Diarrhea in a family in a barangay community of Catarman, Samar

Treating the health problems of the community will treat those of the family. Juan de la Cruz and his son can be made well after proper treatment of their diarrhea, but adequate, proper and continuing management of the environmental problems of Barangay Jose Abad Santos (JAS), related to the development of disease, would be the more lasting solution to this important and common community health problem.

Schistosoma japonicum eggs as a cause of appendicitis in Filipinos

1. Six cases are admitted in the Charity Surgical wards of the Philippine General Hospital with the clinical working diagnosis of chronic appendicitis; one as hernia, inguinal, indirect, complete, reducible, acquired, right and appendicitis chronic; two with the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis chronic (found to be acute at operation); three as appendicitis, acute and two as appendicitis, chronic, bilharzial2. Twelve cases were operated on for appendectomy; one for appendectomy and resection of the cecum and one for herniotomy and appendectomy3. Operative findings on the appendices of all these cases were similar-presence of sago-like tubercles on their walls, thickening of the walls, areas of infiltation, scars and extensive adhesions. These were similar to T.B4. Histopathological examination of all the removed appendices were made and revealed the presence of Schistosoma japonicum ova tubercles similar in histological structure to T.B. tubercle5. All the patients went home strong and walking and a follow up of these cases showed that they were relieved of their original complaints for which they sought admission to the hospital6. All the cases came from Leyte and Samar. (Summary)

Current status of Brugian filariasis in the Republic of the Philippines

Brugian filariasis in the Republic of the Philippines was first reported in 1964 or 63 years after Bancroftian filariasis was reported in this country. The etiologic agent is Brugian malayi with a nocturnal subperiodic type of microfilarial periodicity. The four endemic foci are Palawan, Sulu, Agusan and Eastern Samar, with prevalence rate of 30-64%;24%, 1.2% and 0.030% respectively. The mosquito vectors are Mansonia bonneae and Mansonia uniformis with infection rate and infective rate of 0.98% and 0.51% respectively from Quezon, Palawan. The biting activity of these mosquitoes is from about 1600 to 2200 which correspond to the rise in microfilarial density in the peripheral blood and takes approximately 10 days for the development of larvae to the infective stage within vector mosquito Diagnosis may be by the thick blood film method stained with Giemsa and/or Delafield hematoxylin, serologic method such as SAFA and intradermal test using B malayi antigen and by the use of nuclepore filter. Treatment of cases may b done with the use of Diethylcarbamazine (Hetrazan) 6 mg/kg. body weight daily for 12 days or a total dose of 72 mg/kg Brugian filariasis appears to be confined in areas where fresh water swamps are found which are ideal breeding sites for the mosquito vectors. Control may be achieved by reduction in the number of mosquito vectors; avoidance of bites of vector mosquitoes and elimination of microfilaremia by drug treatment. (Summary)