Changing pattern of severe manifestations of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria: A retrospective study from Bikaner, India

Background & objectives: Previously there were reports from all over India about the changing spectrum of severe manifestations of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Consequently, the present retrospective study was conducted to compare the severity of malaria caused by P. falciparum and P. vivax during 2007–08 and 2017–18. Methods: The present study was conducted on the patients admitted with severe malaria in a classified malaria ward of a tertiary care hospital in Bikaner, Rajasthan (Northwest India) during 2007–08 and 2017–18. It included adult patients of both sexes belonging to all age groups. The diagnosis was done by peripheral blood film (PBF), rapid diagnostic test (RDT), and validated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All patients were treated with intravenous oral quinine. The specific individual malaria complications registered in 2007–08 and 2017–18 were treated by following the standard WHO protocol. Results: In 2007–08, severe manifestations caused by P. falciparum were dominated by thrombocytopenia (25.98%) followed by jaundice (24.39%), multi-organ dysfunction (MODS) (16.66%), severe anemia (16.17%), cerebral malaria (5.39%), bleeding manifestation (3.92%) and shock (0.49%). While in the same year, P. vivax associated clinical spectrum of complications were observed to be dominated by thrombocytopenia (26.47%) followed by jaundice (25.00%), MODS (14.70%), severe anemia (5.88%), cerebral malaria (5.88%), renal failure (4.41%), bleeding manifestation (2.45%), shock (0.98%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (0.49%). However, in 2017–18, the clinical spectrum of malaria complications caused by both species has changed. Relative to P. falciparum infections, P. vivax individual complications like thrombocytopenia (51.78%) (p<0.001) followed by jaundice (19.13%) (p<0.001) and severe anemia (4.22%) (p<0.05) were found to have increased significantly. Interpretation & conclusion: Over the last decade there is an apparent spatial and temporal shift in the clinical manifestations of severe malaria caused by the both Plasmodium species. As evident from the patient’s data from 2007–08 and 2017–18, the severity is more inclined towards Plasmodium vivax than Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Moreover, individual P. falciparum-associated complications were decreased significantly in the Bikaner region of Rajasthan, India

Secondary developmental glaucoma in eyes with congenital aphakia

Purpose: To describe the clinical spectrum and management of glaucoma in congenital aphakia. Methods: The demographics and clinical spectrum of eyes with congenital aphakia with and without glaucoma were compared, and management outcomes of congenital aphakia cases with glaucoma were studied retrospectively between April 2000 and June 2020. Results: There were a total of 168 eyes (84 subjects) with a diagnosis of congenital aphakia, of which 29 eyes of 18 subjects were diagnosed with glaucoma. Corneal opacity was the presenting complaint in 26/29 eyes with glaucoma and 139/139 eyes without glaucoma. The (interquartile range (IQR)) horizontal corneal diameter was 10.5mm (IQR, 9.0?12.5) and 8mm (IQR, 5?10) in eyes with and without glaucoma (P = 0.01), respectively. The median (IQR) axial length was 17.5mm (IQR, 13.5?19.5) and 15mm (IQR, 14?16) mm in eyes with and without glaucoma (P = 0.03), respectively. Nineteen eyes with glaucoma had adequate intraocular pressure (IOP) control with one medication. Three eyes underwent transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation and maintained IOP without medications. Three eyes underwent trabeculectomy and trabeculotomy, trabeculectomy followed by penetrating keratoplasty, and trabeculectomy, respectively, of which two eyes became phthisical. At the last follow?up, the median (IQR) IOP was 14 mm Hg (IQR, 14?17) Hg. The median (IQR) follow?up duration was 4.53 months (IQR, 2.03? 48.06). Conclusion: One?fifth of the eyes with congenital aphakia had secondary developmental glaucoma. The corneal diameter and axial lengths were higher in the eyes with glaucoma compared to eyes without glaucoma. Medical management is the preferred short?term mode of IOP control. Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation may be preferred over surgical intervention.

Observación de un espectro de manifestaciones clínicas ante la exposición a información relacionada con eventos suicidas / Observation of a Spectrum of Clinical Manifestations when Exposed to Information Related to Suicidal Events

Resumen Hace muchos años se describió el ahora conocido efecto copycat. Se entiende como la reproducción del acto autolesivo, por parte de personas susceptibles, posterior a la exposición a la información en los medios de comunicación relacionada con un suicidio concretado (en noticias, redes sociales, etc.). A partir de la observación en la atención psicológica y psiquiátrica de los pacientes, nuestro grupo ha detectado que esta replicación en realidad forma parte de un espectro mucho más amplio, y que, consecuentemente, otras manifestaciones suelen pasar inadvertidas. Si se trazara un continuum de esas expresiones, en el extremo más severo, se encontraría el suicidio consumado luego de la exposición a dicho material, que es el componente más reconocido hasta la fecha (efecto copycat); no obstante, en otras zonas del espectro, también es posible que las personas experimenten distorsiones cognitivas, componentes obsesivos e intrusivos, ideación pasiva y activa de muerte e intentos no consumados de suicidios. El presente documento se propuso como objetivo describir este fenómeno y, a la vez, ejemplificarlo mediante la exposición de un caso. Resulta probable que el correcto reconocimiento y abordaje fenomenológico sean pasos básicos para establecer los tratamientos y las estrategias preventivas, que garanticen la seguridad de estas personas

Abstract: Long ago, the scientific literature informed about the now well-known copycat effect, understood as a reproduction of the self-injurious act by susceptible individuals after being exposed to suicide-related information in the media (news, social networks, etc.). From observations in psychological and psychiatric care of patients, our group has detected that these manifestations are actually part of a much broader clinical spectrum, where other manifestations can also be found. It would seem plausible that if a spectrum is defined, the most severe end would be consummated suicide, which is the well-recognized component to date (copycat effect); but it is also possible that there is a series of more diverse expressions in other patients after having been exposed to this information, which could include cognitive distortions, obsessive and intrusive phenomena, passive and active ideation of death and unsuccessful suicide attempts. Our purpose with this paper is to explain our observations and present a clinical vignette as an example. We believe that correct recognition and approach to these phenomena is fundamental to establish treatments and preventive strategies that guarantee the safety of this population.

Clinical spectrum of enteric fever in children admitted to a tertiary care hospital

Background: Enteric fever is a common public health problem with variable clinical presentation. The aim of study was to study the clinical spectrum of enteric fever in children.Methods: This was a prospective study conducted over period of one year from January 2019 to January 2020 in the Department of Paediatrics at Govt Medical College Srinagar. It included all patients in the age group of 1-18 years who were clinically suspected to have enteric fever and had either a positive blood culture for Salmonella or a positive Widal test.Results: This study included total of 76 patients out of which 36 were males and 40 were females. The most common presenting symptoms were fever anorexia, vomiting, diarrohea, abdominal pain, headache and constipation. The most common signs were coated tongue, toxic look, hepatomegaly, splenomeagly, pallor, jaundice and abdominal distension. Complications were seen in in 8 (10.5%) patients. Myocarditis was seen in 3 patients. Encephalopathy and hepatitis was seen in 2 patients each. Pneumonia was seen in 1 patient. Majority of patients had normal white blood cell count (4000-11000/cumm). Leukopenia (<4000/cumm) was seen in 10% patients and leukocytosis (>11000/cumm) was seen in 15% patients. Thrombocytopenia was seen in 9% patients. Blood culture was positive in 36 (47.36%) patients. Salmonella typhi was seen in 33 patients whereas Salmonella paratyphi A was seen in 3 patients. All culture positive cases were sensitive to ceftriaxone, cefixime and azithromycin. Ciprofloxacin resistance was seen in 11 (14.4%) patients.Conclusions: Enteric fever is a common public health problem with fever as most common presenting symptom. Culture yield can be increased in enteric fever by drawing blood culture prior to administration of antibiotics. Ceftriaxone is highly efficacious as monotherapy in enteric fever.

Clinical spectrum of pneumonia in children aged 1 month to 18 years by serum polymerase chain reaction, in a tertiary care centre in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Background: Pneumonia accounts for 15% all deaths in children under 5 years of age, being the single largest infectious cause of deaths in children worldwide according to WHO. Establishing the exact etiological factor is a difficult task, as there are no definite clinical, radiological markers to differentiate between causative organisms. Hence by detecting the genetic material of causative organism by serum PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and correlating it with the clinical and radiological features can help in appropriate use with antibiotics.Methods: It is a observational study conducted in department of paediatrics KIMS hospital Bangalore, India which included inpatients admitted with clinical and radiological features of pneumonia over a study period from February 2018-April2019 .In this study we excluded immunocompromised children . After obtaining informed written consent, detailed history and clinical examination was done. Investigations including complete hemogram, CXR were done. Under sterile precautions, blood samples for serum PCR and blood culture and sensitivity were obtained. Serum PCR was done for a panel of 33 respiratory pathogens.Results: Etiological agents were identified in 63% of cases. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common causartive agent being detected in 50.6% of the cases. Staphylococcus aureus has been detected to be the second common organism 16%.Conclusions: In our study Pneumococci was identified in 50.6% of cases. Multiplex serum PCR could be a useful rapid diagnostic tool to identify the etiological agents. Introduction of pneumococcal vaccine worldwide in government immunization schedule, nationwide will help to reduce the disease burden caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Primary hyperparathyroidism in developing world: a systematic review on the changing clinical profile of the disease

