ABSTRACT
Angiostrongylus costaricencis causes a clinicopathologic disease, abdominal angiostrongyliasis (AA), first observed in Costa Rica by Morera and Cespedes. AA is mainly observed in children, and is characterized by abdominal pain typically localized to the right lower quadrant. The disease is mostly endemic to Central and South America. However, the disease has begun to appear outside of its endemic area and may simulate Crohn's disease, and is observed in old persons. We report 3 cases of AA, all diagnosed in the Department of Pathology in the CHU in Guadeloupe, FWI, since 1987. The 3 cases are instructive of the disease and the physician needs to be aware of it. It is also a priority to identify intermediate hosts to prevent the disease (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Child , Angiostrongylus , Angiostrongylus cantonensisABSTRACT
A retrospective study of cot death was carried out in Guadeloupe, FWI over the two-year period 1989 - 1990 by analysis of data from post-perinatal infant mortality (PPIM). Information was obtained from death certificates, hospital records and telephone calls to general practitioners. The PPIM. rate 5.2 percent per 1,000 live births (LB) forms an important part of infant mortality. The 82 deaths (PPIM) were divided into four main categories: perinatal disease (42 percent), congenital disorders (18 percent), acquired disease or accidents (17 percent), cot death or unknown cause of death at home (22 percent). Cot deaths were subdivided into known causes, possible causes and unexplained death with or without necropsy. Of the 12 cot deaths no necropsy was obtained but a satisfactory explanation was found in half of the cases. This study showed a low sudden death rate between 0.8 and 1.2/1,000 LB. One-half of deaths occurred in babies who remained in hospital from birth. A quarter of deaths (among acquired diseases and cot deaths) could have been avoided if these babies had received adequate management (AU)
Subject(s)
Infant, Newborn , Infant , Infant Mortality , Sudden Infant Death , GuadeloupeABSTRACT
The authors describe the first two cases of abdominal angiostrongylosis in Guadeloupe, confirmed by a histological analysis. Physicians must be aware of the presence of Angiostrongylus costaricensis in the West Indies in order to provide better care for children presenting with fever, abdominal pain and rectorragiae, along with intense biological markers of inflammation.
Subject(s)
Angiostrongylus , Nematode Infections/diagnosis , Angiostrongylus/isolation & purification , Animals , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Nematode Infections/parasitology , Nematode Infections/pathology , West IndiesABSTRACT
The purpose of the present study was to determine the frequency and the other characteristics of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in 46 asymptomatic neonates during the first weeks of life. The GER were assessed by 24-hour continuous esophageal pH monitoring (CPR). The frequency of all the GER was 0.66 +/- 0.54/h (0 to 2.21). Half of the GER were determined as acid (pH less than 4 during at least 15 sec), 23% as highly acid (pH less than 3 during at least 15 sec), 39% as weakly acid (abrupt fall of the pH higher than 1 unit pH), and 11% as non acid (abrupt increase of pH higher than 1 unit pH). According to these results, a CPR should be considered as pathologic in neonates when the following criteria are fulfilled (upper limits fixed at means + 2 S.D.): 1. frequency of acid GER longer than 5 min above 0.35/h; 2. time ratio at pH below 4 exceeding 10.4%; or 3. frequency of very acid GER greater than 0.53/h.
Subject(s)
Gastroesophageal Reflux/epidemiology , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Monitoring, Physiologic , Age Factors , Birth Weight , Female , Gastroesophageal Reflux/diagnosis , Gestational Age , Humans , Infant, Newborn , MaleABSTRACT
A report is given of an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus infection in a neonatal unit in France. Twenty-three of 32 infants were infected (72%) despite infection control procedures. Prophylactic administration of non-specific gamma globulins was associated with a significant decrease in infection rate (p less than 0.05). The administration of transfer factor to infected infants was also associated with a significantly lower rate of severe respiratory diseases (p less than 0.05).
