Three cases of dengue fever among the medical relief team serving in the tsunami region / 대한내과학회지

Dengue fever, which is caused by a mosquito-borne flavivirus, has become a major infectious- disease threat in tropical and subtropical areas. Dengue fever has also become a common cause of febrile infections in persons who have recently traveled. On December 26, 2004 the tsunami hit Southeast Asia. People who survived in those areas were infected with endemic disease such as dengue fever, malaria and cholera. We sent six members of the Korean medical relief team to the tsunami region. Three workers developed fever, chills and headache after leaving the tsunami region, and were diagnosed with Dengue fever. Such an outbreak of Dengue Fever in travelers is rarely reported.

A Prospective Study for Comparing the Effects of Macrolide and Second-generation Cephalosporin on the Treatment of Pneumonia among Combat Policemen / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The study of pneumonia among young men living in a group is rare. prospective study was conducted to determine the etiology, and compare the effects of macrolide and second-generation cephalosporin on the treatment of pneumonia among combat policemen. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2003 to April 2004, Fifty-two patients with pneumonia were treated with either azithromycin(n=25) or cefuroxime(n=27). In order to determine the cause of the pneumonia, culture studies and serologic tests for antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae were carried out. During the two weeks of medication, the Chest X-rays, blood tests and culture studies(if necessary) were followed weekly. A serologic study was followed at the end of the second week. RESULTS: The main pathogens for pneumonia among combat policemen were Mycoplasma pneumoniae(50.0%), Chlamydia pneumoniae(10.8%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae(3.8%). The treatment was successful in most cases(51/52 cases, 98.1%). The effects of azithromycin and cefuroxime were similar (96.0% vs 100%, p>5). In one patient who had taken azithromycin, the clinical and radiological findings did not improved until intravenous second generation ce?phalosporin had been infused. CONCLUSION: Atypical pathogens were the main causes of the pneumonia in the combat policemen, and the effects of macrolide and second generation cephalosporin for pneumonia were similar. However, further studies will be needed to determine if single therapy with macrolide is possible.

Severe Hypercalcemia in Oliguric Phase of Acute Renal Failure Associated with Rhabdomyolysis / 대한신장학회잡지

Hypercalcemia rarely develops in patients with acute renal failure associated with rhabdomyolysis. If hypercalcemia occurs, it happens mostly in diuretic phase and rarely in oliguric phase. Secondary hyperparathyroidism, abnormal metabolism of Vitamin D, immobilization of patient, and release of calcium from injured muscle are considered as possible pathogenetic mechanisms of hypercalcemia in acute renal failure associated with rhabdomyolysis. Among them, dissolution of calcium from injured muscle into extracellular fluid is accepted as the major mechanism of pathogenesis of hypercalcemia. A twenty year old male patient, combat policeman, developed syncope in the course of regular physical training. He was diagnosed of acute renal failure associated with rhabdomyolysis at the hospital he initially visited. After being subjected to three sessions of acute hemodialysis, he was transferred to our hospital. During the treatment, laboratory test was performed upon his continuous complaints of lower extremity weakness. It showed severe hypercalcemia with plasma calcium level of 17.6 mg/dL. He was in oliguric phase at the time of this severe hypercalcemia. Patient's lower extremity weakness was gradually improved by hemodialysis using low calcium dialysate. He was discharged after his renal function became normal. He has been followed on regular basis.