ABSTRACT While the developed world is focusing on laying guidelines for selecting out cases of Asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) for surgical intervention and promoting minimal access surgery, the developing world is observing a change in disease spectrum from advanced symptomatic to lesser degree of symptomatic disease and not many with associated Vitamin D deficiency. Few studies from the developing countries of the world have focused on the changing clinical spectrum of PHPT. Objective of this study is to review the changing profile of PHPT in developing world. A systematic literature search was done in December 2017 focussing on publications from the developing world. All studies pertaining to the epidemiology of PHPT published after 1st January 2000 and published in English language were included for analysis. Most of the studies published from developing countries report a predominance of symptomatic disease (79.6% of all included patients) with musculoskeletal disease present in the majority of patients (52.9%). The combined mean serum total calcium (11.9 ± 1.4 mg/dL), serum PTH (668.6 ± 539 pg/mL), serum alkaline phoshpatase (619 ± 826.9 IU/L) and weight of excised parathyroid glands (4.4 ± 3.8 grams) are much higher than those reported from the western studies. Despite this, we found that there is a distinct trend towards a milder form of disease presentation and biochemical profile noticeable in more recent times. Although there is a striking difference in all aspects of PHPT disease epidemiology, clinical presentation and biochemical profile of developing and developed countries, there is a distinct trend towards a milder form of disease presentation and biochemical profile in more recent times.

The characteristics of cranial magnetic resonance imaging in adult Japanese encephalitis / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To analyze the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of patients with adult Japanese encephalitis (JE),and to investigate the diagnostic value of MRI for the disease.Methods Thirty-two adult JE patients who underwent cranial MRI at General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between August 2016 and September 2018 were enrolled.All patients had disease onset between August and September and they aged 17 to 83 years old.The clinical data,laboratory results,MRI signal characteristics of each scanning sequence and the distribution of the brain lesions were retrospectively analyzed.Results Of the 32 adult JE patients,29 (90.6％)cases had acute onset,28 (87.5％) cases had unconsciousness and cognitive impairment,26 (81.2％) cases had intracranial hypertension,3 (9.4％) cases had meningeal irritation,3 (9.4％) cases had Parkinson-like symptoms,10 (31.2％) cases had epilepsy,and 15 (46.9％) cases had decreased muscle strength.Twenty patients were positive for JE virus-specific IgM antibodies.Twenty-eight patients underwent cerebrospinal fluid examination,15 (53.6％) cases showed intracranial pressure ≥180 mmH2O (1 mmH2O =0.009 8 kPa),7 (25％) cases developed lymphocyte reaction,and 16 (57.1％) cases showed mixed cell reaction.Twenty-three cases (71.9％) showed lesions of brain on MRI,including thalamus (17 cases,73.9％),hippocampus (13 cases,56.5％),cerebral peduncle (6 cases,26.1％),cortical and subcortical (4 cases,17.4％),basal ganglia (2 cases,8.7％),brainstem (1 case,4.3％) and splenium of corpus callosum (1 case,4.3％).Positive T1 weight image (T1WI) and T2 weight image (T2WI) results were found in 21 patients,respectively,23 patients had positive T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images,and 20 patients had positive diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) images.Among them,T2-FLAIR and DWI images showed more lesions,wider range of lesions and clearer boundary of cortical involvement range than T1WI and T2WI images.Conclusions Bilateral thalamus and hippocampus are often involved in adult JE.T2-FLAIR and DWI sequences are more sensitive to detect lesions.Combining MRI images with epidemiological characteristics,clinical manifestations,and laboratory tests is of great assistance for early diagnosis of JE.

