[Enteropathogens in travellers returning from the tropics]. / Enteropathogene Organismen bei Tropenrückkehrern.

Diarrhea is not only the most common health hazard during travel in the tropics but also the most frequent condition which prompts returning travellers to see a physician. The prevalence of bacterial and parasitic enteropathogens in people attending our outpatient department after returning from the tropics has been studied and the laboratory results of stool examinations have been compared with clinical symptoms. Of the 173 persons enrolled, 19 (11%) harboured bacterial pathogens and pathogenic protozoans (Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica) were found in 26 (15%). The data of 156 patients were evaluated. Enteropathogenic bacteria and/or protozoa were found in 29 (46%) of the 63 patients presenting with diarrhea at the time of investigation. In contrast, 10 (11%) of the 93 asymptomatic subjects had enteropathogenic organisms in the feces (p less than 0.01). The results appear to confirm that bacteriological stool examinations of travellers returning from the tropics without diarrhea are not usually indicated, even if a history of transient travellers' diarrhea is reported. Parasitological investigations are justified in this group only if asymptomatic carriage of Giardia or E. histolytica is considered an indication for specific treatment.

Métodos parasitológicos de enriquecimiento: equipo y técnica de Gálvez (patente No 34945) / Enrichment parasitologic methods: Galvez equipment and technique (patent num 34945)

Se estudian muestras de heces fecales de 966 pacientes, utilizando la técnica de Gálvez. Se compara con 8 métodos. Se realizan 8 694 exámenes, obteniéndose resultados de mayor positividad por la técnica de Gálvez en: larvas, protozoarios y huevos de helmintos

Potassium retention in acute diarrhoeal disease.

Most children suffering from severe acute diarrhoeal disease had a low total body potassium (TBK) or admission to hospital. TBK fell even lower during the first 5 - 9 days in hospital, and returned to normal levels during the next 8 - 12 days. There was good correlation between potassium retention and stool weight. An increase in the potassium intake had little effect on the rate of potassium repletion.