ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: In autumn 2009, the swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus spread throughout South Korea. The aims of this study were to determine the clinical characteristics of children infected by the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus, and to compare the rapid antigen and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients > or =18 years of age who presented to Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Seoul with respiratory symptoms, including fever, between September 2009 and January 2010. A real-time PCR test was used to definitively diagnose 2009 H1N1 influenza A infection. Medical records of confirmed cases were reviewed for sex, age, and the time of infection. The decision to perform rapid antigen testing was not influenced by clinical conditions, but by individual factors such as economic conditions. Its sensitivity and specificity were evaluated compared to real-time PCR test results. RESULTS: In total, 934 patients tested positive for H1N1 by real-time PCR. The highest number of patients (48.9%) was diagnosed in November. Most patients (48.2%) were aged between 6 and 10 years. Compared with the H1N1 real-time PCR test results, the rapid antigen test showed 22% sensitivity and 83% specificity. Seventy-eight patients were hospitalized for H1N1 influenza A virus infection, and fever was the most common symptom (97.4%). CONCLUSION: For diagnosis of 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus infection, the rapid antigen test was inferior to the real-time PCR test in both sensitivity and specificity. This outcome suggests that the rapid antigen test is inappropriate for screening.
Subject(s)
Aged , Child , Humans , Fever , Influenza A virus , Influenza, Human , Mass Screening , Medical Records , Pandemics , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Republic of Korea , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , VirusesABSTRACT
Guillain-Barre syndrome(GBS), characterized by Landry's ascending paralysis, has been known to be caused by some viruses and some vaccinations. We report a case of GBS caused by swine influenza vaccination. The patient presented with rapidly progressive ascending paralysis after vaccination. After intravenous immunoglobulin therapy and other conservative treatments, he recovered without any complications. Whilst the patient did not exhibit typical GBS features, we still suspect that this case represents a variant of GBS. GBS secondary to vaccination is rare and the association has yet to be proven. We therefore recommend that swine influenza vaccination continue despite this apparent case of secondary GBS.
Subject(s)
Humans , Guillain-Barre Syndrome , Immunization, Passive , Influenza A virus , Influenza, Human , Paralysis , Swine , VaccinationABSTRACT
Phlebosclerotic colitis is a rare disease sub-entity of ischemic colitis that is caused by venous obstruction due to colonic and mesenteric venous calcifications. Abdominal pain, diarrhea and hematochezia are frequent symptoms of phlebosclerotic colitis. The disease is characterized by typical dark purple mucosa on endoscopy, various venous calcifications on radiological findings, and microscopic findings showing fibrous degeneration, mucosal bleeding and venous wall thickening. A 64-year-old male who was undergoing maintenance hemodialysis was admitted to our hospital due to hematochezia. There was typical dark purple colored mucosa seen on colonoscopy, multiple abdominal calcifications were seen on radiology and diffuse necrosis and inflammatory changes were seen on the histophathology, but there was no mesenteric arterial occlusion seen on abdominal CT. On the basis of these findings, we diagnosed the patient as having phlebosclerotic colitis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of phlebosclerotic colitis in Korea.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Abdominal Pain , Colitis , Colitis, Ischemic , Colon , Colonoscopy , Diarrhea , Endoscopy , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage , Hemorrhage , Kidney Failure, Chronic , Korea , Mucous Membrane , Necrosis , Rare Diseases , Renal DialysisABSTRACT
No abstract available.