Espectro clínico del dengue / Clinical spectrum of dengue

Introducción: el cuadro clínico del dengue ha sido clasificado de múltiples maneras, algunas, aunque vigentes, no satisfacen sus variantes clínicas y epidemiológicas. Objetivo: lograr una clasificación seroclínica epidemiológica que contribuya al control de la enfermedad. Métodos: se toma como base un estudio seroepidemiológico de infección por dengue de una muestra de 535 habitantes seleccionados por un método aleatorio simple en San Mateo, Venezuela, entre mayo de 2007 y mayo de 2008. Como medida de frecuencia de las variables estudiadas se utilizó el porcentaje y su intervalo de confianza. Resultados: el 78,75 por ciento (IC 95 por ciento: 67,986,8) de los casos presentó síntomas típicos y resultaron dengue positivo en el estudio de la IgM, los casos asintomáticos con IgM positiva representaron 13,75 por ciento (IC 95 por ciento: 7,423,7) del total de positivos. Conclusiones: las personas asintomáticas con IgM positiva constituyen una evidencia indirecta de la presencia del vector y de criaderos. La clasificación propuesta denuncia un mayor número de casos al ampliar el espectro clínico de la enfermedad...

Introduction: the clinical picture of dengue has been classified in multiple ways, some, although current, not satisfy its clinical and epidemiological variants. Objective: to achieve a serological, clinical and epidemiological classification contributing to disease control. Methods: present serological-epidemiological study of the infection by dengue is based on a sample of 535 inhabitants selected by simple randomized method in San Mateo, Venezuela, from May, 2007 to May, 2008. As a frequency measure of study variables authors used the percentage and its confidence interval (CI). Results: the 78,75 porceinto (95 porciento CI; 67,9-86,8) of cases had typical symptoms and were positive to dengue in the IgM study, the asymptomatic cases with a positive IgM accounted for the 13,75 porciento (95 porciento CI: 7,4-23,7) of total of positives. Conclusions: the asymptomatic cases with a positive IgM are an indirect evidence of the vector and foci. The classification proposed declares a great number of cases when clinical spectrum of disease was expanded...

Clostridium difficile infection: clinical spectrum and approach to management.

Clostridium difficile is recognized globally as an important enteric pathogen associated with considerable morbidity and mortality due to the widespread use of antibiotics. The overall incidence of C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is increasing due to the emergence of a hypervirulent strain known as NAP1/BI/027. C. difficile acquisition by a host can result in a varied spectrum of clinical conditions inclusive of both colonic and extracolonic manifestations. Repeated occurrence of CDAD, manifested by the sudden re-appearance of diarrhea and other symptoms usually within a week of stopping treatment, makes it a difficult clinical problem. C. difficile infection has also been reported to be involved in exacerbation of inflammatory bowel diseases. The first step in the management of a suspected CDAD case is the withdrawal of the offending agent and changing the antibiotic regimens. Antimicrobial therapy directed against C. difficile viz. metronidazole for mild cases and vancomycin for severe cases is needed. For patients with ileus, oral vancomycin with simultaneous intravenous (IV) metronidazole and intracolonic vancomycin may be given. Depending on the severity of disease, the further line of management may include surgery, IV immunoglobulin treatment or high dose of vancomycin. Adjunctive measures used for CDAD are probiotics and prebiotics, fecotherapy, adsorbents and immunoglobulin therapy. Among the new therapies fidaxomicin has recently been approved by the American Food and Drugs Administration for treatment of CDAD.

Clinical spectrum & pathogenesis of Clostridium difficile associated diseases.

Clostridium difficile is the major aetiological agent of antibiotic associated diarrhoea and colitis. The majority of hospitalized patients infected by C. difficile are asymptomatic carriers who serve as silent reservoirs for continued C. difficile contamination of the hospital environment. C. difficile associated disease (CDAD) is a serious condition with mortality up to 25 per cent in frail elderly people. C. difficile infection may present itself in several forms with both colonic and extracolonic manifestations. Several factors are involved in determining whether or not a patient develops C. difficile infection. These include factors related to the pathogen as well as the host. Transmission of C. difficile can be endogenous or exogenous. Colonization of the pathogen occurs when the gut flora gets disrupted due to various factors. The main virulence factors for CDAD are the two potent toxins: toxin A and toxin B which share 63 per cent of amino acid sequence homology and act on small guanosine triphosphate binding proteins. The emergence of the global hypervirulent C. difficile strain has been a cause of concern. Diagnosis of CDAD infection can be done by detection of C. difficile toxin in the stool specimen. Vancomycin is the drug of choice for severely ill patient, whereas metronidazole can be used for mild to moderately ill patients. Clinical spectrum, the factors precipitating CDAD, pathogenesis, diagnostic assay and treatment of the disease are reviewed.

