Predisposing factors for the complications of deep neck infection

The outbreak of antibiotics and the improvement in dental hygiene have made the occurrence of deep neck infections less frequent than in the past. Nevertheless, the complications of these infections are often life threatening. The purpose of this study was to review the clinical findings in deep neck infections and identifying predisposing factors of these complications. In this study, 147 patients with deep neck infections were studied in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz, from 1997 to 2009. During the treatment, 24 cases of life threatening complications took place. Linear and logistic regressions and chi-square analysis were used to determine the association of the complications of deep neck infections with clinical parameters and longer hospitalization. Analysis showed that patients with older age, patients with involvement of more than two spaces, involvement of cervical spaces, lymphadenitis, septic sore throat, congenital cyst as a source of abscess, odynophagia, dysphagia are those who require longer hospitalization [P<0.05]. Complications are more likely to take place in patients with involvement of more than two spaces, involvement of cervical spaces, septic sore throat and odynophagia. [P<0.05]. Patients with involvement of more than two spaces or and with on underlying disease are at high-risk of deep neck infection complications and should be monitored more closely during hospitalization

[Helicobacter pylori co infection in patients with typhoid fever]

There are some reports on the association between helicobacter pylori infection and typhoid fever in different parts of the world. The aim of this study was to estimate the co infection of helicobacter pylori and typhoid fever in Ahwas city in South-West of Iran. In this case-control study, fifty hospitalized patients with definite diagnosis of typhoid fever in Razi and Abuzar hospitals in Ahwaz were investigated. For each patient, one subject was matched with age, sex and socioeconomic characteristic as control. All of the case and control were tested for IgG-anti helicobacter pylori by ELISA method. Data were analyzed by chi square test in SPSS software. Seroprevalence of helicobacter pylori in case [66%] was higher than control [44%] [p<0.05]. There was a significant difference between patients and control in male [p<0.05], but not in female. This study indicated that typhoid fever is associated with helicobacter pylori co-infection in this region

[Efficacy of azithromycin in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis]

Treatment of Cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] with oral therapeutic drugs, ideally cheap, with good tolerance and safe are highly desirable. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of azithromycin [AZ] for treatment of patients with CL in Ahvaz - Iran. In a randomized controlled clinical trial study, 28 patients with CL as cases [AZ group] and 26 patients as control [C group] were studied. Cases were treated orally 500 mg/day of azithromycin in single dose for 28 days. Patients in control group did not receive any treatment. Both groups were followed up in days 14, 28 and month 2 and 5. Data were analyzed in SPSS-11.5 by using chi square and exact Fisher's tests. Means +/- SD age of subjects was 20.26 +/- 8.45 years. Male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The half of the patients resided in rural area. At the end of study treatment; 46.4% of patients in AZ group and 15.4% of patients in control group were cured [P < 0.02]. One relapse of CL was observed in AZ group, no serious drug side effects were observed. This study showed that azithromycin has an acceptable effect on the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iranian patients and can be used alternatively in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis