A prospective, open, comparative study of 5% potassium hydroxide solution versus cryotherapy in the treatment of genital warts in men

BACKGROUND: Genital warts are caused by human papillomavirus infection and represent one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Many infections are transient but the virus may recur, persist, or become latent. To date, there is no effective antiviral treatment to eliminate HPV infection and most therapies are aimed at the destruction of visible lesions. Potassium hydroxide is a strong alkali that has been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of genital warts and molluscum contagiosum. Cryotherapy is considered one of the most established treatments for genital warts. No comparative trials have been reported to date on the use of potassium hydroxide for genital warts. OBJECTIVE: A prospective, open-label, randomized clinical trial was conducted to compare topical potassium hydroxide versus cryotherapy in the treatment of genital warts affecting immunocompetent, sexually active men. METHODS: Over a period of 10 months, 48 patients were enrolled. They were randomly divided into two groups and selected on an alternative basis for either potassium hydroxide therapy or cryotherapy. While response to therapy did not differ substantially between both treatment modalities, side effects such as local pain and post-treatment hypopigmentation were considerably more prevalent in the groups treated using cryotherapy. Result: In our study, potassium hydroxide therapy proved to be at least as effective as cryotherapy and offered the benefit of a better safety profile. CONCLUSION: Topical 5% potassium hydroxide presents an effective, safe, and low-cost treatment modality for genital warts in men and should be included in the spectrum of therapies for genital warts. .

A study of the spectrum of Acanthamoeba keratitis: a three-year study at a tertiary eye care referral center in South India.

PURPOSE: To determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Acanthamoeba keratitis and also to determine the sensitivity and specificity of smears in the detection of Acanthamoeba. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all culture-positive cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis seen between October 1999 and August 2002 was performed. Corneal scrapes were subjected to culture and microscopy using standard protocols. RESULTS: Out of 3183 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed corneal ulcers evaluated, 33 (1.04%) were found to be due to Acanthamoeba. Twenty-four out of 33 (72.72%) were less than 51 years of age (P<0.001). All patients were from rural areas (P<0.001) and 26 (78.79%) of them were agricultural workers (P=0.031). All 33 had history of corneal injury (P<0.001) and 28 (84.85%) patients had injury with mud (P<0.001). All 33 (100%) patients had previous medical treatment (P=0.009) and 10 (30.3%) had used traditional eye medicines (P=0.183). A clinical pattern of ring infiltrate was characteristic in 15 (45.45%) patients. The diameter of the corneal ulcer was more than 6 mm in 27 (81.82%) eyes (P<0.001). Twenty-six (78.79%) patients had visual acuity of perception of light on initial presentation (P<0.001) and 24 (72.73%) had the same as their final visual outcome. The sensitivity of 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation was found to be higher (P<0.001) in the detection of Acanthamoeba cysts. CONCLUSION: The incidence of Acanthamoeba keratitis amongst the corneal ulcer patients was 1% in this setting and it was mainly due to corneal injury by mud. The KOH preparation is a sensitive diagnostic tool for the detection of Acanthamoeba. Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis and inappropriate antimicrobial therapy results in poor visual outcome.

Eficácia terapêutica do hidróxido de ferro III polimaltosado na anemia ferropriva em crianças menores de seis anos em Carrancas, Minas Gerais / Eficacy of ferrous III polimaltosado on iron deficiency anemia threatment in children age six years in Carrancas, State of Minas Gerais

Avaliar a eficácia e tolerabilidade da terapêutica com hidróxido de ferro III polimaltosado na anemia ferropriva em crianças. Método: Foram avaliadas 400 crianças menores de 6 anos de idade, residentes no Município de Carrancas, MG. Pelo teste rápido de hemoglobina (Hemocue) amostras de sangue foram colhidas por punção digital, sendo o ponto de corte de 11,0 q/dL para anemia recomendado pela OMS, sendo este valor acrescido de 0,6, para ajustes de altitude e variabilidade do aparelho. Para confirmação do diagnóstico de anemia ferropriva foi realizado eritrograma para determinar o nível de hemoglobina, considerando anemia os valores 11g/dL com hipocromia e microcitose à hematoscopia e dosagem da ferritina sérica (valores 10 mg/dl). Nas crianças anêmicas, exames parasitológicos de fezes foram realizados para avaliar parasitose intestinal. Resultados: Cento e noventa e sete (49%) crianças tinham valores de hemoglobina abaixo do ponto de corte, sendo consideradas anêmicas. O diagnóstico de anemia ferropriva somente foi confirmado em 50, considerando-se os critérios estabelecidos acima. O tratamento foi feito com hidróxido de ferro III polimaltosado na dose de 4md/Kg/peso/dia, por via oral, durante 90 dias. Ao final deste período, foi possível avaliação de 40 crianças quanto à eficácia e tolerância. Os níveis médios de hemoglobina antes do tratamento elevaram de 9,6 ± 1,0g/dL para 11.0 ± 1,4g/dL ao final do tratamento, diferença estatisticamente significativa p < 0,001. O exame parasitológico de fezes foi positivo em 35 das 38 crianças, sendo as parasitoses mais comuns ascaridíase e giardíase. Índice de 66% de erradicação dos parasitas após o tratamento específico com mebendazol e metronidazol. Conclusão: Encontrou-se elevada prevalência de anemia em crianças, com boa resposta e tolerância à terapêutica instituída.

To know the prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency in children in the city of Carrancas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Method: Cross-sectional study with 400 children, with age from 6 months to 6 years. Hematological parameter used for screening was 11.0g/dL cut-off point for hemoglobin, measured by HemoCue, with a blood obtained by digital punction as recommended by WHO. Children with hemoglobin lower than this value had venous blood collected to determine hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells count, and determination of plasmatic ferritin concentration. Results: Children with hemoglobin levels lower than 11.6g/dL were considered anemic according to HemoCue evaluation. However, only 50 children were confirmed as anemic due to iron deficiency. They were treated with ferrous polymaltose in oral doses of 4mg/kg of weight, dayly, during 90 days. Mean hemoglobin levels increased from 9,6 ± 1,0g/dL before treatment to 11,0 ± 1,4g/dL at the end of 90 days of treatment. Such difference was statistically significant (p<0,001). Intestinal parasites most prevalent were Ascaris and Giardia, which were treated adequately with mebendazol and metronidazol. Conclusion: A high prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in children under six years was observed years. Therefore, it is an important public health matter in Carrancas. Treatment was effective in increasing the hemoglobin levels to normal values and was well tolerated by children.