ABSTRACT
Centipedes are arthropods of the class Chilopoda. The objective of this work was to study the incidence of accidents involving centipedes at "Centro de Informações Toxicológicas de Belém" (CIT-Belém) over a two-year period. Seventy-six patients were studied from March 30, 1998 until March 30, 2000. Centipede accidents occurred in 16.8% of all accidents by venomous animals at Centro de Informações Toxicológicas de Belém; compared to snake accidents, 44.4 % and scorpion accidents, 20.5%. The majority of cases occurred in the residence (86.8%). The most important age group was 20-49 years old (64.4%). The part of human body mostly affected was the superior members (47.4 %). Local pain and edema were found in 95.8% and 52.1% of the patients, respectively. Treatment was symptomatic. Healing occurred in 94.7%, although the outcome of 5.3% of cases was unknown. Centipede accidents are a benign accident, occurring within the residence and treatment consists of measures to decrease the pain.
Subject(s)
Arthropods , Bites and Stings/epidemiology , Adult , Animals , Brazil , Female , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Time FactorsABSTRACT
During the period from January/85 to July/96, 102 cases of paracoccidioidomycosis were observed in a hospital in Belém, PA. Thirteen of these cases were children between 3 and 13 years of age, with a predominance of females (8:5). All patients presented the disseminated subacute form of the mycosis. The high prevalence of the mycosis in children in endemic areas of the Amazon region is discussed.
Subject(s)
Paracoccidioidomycosis/epidemiology , Brazil/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Paracoccidioides/isolation & purification , Paracoccidioidomycosis/microbiologyABSTRACT
We report 19 cases of cryptococcosis in children, diagnosed in Belém, PA. In nine patients the variety of the etiologic agent was studied and identified as Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii. The average age of these patients was 7.8 years (range, 5-13 years) There were 5 girls and 4 boys (ratio, 1.25:1). Amphotericin B treatment (associated with fluconazole 3 or fluocytosine 1) was given but five (56%) of these patients died in the following three months. The existence of highly endemic areas of infection by var. gattii in Pará, Brazil and the severity of the disease due to this fungal variety are commented.
Subject(s)
Cryptococcosis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Brazil , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Worldwide occurrence of envenomation by snakebite in pregnancy is rare according to the medical literature. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of snakebite envenomation cases as well as their obstetrical consequences. Thus, we conducted this study based on the medical records of 157 patients, aged from 13 to 54 years old who had been attended at the "Joao de Barros Barreto" University Hospital from January 1989 to May 1994. These patients presented epidemiological and clinical diagnosis of snakebite envenomation. Of the 157 patients, 8 (5 per cent) were pregnant, 6 of them (75 per cent) were in the first trimester of pregnancy and 2 (25 per cent) in the 2nd trimester. Most of the victims were usually over 18 years old (7 cases, 87.5 per cent). Concerning the severity of the envenomation cases, 5 of them were considered mild accidents. Obstetrical consequences occurred in 3 (37.5 per cent) patients, 2 patients (25 per cent) with moderate manifestations, while 1 (12.5 per cent) presented severe manifestations. Patients developed vaginal bleeding in 3 cases (100 per cent), and uterine contraction, threatened abortion, decreased fetal movements, absence of fetal heartbeat and fetal death in one case (33.35 per cent). Snakebite is not common among pregnant women, since in most cases, these women are homebound. However, the obstetrical consequences are severe and related to severity of the envenomation.
