Botulismo en el lactante / Botulism in an infant

El botulismo del lactante es una enfermedad causada por potentes neurotoxinas proteicas producidas por la bacteria Clostridium botulinum, las cuales interfieren en la liberación presináptica de acetilcolina a nivel de la unión neuromuscular. Es frecuente en lactantes y puede causar dolor abdominal, vómitos, parálisis aguda —incluyendo parálisis respiratoria—, diplopía y visión borrosa. El tratamiento con inmunoglobulina humana específica evita la evolución del cuadro clínico que puede ocasionar el fallecimiento. A continuación, presentamos un caso de botulismo diagnosticado en un centro de salud (AU)

Infant botulism is a disease caused by potent protein neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum, which interfere with the presynaptic release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, being common in infants and causing abdominal pain, vomiting, acute paralysis including respiratory paralysis, diplopia and blurred vision. The treatment with a specific immunoglobulin prevents the evolution of the clinical picture that can cause death. We present a case of botulism in an infant in a medical center. (AU)

Edema agudo hemorrágico del lactante / Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy

El edema agudo hemorrágico del lactante (EAHL) es una vasculitis de pequeño vaso que afecta característicamente a los lactantes, con predominio en varones. Su etiología es desconocida pero con frecuencia se asocia a infecciones o fármacos. Las lesiones cutáneas que provoca son purpúricas y asocian edema y febrícula. Su evolución es favorable y sin secuelas, se resuelve en pocas semanas y el tratamiento es sintomático. El caso clínico que presentamos trata de un lactante varón atendido en nuestro centro de salud con episodio de otitis media aguda y posterior aparición de edema agudo hemorrágico

Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy is a small vessel vasculitis that characteristically affects infants, predominantly males. Its etiology is unknown but is often associated with infections or drugs. It is characterized by purpuric lesions that associate edema and low- grade fever. Its evolution is favorable in a few weeks without sequelae. The treatment is symptomatic. We present a case in relation to a 15 months-old boy attended in our Health Center for an episode of acute otitis and subsequent appearance of acute hemorrhagic edema

Antibody responses to α-Gal in African children vary with age and site and are associated with malaria protection.

Naturally-acquired antibody responses to malaria parasites are not only directed to protein antigens but also to carbohydrates on the surface of Plasmodium protozoa. Immunoglobulin M responses to α-galactose (α-Gal) (Galα1-3Galß1-4GlcNAc-R)-containing glycoconjugates have been associated with protection from P. falciparum infection and, as a result, these molecules are under consideration as vaccine targets; however there are limited field studies in endemic populations. We assessed a wide breadth of isotype and subclass antibody response to α-Gal in children from Mozambique (South East Africa) and Ghana (West Africa) by quantitative suspension array technology. We showed that anti-α-Gal IgM, IgG and IgG1-4 levels vary mainly depending on the age of the child, and also differ in magnitude in the two sites. At an individual level, the intensity of malaria exposure to P. falciparum and maternally-transferred antibodies affected the magnitude of α-Gal responses. There was evidence for a possible protective role of anti-α-Gal IgG3 and IgG4 antibodies. However, the most consistent findings were that the magnitude of IgM responses to α-Gal was associated with protection against clinical malaria over a one-year follow up period, especially in the first months of life, while IgG levels correlated with malaria risk.