Sarampión: antecedentes históricos y situación actual / Measles: historical background and current situation

Resumen: El sarampión sigue siendo una causa importante de morbilidad y mortalidad en el niño. Durante estos últimos años, se ha convertido en un problema de salud pública mundial, que se atribuye a bajas coberturas de vacunación observadas en diferentes países. Para su control se dispone de una vacuna a virus vivo, altamente eficaz, que fue empleada por primera vez en Chile en 1964, logrando cobertura en prácticamente todo el país en un breve plazo. Esta fue la primera experiencia mundial, imitada lue go por otros países que resulto en una importante caída de las tasas de morbilidad y de mortalidad. Su eficacia ha sido ampliamente demostrada, pero requiere de la mantención de coberturas superiores a 95%. En Chile persistió una situación de endemia de menor magnitud hasta el año 1993. En años recientes, ha habido algunos brotes reducidos y casos esporádicos vinculados a contactos con casos importados, sin embargo, según datos recientes, el sarampión está circulando ahora en más de 160 países en un nivel de propagación sin precedentes, siendo los viajeros infectados el principal vehículo de transmisión. En Chile, el Ministerio de Salud ha decidido reforzar y poner al día la vacunación de grupos susceptibles, en especial viajeros. En esta actualización se revisan aspectos históricos y la información actual de esta enfermedad que ha resurgido mostrando su alto impacto epidemiológico en la población pediátrica y adulta a nivel global.

Abstract: Measles is still a major cause of child morbidity and mortality. In recent years, it has become a global public health problem, attributed to low vaccination coverage observed in different countries. In order to control it, a highly effective live virus vaccine is available, which was used for the first time in Chile in 1964, covering practically the whole country in a short period of time. This was the first world experience, which was later imitated by other countries leading to a significant drop in mor bidity and mortality rates. Its effectiveness has been amply demonstrated, but it requires coverage maintenance higher than 95%. In Chile, minor endemic situation persisted until 1993. In recent years, there have been some reduced outbreaks and sporadic cases linked to contacts with imported cases, however, according to recent data, measles is now circulating in more than 160 countries at an unprecedented spread level, where infected travelers are the main vehicle of transmission. In Chile, the Ministry of Health has decided to strengthen and update the vaccination of susceptible groups, especially travelers. This update reviews historical aspects and current information on this re-emer ging disease, showing its high epidemiological impact on the pediatric and adult population globally.

Características de la enfermedad cerebrovascular en un Servicio de Cuidados Intermedios Neurológicos, en Chile. Análisis de 459 pacientes consecutivos / Cerebrovascular disease in a Neurologic Intermediate Care Unit in Chile. Analysis of 459 consecutive patients

Background: Stroke is the second cause of mortality and the first cause of morbidity in Chile and worldwide. Nowadays there is a major interest in introducing new therapies applying evidence based medicine for these patients. Aim: To describe the clinical profile of patients attended after a stroke, to determine stroke subtypes and their risk factors. Material and methods: Retrospective review of clinical records of 459 patients (mean age 65±48 years, 238 female) that were admitted to our unit during a period of 37 months. Results: Sixty three percent of patients had an ischemic stroke, 14% had an hemorrhagic stroke, 15% had a transient ischemic attack, 2% had a cerebral venous thrombosis and 6% a subarachnoidal hemorrhage. The global mortality was 1%. Seventy percent of patients had a history of high blood pressure. Conclusions: The most common type of stroke is ischemic and high blood pressure is the main risk factor.