[Familial seroepidemiology of toxocariasis]. / Seroepidemiología familiar de la toxocariasis.

With the objective of defining the intrafamiliar distribution pattern of the infection and illness caused by Toxocara sp., 78 infected families (356 people) were studied for 30 months. At the same time 28 families free of infection were studied, as a control group (97 people). The socioeconomic level was analyzed according to a modified Graffar index. Contac with canine and feline pets, and antecedents of geophagia and onichophagia were found to be risk factors which would facilitate the infection. The average of persons infected, diagnosed by ELISA Toxocara test, was 2.8 per family. The importance of familiar distribution of the infection and its primary prevention is strongly stressed.

Comparación del rendimiento terapéutico del albendazol y el tiabendazol en síndrome de larva migrans / Comparison of therapeutical behaviour of albendazol and tiabendazol in larva migrans syndrome

En Chile se ha incrementado el diagnóstico de larva migrans visceral, y es así que se ha documentado infección por este agente en el 28%de los pacientes con eosinofilia, en tanto que la posee el 8,8%de la población, presuntamente sana. Se presenta fundamentalmente en niños con antecedentes de geofagia y de contacto con perros y gatos. Los síntomas y signos son de intensidad variables. El objetivo del presente estudio, es dar a conocer la experiencia en relación al tratamiento en 32 pacientes tratados con tiabendazol, a razón de 25 mg/kg por 5 días, y 21 con albendazol, en dosis fija de 400 mg/día por 3 días. La edad, estado nutricional, eosinógilos absolutos y síntomas fueron semejantes en ambos grupos. El tiabendazol mejoró a 29 casos (90,6%), tanto en los aspectos clínicos como en el recuento de eosinófilos absolutos, mientras que el albendazol lo hizo en 18 (85,7%) (p > 0,05). Con ambas drogas, las manifestaciones de intolerancia fueron mínimas. Se concluye que el tratamiento con albendazol es una solución para el síndrome de larva migrans visceral en nuestro medio, en que no se dispone de tiabendazol

Teleradiology: an evaluation of a microcomputer-based system.

A laboratory evaluation of a microcomputer-based teleradiology system is described. The system used state-of-the-art hardware, and provided for contrast and brightness control by the consulting radiologists. The transmitted, digitized images were compared with conventional radiographs. The radiologists' scores for findings, impressions, and confidence levels were significantly lower for radiographic images viewed on the teleradiology system. However, the quality of the images provided by the teleradiology system was high enough to warrant further study, especially since microcomputer-based teleradiology offers the advantage of providing access to radiology services for rural areas and small hospitals.