Hidatidosis pancreática en una niña de 5 años / Pancreatic echinococcosis in a 5-year-old girl

La hidatidosis pancreática representa el 0,2-0,6 % de los casos, siendo la población pediátrica la de mayor riesgo. Las lesiones suelen localizarse en cabeza del páncreas (50-58 %); la localización en cuerpo y cola del páncreas se encuentra en el 24-34 % y el 19 %, respectivamente. Dada la posibilidad de complicaciones, suele realizarse tratamiento quirúrgico. Se sugiriere indicar albendazol antes y después del acto quirúrgico por los riesgos de ruptura y diseminación de los protoescólices. Se presenta el caso de una niña de 5 años de edad con dolor abdominal progresivo y lesión quística en páncreas compatible con hidatidosis en la ultrasonografía. En la tomografía computada se observa compresión de la vía biliar. La hemoaglutinación indirecta fue negativa. Presentó elevación de la bilirrubina total, con franco predominio de bilirrubina directa, y aumento de enzimas hepáticas. Se realizó laparotomía exploradora, colecistectomía y destechamiento del quiste. Evolucionó favorablemente, continuó con albendazol durante 3 meses luego de la cirugía.

Pancreatic echinococcosis accounts for 0.2­0.6% of cases, with the pediatric population being at a higher risk. Most commonly, pancreatic lesions occur in the head of the pancreas (50­58%); and in the body and tail in 24­34% and 19% of cases, respectively. Given the potential complications, surgery is usually performed. Albendazole is recommended before and after the surgery due to the risks for rupture and dissemination of protoscolices. Here we describe the case of a 5-year-old girl with progressive abdominal pain and cystic lesion in the pancreas compatible with echinococcosis in the ultrasound. The computed tomography showed bile duct compression. Indirect hemagglutination was negative. She had elevated total bilirubin, with a clear predominance of direct bilirubin, and high liver enzymes. Exploratory laparotomy, cholecystectomy, and unroofing of the cyst were performed. The patient had a favorable course and continued with albendazole for 3 months after the surgery.

Urban Chagas disease in children and women in primary care centres in Buenos Aires, Argentina

The primary objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of this disease in women of childbearing age and children treated at health centres in underserviced areas of the city of Buenos Aires. Demographic and Chagas disease status data were collected. Samples for Chagas disease serology were obtained on filter paper and the reactive results were confirmed with conventional samples. A total of 1,786 subjects were screened and 73 positive screening results were obtained: 17 were from children and 56 were from women. The Trypanosoma cruziinfection risk was greater in those individuals who had relatives with Chagas disease, who remember seeing kissing bugs, who were of Bolivian nationality or were born in the Argentine province of Santiago del Estero. The overall prevalence of Chagas disease was 4.08%. Due to migration, Chagas disease is currently predominantly urban. The observed prevalence requires health programme activities that are aimed at urban children and their mothers. Most children were infected congenitally, which reinforces the need for Chagas disease screening of all pregnant women and their babies in Argentina. The active search for new cases is important because the appropriate treatment in children has a high cure rate.

Prevention of congenital Chagas through treatment of girls and women of childbearing age

It is currently unknown whether treatment of Chagas disease decreases the risk of congenital transmission from previously treated mothers to their infants. In a cohort of women with Chagas disease previously treated with benznidazole, no congenital transmission of the disease was observed in their newborns. This finding provides support for the treatment of Chagas disease as early as possible.

Neurocisticercosis: un caso autóctono en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires / Neurocysticercosis: report of an autochthonous case in Buenos Aires city

La neurocisticercosis es la enfermedad parasitaria del sistema nervioso central provocada por la larva de Taenia solium, denominada Cysticercus cellulosae. Es una enfermedad universal, endémica en países de Latinoamérica y Asia.En 1993, en la provincia de Buenos Aires se comunicaron 11 casos de neurocisticercosis en pacientes adultos, 8 provenientes de Bolivia y 3 del interior de nuestro país. En la Argentina,los casos pediátricos comunicados son oriundos de países limítrofes o del interior del país.El propósito del presente artículo es presentar el primer caso pediátrico autóctono, con fuente de contagio local en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires y alertar sobre la posibilidad de que una regióncomo ésta, ingrese dentro del área endémica, producto de los movimientos migratorios internos y externos, y del asentamiento de portadores de la parasitosis en el perímetro urbano.

Neurocysticercosis (NC) is a central nervous system disease caused by Cysticercus cellulosae, the larvae of Taenia solium. NC is found worldwide, and endemic in Latin America and Asia.In 1993, 11 adult patients with NC were reported in Buenos Aires, 8 from Bolivia and the rest from Argentina. Pediatric cases reported in Argentina have been from inner provincesor from rural areas. The purpose of the present article is to present the first autochthonous pediatric case, with local source of contagion in the city of Buenos Aires, and to alert regarding the possibility that the city become an endemic area, due to the migratory movements leading to establishment of asymptomatic carriers of Taenia solium in the urban area.