A study on chikungunya outbreak during 2007 in Kerala, south India.

Background & objectives: The first chikungunya outbreak occurred in Kerala during 2006 affecting 14 districts, followed by another during May 2007 affecting almost whole of the State. Four of the worst affected districts viz, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam and Thrissur were surveyed during 2007 to understand the magnitude of the problem of chikungunya fever, particularly clinical signs and symptoms. Methods: A total of 1265 persons from 310 houses were surveyed door-to-door in 20 different localities representing four affected districts. The history and examination findings from 354 clinically diagnosed chikungunya cases were recorded. The symptoms recorded were fever, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, itch/rash, oedema, eye congestion, eye pain, oral ulcers, distaste, nausea, vomiting and haemorrhage. Results: The major symptoms were fever (100%), headache (97.5%), arthralgia (99.4%) and myalgia (99.4%). A significant difference was observed in oedema, distaste, nausea and headache among different age groups and these symptoms were reported to be lower (12.2-89.8%) in younger age group than in older age group (90.4-100%). No genderwise difference was observed for any of the symptoms. In clinically diagnosed chikungunya cases higher age group (>35 years) found with higher rate of severity with symptoms of oedema, distaste, nausea and headache when compared with lower age group (1-35 yr). Interpretation & conclusions: Chikungunya invaded Kerala State for the first time in 2006 and continues to be a major vector borne disease in the State. The clinical symptoms in affected cases highlighted high fever, sever myalgia and prolonged arthralgia, with occasional history of skin itch/rash (petechiae).

Optic Neuritis in Children

PURPOSE: In order to know the clinical characteristics of pediatric optic neuritis in children, an analysis was performed on 23 patients with onset of the disease before the age of 16 years from 1995 to 2000. METHODS: The degree of initial visual loss, subsequent visual recovery, magnetic resonance images and associated diseases were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: There was no female predilection in the study group (43%), with a mean age of 8.9 years at presentation. Involvement was bilateral in 87% of patients. A preceding febrile illness within 2 weeks of the onset of visual symptoms was reported in 39% of patients. Of the 43 involved eyes of 23 patients, disc swelling was present in 51%, and central/cecocentral scotoma in 58% of the involved eyes. With a mean follow-up of 14 months, 79% of the patients had final vision of > or = 20/40. Twenty-four (96%) of 25 eyes receiving intravenous steroid treatment, and 10 (56%) out of 18 eyes without intravenous steroids, showed a final visual acuity p> or =20/40. Only one patient (4%) with multifocal signal abnormalities around the periventricular white matter developed multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the children with optic neuritis showed bilateral involvement with papillitis. The visual prognosis was relatively good and was particularly better in the patients receiving intravenous steroid treatment than in those without any treatment, however this study was not controlled. Although a longer follow-up period is required, the development of multiple sclerosis is rare in children with optic neuritis.

Clinical spectrum of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita / 대한피부과학회지

The clinical spectruni of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita(EBA) is much broader than originally thought. Although the full extent of the clinical presenation is still being defined, it is now known that EBA include the followings: a non-inflammatory mechanobullous condition equating wit,h classical EBA; an inflammatory vesiculosullous eruption mimicking bullous pernphigoid; and a mucosal-centered disease with sarring similar to cicatricial pemphigoid. Among the nine cases of EBA, aged between 34 to 70 year-old, seen in recent years, three patients had mechanobullous lesions with skin fragilities and scarrings; three patients had inflammatory bullous eruptions, and three other patient had combined features of mechanobullous/inflammatory bullous lesions. Mucous membrane lesions were recognized in sex cases, and the rnos! frequent site of involvement was the oral mucosae. According to observations of these patients episodes of inflammatory bullous eruptions appeared to be present in seven cases and have been considered as early sympoms of the disease. It has been noted, however, that in two cases lesions develop d as an non-inflammatory mechanobullous from thonset. Based on the ability of EBA to mimick bullous pemphigoid or cicatricial pernphogoid and the fact that such cases have perhaps been missed, we feel EBA is more common than past literature has suggested.