Co-infection of malara and crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever

Southeast of Iran is an endemic areas for Malaria and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF]. In 1999, we faced with an outbreak of CCHF in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, in the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The most cases of Malaria in Iran are also reported from this area. This article presents a 17-year-old woman who admitted to our hospital because of acute fever, headache, epistaxis, hemorrhagic lesions on the skin and vaginal bleeding. Finally, she was recognized as a case that was co - infected with CCHF and malaria

Occult hepatitis B virus infection among anti-HBc only positive individuals in the southeast of Iran in high prevalence of HBV icfection region

The persistence of HBV-DNA in the serum of hepatitis B surface antigen negative individuals with or without the presence of HBV antibodies is termed occult HBV infection. From April 2005 to November 2006, we evaluated 110 patients who had only a positive test for anti-HBc. Out of 110 anti-HBc positive samples, HBV-DNA was detected in three cases. Positive samples for HBV-DNA had a level normal of ALT. HBV-DNA can be detected among anti-HBc only positive samples. Therefore, further testing for detection of HBV-DNA is recommended on each anti-HBc only positive individual

Fifteen years experience with pulmonary hydatidosis in Zahedan, Iran

Hydatid disease is a major world health problem and pulmonary hydatidosis is a widespread disease. It is presented with different clinical manifestations. In order to determine the most clinical manifestation, diagnostic methods and clinical outcome in our patients, we conducted this study. Forty-nine patients with pulmonary hydatid cysts who were admitted to our hospital in Zahedan [Southeast of Iran] between 1990 and 2005, evaluated. We retrospectively reviewed the patients' symptomatology, diagnostic studies, treatment options, and morbidity as well as mortality rate. The ages of the patients ranged from 16 to 68 years [mean 43 years]. Seventy-five percent of patients were from male gender. Hemoptysis was one of the most common clinical presentations in our patients. Radiological studies were the main diagnostic tool. The correct preoperative diagnosis was made in 92% of the patients by chest roentgenogram plus chest CT-Scan. Eighty seven percent of patients were treated by surgical route. Only one patient was expired during surgery. Upon the results emerged from this study, hemoptysis is one of the most prevalent clinical manifestation in patients with pulmonary hydatidosis and it can mimic pulmonary tuberculosis in endemic area

[Epidemiology of extra pulmonary tuberculosis in Zahedan]

Tuberculosis canses a broad range of clinical illnesses caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis [or less commonly mycobaterium bovis]. It is the most frequent cause of death worldwide. Tuberculosis can affect virtually every organ, most importantly the lungs. Extra pulmonary tuberculosis [EPTB] may develop simultaneously in the course of pulmonary tuberculosis or it may appear years after the primary pulmonary infection. In recent years, because of AIDS epidemic and an increase in the number of immigrants from countries where tuberculosis remains endemic and an improvement in invasive diagnostic procedures have contributed to an increase in the occurrence of extra pulmonary tuberculosis. Because of the variations and dispersion of extra pulmonary tuberculosis observed between the developed and developing countries we were tempted to evaluate the entire cases of extra pulmonary tuberculosis in Zahedan between 1998-2003. In the survey, extra pulmonary tuberculosis formed 23.19% of all tuberculosis cases. A total of 417 patients [62.11% female and 37.89% male] were evaluated. Female between 15-24 years and male >65 years appeared to be predisposed to developing extra pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis lymphadenitis was the prevalent form of extra pulmonary tuberculosis [34.05%], fallowed by tuberculosis of pleural [12.23%], Tuberculosis of the bone [11.99%] in the order. Extra pulmonary tuberculosis comprises one-fourth of all cases of TB. This figure is consistent with that of WHO. Tuberculosis lymphadenitis is the most common form of extra pulmonary among women and young individuals

[Prevalence of hepatitis C among diabetes mellitus patients in Zahedan]

Several clinical studies have recently claimed that HCV infection could trigger the onset of diabetes mellitus [DM]. In order to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus [HCV] among patients with type 1, 2 diabetes mellitus [DM] and investigate the influence of several epidemiological factors on HCV infection, we conducted this study. In this case-control study we evaluated 505 diabetic patients [135 male, 370 female with the mean age of 54.5 years] who had referred to Diabetic clinic in Boo-Ali hospital [a teaching hospital in south east of Iran] in 2004. Serologic testing for anti- HCV was done using a third-generation commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA] and Real-time-PCR [HCV RNA] in order to confirm the anti-HCV positive samples. Diabetic patients [were divided in two groups according to their HCV antibody status and were analyzed for the following variables: age, sex, type of diabetes, duration of disease, mode of therapy, late diabetic complication, previous blood transfusions, intravenous drug addiction, hospital admissions and major surgical procedures. Then results were compared with the findings from blood donors. HCV infection was detected in one patient who had history of hospitalization and blood transfusion. However, a higher prevalence of HCV infection was not observed in diabetic patients in comparison with blood donors [P=0.46]. There was no correlation between HCV and diabetic type, duration, age, sex [P>0.05]. Upon the results of our study, we conclude that HCV infection is not a trigger factor for DM; therefore it should not be listed among the various extrahepatic manifestations of this viral infection. Although, further studies, possibly multicentre, are needed to estimate prevalence of HCV in diabetic patients

Cystic tuberculous pericarditis a rare form

Tuberculous pericariditis is the most common cause of chronic pericarditis, especially in developing countries. Cystic tuberculous pericarditis is an exceedingly rare type of tuberculosis. Authors discuss clinical manifestations and radiological findings in a patient with cystic tuberculous pericarditis in whom diagnosis was confirmed by pericardial biopsy

[Seroepidemiological study of hepatitis B virus infection in barbers in the Zahedan region of Iran]

Barbers in Iran may often be exposed accidentally to the blood or bloody fluids of the customers. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV infection in the barbers. This study was a case-control survey. We conducted a Seroepidemiological study to determine the prevalence of HBs Ag and antibody against HBc Ag [and- HBc] among the 103 barber and 110 control subjects in the Zahedan, a city in south eastern of Iran. The prevalence of HBV was found to be higher in the barbers [27% CI=95% 18.3, 35.7] than in the comparison group [9.98%, CI=95%,4.3,15.7]. Twenty - one [75%] contaminated barbers Hepatitis B had more than five years duration of occupation. A significant relationship was found with the duration of occupation and Infection in the barbers [P < 0.001]. Among the seropositive subjects, it was found, that the most of them [89.3%] had been exposed to scissor cuts. [P=0.005]. Our data suggest that HBV infection may constitute occupational hazards for the barbers