ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM OF STUDY: Typhoid fever, which is endemic in Malaysia, affects all age groups and it has been stated that classical features described in textbooks were absent in children. The aim of this study was to find out whether this was true in the local setting and hence a retrospective study was undertaken. METHODS: Fifty-four paediatric patients satisfied the inclusion criteria and all were seen consecutively during the study period of 10 years. Patients' records were reviewed for demographic data such as age, sex, ethnicity, clinical features, therapy and results of laboratory tests. RESULTS: Fever was the most common presenting symptom and diarrhoea was more common than constipation. Isolation of S typhi from blood and/or stools was the most important diagnostic tool *85.2%) and of these 99% had significant Widal titres. Clinical and bacteriological relapse occurred in 5 children (3%) who were successfully treated with ceftriaxone. The absence of mortality and low level of complications indicates either a mild nature of the disease or to early recognition or prompt and appropriate therapy.
Subject(s)
Salmonella typhi/isolation & purification , Typhoid Fever/pathology , Ceftriaxone/therapeutic use , Cephalosporins/therapeutic use , Child , Child, Preschool , Constipation/classification , Constipation/etiology , Diarrhea/classification , Diarrhea/etiology , Disease Progression , Female , Humans , Infant , Malaysia , Male , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome , Typhoid Fever/complications , Typhoid Fever/drug therapyABSTRACT
Large ovarian cysts in the fetus are uncommon. Ultrasonography has helped in the detection of these cysts antenatally and in the newborn female infant. A case of bilateral ovarian cysts in a newborn is presented. The choice of management between conservative measures and surgical approaches remains controversial.
Subject(s)
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/congenital , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Ovary/surgery , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/diagnosis , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/surgeryABSTRACT
A pilot epidemiologic study of all cases of Reye and Reye-like syndromes was undertaken at 8 representative major hospitals in Peninsular Malaya from January 1st to December 31st 1986. The cases were classified as definitive Reye's syndrome, clinical Reye's syndrome and encephalo-hepatopathies. Less than 50% of cases reviewed fulfilled the National Center for Disease Control criteria for clinical Reye's syndrome. Causes of Reye-like syndromes/encephalo-hepatopathies included fulminant hepatitis, Japanese B encephalitis, dengue, septicaemia, and complex febrile fits. It was not possible to differentiate clinical Reye's syndrome from the other encephalo-hepatopathies by either the clinical features (except for jaundice) or biochemical parameters. Liver biopsy is necessary for a definitive diagnosis of Reye's syndrome in Malaysia, because of the high prevalence of Reye-like diseases. The mortality rate in the 2 groups of patients is similar. Ingestion of salicylates was not found to be significantly associated with Reye and Reye-like syndromes in this study.
