Enteric fever: an appraisal of clinical laboratory and therapeutic aspects

Ninety-six episodes of enteric fever due to Salmonella paratyphi A and Salmonella typhi were studied. Eighty-two per cent of cases were due to S. paratyphi A, 14 to S. typhi and 4 were mixed infections. There was no observer in-vitro resistance to chloramphenicol and co-trimoxazole among the isolates. Clinical jaundice was observed in 19 per cent of cases and correlated with the frequent occurrence of abnormal elevation of serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and SGOT/SGPT. Blood cultures were most helpful in establishing the diagnosis while the Widals test was of limited usefulness and showed a low sensitivity as diagnostic tool. Defervescence was noted on 4.4 days with chloramphenicol, 4.4 days with co-trimoxazole, and 6.2 days with thiamphenicol. There were three treatment failures with chloramphenicol, one with co-trimoxazole, and two with thiamphenicol. There was no relapse observed with co-trimoxazole therapy compared to 4 relapses with chloramphenicol and 1 on thiamphenicol and another on ampicillin therapy. Complications were encountered in 23 patients including gastrointestinal hemorrhage in 19 cases, (4 of whom required transfusion), intestinal perforation, toxemia, and acute renal failure occurring in one patient each. Hemolytic crisis in one patient and agranulocytosis in another, presumed to be side effects of therapy, were observed. Four patients died; two because of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage, one due to progressive toxemia and another due to acute renal failure. (Summary)

Human leptospirosis: clinical and laboratory diagnosis

The findings in this study are of epidemiologic importance since the leptospires were isolated from human cases in 18 of 46 suspected cases (39%) which is a much better isolation rate than the previous local attemptsA clinical analysis of these patients was presented to enligthen the clinicians about this health problem and to help them confirm the diagnosis which is primarily the objective of this studyWith a wider realization of this health problem, we may in the future be able to institute adequate and necessary health sanitation and improvement to prevent and control such disease which should only be confined to animals. (Summary)

Problems and tentative solutions in the control of gonorrhea in the community

Hospitality girls reporting at the Balibago Social Hygiene Clinic, Angeles City between November 1978 and February 1979 for their regular VD check-up were studied. Similarly, hospitality girls seen at the Social Hygiene Clinics at Makati, Pasay City, and Para$aque, Metro Manila were studied from July to November 1978 to compare the prevalence rate of gonococcal infection