait. She was treated twice with chloroquine [25 mg/kg body weight] for five days followed by radical treatment with chloroquine and primaquine weekly for eight weeks. A true relapse with Plasmodium vivax was observed after these treatments. This shows an apparent case of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium vivax malaria detected in Kuwait in a Sri Lankan lady who had contracted the disease in her home country

Physicians' opinion on the relationship between oil smoke pollutant and acute illness

In August, 1991, at the time of the oil-smoke crisis, primary care physicians were asked to fill out questionnaires on their experience with patients exposed to smoke pollutants. A total of 232 physicians from 42 clinics responded, from whom 221 questionnaires were processed. These represented 80% of the primary care physicians available at these five Health Regions at that time. The results showed that the commonest presenting symptoms in patients suffering from the ill effects of oil-smoke pollutants were: allergic conditions of the eyes [79.19%]; asthma [76.92%]; cough [70.59%]; skin allergy with pruritus and itching [68.33%]. There were no marked differences in these estimates among the five Health Regions. As cited by 89.40%, patients with chronic pulmonary illness suffered the most. Those medications most frequently prescribed were: antihistamines [72.85%]; drugs used to treat asthma [71.49%]; cough mixtures [48.87%]; antipruritic preparations [49.77%]; eye drops [44.80%]. The treatment was described as effective in 89.57%. Referrals to hospitals were kept to a minimum