Diphtheria in Baghdad during 1980-1993: an epidemiological and clinical study of 2145 cases

Diphtheria, one of the communicable diseases existing in Iraq, is accompanied by fatal complications such as asphyxia and myocarditis. It is one of the six childhood diseases targeted by the WHO Expanded Programme of Immunization [EPI]. This study dealt with the diphtheria cases admitted to the Ibn EI-Khateeb Hospital for infectious diseases in Baghdad for the period between January 1980 and December 1993; the number of patients was 2145 [1122 male, 1023 female]. The EPI launched in mid-1985 was a landmark for the disease. Analysis of the epidemiological and clinical findings of the disease showed that diphtheria is an endemoepidemic disease in Baghdad. Before the EPI it attacked younger age groups but decreased sharply after the EPI with an increased attack rate of more adult age groups but with a significant reduction in the overall fatality rate. Diphtheria admission was increased after the Gulf War in 1991 but did not reach a significant level. This study also dealt with the clinical findings and the effect of vaccination on the outcome of the disease. It can be concluded that diphtheria, despite a substantial reduction in its morbidity and mortality, is still endemic in Iraq with a significant shift towards adult age groups, especially females. This might be an example of the success of the EPI programme. Vaccination for diphtheria is mandatory during early childhood; in addition, an early diagnosis and rapid treatment will greatly decrease the complications and fatal outcome

Tuberculous meningoencephalitis: a clinical study of 161 cases

This study deals with cases of tuberculous meningoenecephalitis [TBM] adimitted Tolbn-El-Khateeb Hospital for infectious diseases between Jan. 1986- Dec. 1992, and they were 161 cases. Diagnosis was based on the clinical presentation, cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] changes and theraputic response to antituberccolous therapy. The study contains detailed information on the epiderniological, clinical, and laboratory results, also a repeated prospective CSF analysis and comparison of the findings with their identicals among cases of pyogenic meningitis. For the difficulty in depending these results only for the final diagnosis of TB meningitis with an absence, or inefficiency of the laboratory procedures in our country in this concern, so it might be helpful to depend this study to help in [case definition] of TB meningitis, in order to haste-in its management

Recovery from rabies in man: a case report

A human survival from clinical rabies was presented, the diagnosis was supported by an epidemiological, clinical and laboratory evidences. Perhaps this case is the fourth reported recovery from clinical rabies in the world

Out-patient treatment of obesity: weight loss in adolescence subjects attending nutrition research institute-Baghdad

Sixty obese subjects [both sexes] attending Nutrition Research Institute during 1983-1989, with an age range of 11-15 years, were retrospectively grouped into two dietary regimens, The first group following 800-900 kcal/day regimen, and the other following 1200-1500 kcal/day. The mean weight loss was 11.39 kg and 6.7 kg respectively. The results indicate that both regimens were medically safe, and produced suitable weight loss