Skin infections in male pupils of primary schools in Al Ahsa

To determine the prevalence, the nature, and the possible socio-demographic risk factors involved in the development of common transmissible skin disorders [TSD] among the studied population. A cross-sectional consecutive survey was carried out from November 15, 2008 to May 14, 2009 in Al-Ahsa governorate. This study included 1337 male primary school children. Data were collected using the following tools: Socio-demographics and hygienic habits according to pre-established forms and a thorough dermatological examination of all the included children. The prevalence of TSD was 27.15% with a statistically significant difference according to rural/urban locations [33.74% vs. 22.27%]. Fungal infections were the leading diseases [9.1%] followed by bacterial infections [8.9%], parasitic infestations [4.3%], and viral infections [4.1%]. TSD were significantly more frequent in students whose fathers have a primary or preparatory educational status and in the students having the habit to play barefooted. Our study found that TSD was relatively frequent among male primary school students in Al-Ahsa. Our study has several limitations. One major limitation is that female primary school students were excluded from the study. Despite this major limitation, we hope the findings may be useful in planning health care programs for Saudi children with the hope of reducing the prevalence of TSD in the future

Dirofilaria repens in Vietnam: Detection of 10 Eye and Subcutaneous Tissue Infection Cases Identified by Morphology and Molecular Methods

From 2006 to 2010, hospitals in Hanoi treated 10 human patients for dirofilariasis. The worms were collected from parasitic places, and identification of the species was completed by morphology and molecular methods. Ten parasites were recovered either from the conjunctiva (n=9) or subcutaneous tissue (n=1). The parasites were 4.0-12.5 cm in length and 0.5-0.6 mm in width. Morphological observations suggested all parasites as Dirofilaria repens. Three of the 10 parasites (1 from subcutaneous tissue and 2 from eyes) were used for molecular confirmation of the species identification. A portion of the mitochondrial cox1 (461 bp) was amplified and sequenced. Nucleotide and amino acid homologies were 95% and 99-100%, respectively, when compared with D. repens (Italian origin, GenBank AJ271614; DQ358814). This is the first report of eye dirofilariasis and the second report of subcutaneous tissue dirofilariasis due to D. repens in Vietnam.

[Malassezia flora of neonates hospitalized in hospitals affiliated to tehran university of medical Sciences]

Malassezia yeasts are normal flora of humans and warm-blooded animals. These lipophilic yeasts are associated with skin diseases in neonates such as pityriasis versicolor, neonatal postulitis and seborrheic or atopic dermatitis. Moreover in the recent years, these yeasts are increasingly isolated form fatal catheter-related fungemia in premature neonates. Concerning the role of Malassezia species in neonatal diseases and variation in their pathogenesis and sensitivity to antifungal drugs, we investigated the distribution of Malassezia species and related predisposing factors in neonates. 261 skin samples from scalp, chest and ear were collected from neonates in both Children Medical Center and Vali-Asr Hospitals using cellotape method and sterile wet swab. All samples were also inoculated in plates containing Leeming-Notman medium and Malassezia colonies were then sub-cultured on modified-Dixon and SCC media. Malassezia species were identified according to their macroscopic and microscopic morphological features and their physiological properties including tween assimilation test, catalase reaction and splitting of sculine. In this study 36% of samples were collected from Vali-Asr Hospital and the rest from Children Medical Center. The average age of the examined individuals was 11.7 days. 58.7% of neonates were boys and 41.3% were girls. Based on culture results, 68.9% of examined neonates had Malassezia flora. Besides, significant differences in frequency of isolated Malassezia were not seen between either two examined hospitals nor NICU and neonatal wards. M. furfur was the most common isolated species followed in frequency by M. globosa. In addition, M. obtusa and M. slooffia were recovered only once from trunk and head samples, respectively. In contrast to Malassezia flora in adults which is M.globosa, we isolated M. furfur as the dominant flora in neonates. This high prevalence of colonization may put hospitalized neonates in great danger of nosocomial Malassezia infections. Considering high mortality of Malassezia fungemia in neonates, skin should be cleaned effectively from Malassezia flora prior to administration of intra venous lipid or catheters

A case of loiasis

The prevalence of Loa loa infections in non-endemic areas such as Korea is very low, even though it is quite common in the endemic regions of West and Central Africa. We describe a patient who presented with temporary localized edema (classical Calabar swellings) after travelling to Cameroon and in whom the diagnosis of loiasis was made by ELISA. This is the second reported case of loiasis in Korea. As international travel is becoming more frequent, Loa loa infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with eosinophilia and Calabar swellings in Korea.

Larva migrans cutánea / Cutaneous larva migrans

Se describen 2 casos de Larva migrans cutánea. En ambos pacientes las lesiones aparecieron tras un viaje a una zona endémica y remitieron completamente tras tratamiento con tiabendazol tópico, sin mostrar recurrencias. Debido al aumento de viajes al extranjero es de esperar que se observe un mayor número de casos con esta patología, por lo que es preciso familiarizarse con su diagnóstico y tratamiento

Terapéutica dermatológica / Dermatologic therapy

En el presente artículo se revisan reportes de la literatura referentes a avances recientes en la terapéutica dermatológica, enfatizando los relativos a procedimientos quirúrgicos, enfermedades infecciosas y parasitarias observadas en nuestro medio

Incidencia de miasis en pacientes de consulta externa / Ocurrence of myaisis in ambulatory patients

Se reportan doce casos humanos de Miasis: cutánea (8), nasal (2), ocular (1) y vaginal (1). Las larvas causantes de miasis secundarias fueron identificadas como pertenecientes a Callitroga americana (10) y Dermatobia sp (2)

Schistosomose genital: rara localizaçäo / Cutanaeous genital schistosomiasis: rare localization

Os autores relatam um caso de schistosomose cutânea, da pele da bolsa escrotal. Discutem a patogenia provável dessa localizaçäo vicariante e valorizam a ocorrência, a despeito de sua raridade, como índice de suspeiçäo da doença nos casos assintomáticos procedentes de zonas endêmicas, além do que ressaltam seu significado nas cogitaçöes do diagnóstico diferencial com outras lesöes habituais dessa localizaçäo