Perinatal dengue infection.

We report a case of vertical transmission of dengue infection in an infant. The mother's was a term pregnancy with a history of chronic hypertension. She presented with high fever of 3 days duration 5 days prior to delivery. Her initial complete blood count showed platelet count of 64,000/mm3. Dengue hemorrhagic fever was diagnosed 2 days later and symptomatic treatment was given. During labor her platelets dropped to 11,000/mm3 and platelet concentrate was given. Cesarean section was performed due to prolonged second stage of labor. Her infant was normal at birth except for petechiae on the left thigh. The child's platelet count was 34,000/mm3 and low grade fever was detected on the first day. Clinical sepsis was suspected and antibiotic treatment was started and continued for 4 days until all the cultures came back as negative. Both mother and her baby made an uneventful recovery and were discharged 6 days after delivery with normal platelet counts. Maternal blood was positive for IgM antibody to dengue virus. Both cord blood and the baby's blood were positive for dengue virus serotype 2 by PCR.

Intestinal microsporidiosis in HIV-infected children with acute and chronic diarrhea.

A prospective study of intestinal microsporidiosis in HIV-positive children was conducted at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health and Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Hospitalized HIV-positive children with and without diarrhea were enrolled in this study. Microsporidial spores identified by calcofluor fluorescent and gram-chromotrope stain were confirmed by electron microscopy. As well as Cryptosporidium parvum, Microsporidia was the most common protozoa found in the present study, each was 7.1%. Microsporidia was significantly more common in those who had diarrhea. Intestinal microsporidiosis was found in HIV-positive children with both acute and chronic diarrhea. This study emphasizes the importance of Microsporidia in HIV-infected children. Early detection of microsporidia could be of benefit for the patients, since the infection is treatable.