Isolated hydatid cyst of the neck: an unusual site.

INTRODUCTION: Head and neck hydatid disease is rare, even in countries in which echinococcosis is endemic and accounts for 1% of all human echinococcosis sites. The purpose of this report is to describe the epidemiology, clinical features, complementary investigations and treatment of head and neck hydatid disease in the light of a case report and a review of the literature. CASE REPORT: The authors report the case of a 40-year-old man, who presented with a right supraclavicular mass that had been growing for six months. Neck ultrasound initially suggested a type I unilocular hydatid cyst according to Gharbi's classification. Neck exploration was then performed, revealing a hydatid cyst. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Isolated hydatid cyst of the neck is exceptional, but should be considered in the presence of any cystic mass of the neck in endemic regions. Ultrasound facilitates diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in order to ensure complete surgical resection. Prevention remains the essential treatment.

Pandemic influenza A(H1N1)2009 in Morocco: experience of the Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Rabat, 12 June to 24 December 2009.

On 12 June 2009, Morocco was the first country in North Africa to report a laboratory-confirmed case of influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus infection. This study describes the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 240 laboratory-confirmed cases among 594 outpatients with influenza-like illness at the Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Rabat, from 12 June to 24 December 2009. Real-time reverse transcription-PCR was used to confirm the infection. The epidemic peaked in weeks 47 to 49 (16 November to 6 December 2009). The mean age of cases was 23 years (standard deviation: 14 years). Cough was the most common symptom in 200 cases (83%), followed by fever (≥38 °C) in 195 (81%). Diarrhoea or vomiting was reported in 12 (5%) patients. None of the cases developed any complications and no deaths occurred during the study period.

Seroepidemiological study of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in Brazil, Estonia, India, Morocco, and Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND: The association between herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the development of HSV vaccines have increased interest in the study of HSV epidemiology. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the age and sex specific seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections in selected populations in Brazil, Estonia, India, Morocco, and Sri Lanka. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from various populations including children, antenatal clinic attenders, blood donors, hospital inpatients, and HIV sentinel surveillance groups. STD clinic attenders were enrolled in Sri Lanka, male military personnel in Morocco. Sera were tested using a common algorithm by type specific HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibody assay. RESULTS: 13,986 samples were tested, 45.0% from adult females, 32.7% from adult males, and 22.3% from children. The prevalence of HSV-1 varied by site ranging from 78.5%-93.6% in adult males and from 75.5%-97.8% in adult females. In all countries HSV-1 seroprevalence increased significantly with age (p<0.001) in both men and women. The prevalence of HSV-2 infection varied between sites. Brazil had the highest age specific rates of infection for both men and women, followed by Sri Lanka for men and Estonia for women, the lowest rates being found in Estonia for men and India for women. In all countries, HSV-2 seroprevalence increased significantly with age (p<0.01) and adult females had higher rates of infection than adult males by age of infection. CONCLUSIONS: HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence was consistently higher in women than men, particularly for HSV-2. Population based data on HSV-1 and HSV-2 will be useful for designing potential HSV-2 vaccination strategies and for focusing prevention efforts for HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection.