Análisis regional de la hidatidosis humana y animal en Chile: 1989 a 1993 / Regional analysis of the human and animal hydatidosis in Chile: 1989 to 1993

A descriptive study of hydatidosis, a still very prevalennt zoonosis in Chile, was carried out with information up to 1993. Both human and animal data were included, the last one based on more reliable information. Regional human distribution up to 1991 shows persistent high notification rates in the extreme south of the country, Aysen and Magallanes hospital discharges, more reliable than notified cases, adds the IX Region of Araucania to the high risk areas, join with more than 30 hospitalizations per 100,000 people in 1989. Mortality case rate suggests strongly a very high subnotification in all the regions, mainly in O'Higgins. This zoonosis affects predominatly, young and middle aged adults, with a similae sex distribution. Cattle infection has decreased in the last 20 years, particulary in sheep. Proportion of infected dogs also tends to show a lowering trend in specific studies. It appears a strong need of a national program for controlling this zoonosis, to be initiated with an epidemiological evaluation by regions and centered in health education, dogs' infection control with treatment and better handling of slaughterhouses

Perfil epidemiológico de la cirrosis hepática en Chile 1970-1992 / Epidemiological profile of hepatic cirrhosis in Chile 1970-1992

Liver cirrhosis is an important public health problem in Chile. To review the main epidemiological features of liver cirrhosis in Chile in the last 22 years. Review of yearbooks of mortality and causes of death of the Ministry of Health and Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas, review of hospital discharge and review of international statistics published by tha WHO. The mortality rate of liver cirrhosis in 1992 was 17.9/100.000 inhabitants and represented 3.3 percent of all deaths. The risk od cirrhosis is higher among men and in people over 64 years old. In the last decade, death rates of young adults (15-44 years old) and children dicreased dramatically. Hospital discharge rates for cirrhosis have dicreased from 46.7 in 1970 to 40.4 in 1992. The men/women ratio in 1991 was 2.1/1 for hospital discharge and 2.8/1 for mortality. Mortality was higher in large urban areas (Santiago, Valparaíso and Concepción). A correlation of +0.17 was found between death rates for cirrhosis and wine production per capita. Cirrhosis continues to be a highly prevalent disease in Chile

Situación actual de la hidatidosis humana en Chile: dos propuestas de corrección de su subnotificación / Present situation of human hidatidosis in Chile: 2 correction proposals to the subnotification

Hydatidosis continues to be a prevalent disease in Chile. Since 1985 and until 1990, the number of notified cases decreased abruptly, probably due to sub-notification. Lethality, not calculated officially, increased since 1985 in a roughly similar proportion to the decrease in communicated incidence. This fact, along with an increase in hospital discharges due to the disease in the country, confirms the hypothesis that sub-notification is true. Two estimation systems for the magnitude of sub-notification are proposed, one based in the expected lethality and the other in the corrected hospital discharges, taking into account the phenomenon of re-admission. Both systems, although differing, disclose much higher incidence of hydatidosis than the communicated figure. A critical analysis of both systems is done