Clinico-laboratory profile of 45 filarial arthritis cases.

This prospective observational study was done during the period from January 2000 to December 2004 including 45 cases of lymphatic filariasis manifested with acute arthritis. Different investigations were carried out to exclude allergy, parasitic and infectious diseases, autoimmune disorder and malignancy. They were given standard treatment with oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Articular symptoms were not relived satisfactorily. Later they were given oral corticosteroids. During treatment slight relief of symptoms were noted, but all sign-symptoms reappear after withdrawal of corticosteroid drugs. Treatment with oral diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) (150 mg/day) for 3 weeks showed complete resolution of arthritis. No side effects or relapse were encountered. The basic mechanism of relief of pain remains unknown. It was assumed that during benign course of lymphatic filariasis, development of arthritis result most likely due to reaction against some occult agents in the joints.

Clinical profile of rheumatic fever in some hospitalised children of Bangladesh.

Clinical profile of rheumatic fever (RF) in 100 hospitalised children of Bangladesh were studied. Peak age period of the incidence of the disease was found in the age group of 11-12 years (34 percent) and majority (83.5 percent) of the cases belonged to the middle and poor classes. There was slight preponderance of the male. Carditis was the commonest (64 percent) manifestation followed by poly-arthritis (51 percent). Chorea was present in 6 percent and subcutaneous nodules were in 7 percent cases. Erythema marginatum (EM) was conspicuous by its absence. Amongst the rheumatic heart diseases (RHD), mitral stenosis (MS) and mitral incompetence (MI) comprised the highest (35 percent) incidence and next to it was the MS (13 percent) and MI (9 percent).