Abdominal angiostrongyliasis: third case in Guadeloupe - abstract

Angiostrongylus costaricencis causes a clinicopathologic disease, abdominal angiostrongyliasis (AA), first observed in Costa Rica by Morera and Cespedes. AA is mainly observed in children, and is characterized by abdominal pain typically localized to the right lower quadrant. The disease is mostly endemic to Central and South America. However, the disease has begun to appear outside of its endemic area and may simulate Crohn's disease, and is observed in old persons. We report 3 cases of AA, all diagnosed in the Department of Pathology in the CHU in Guadeloupe, FWI, since 1987. The 3 cases are instructive of the disease and the physician needs to be aware of it. It is also a priority to identify intermediate hosts to prevent the disease (AU)

Post-perinatal infant mortality and cot deaths in Guadeloupe, FWI - abstract

A retrospective study of cot death was carried out in Guadeloupe, FWI over the two-year period 1989 - 1990 by analysis of data from post-perinatal infant mortality (PPIM). Information was obtained from death certificates, hospital records and telephone calls to general practitioners. The PPIM. rate 5.2 percent per 1,000 live births (LB) forms an important part of infant mortality. The 82 deaths (PPIM) were divided into four main categories: perinatal disease (42 percent), congenital disorders (18 percent), acquired disease or accidents (17 percent), cot death or unknown cause of death at home (22 percent). Cot deaths were subdivided into known causes, possible causes and unexplained death with or without necropsy. Of the 12 cot deaths no necropsy was obtained but a satisfactory explanation was found in half of the cases. This study showed a low sudden death rate between 0.8 and 1.2/1,000 LB. One-half of deaths occurred in babies who remained in hospital from birth. A quarter of deaths (among acquired diseases and cot deaths) could have been avoided if these babies had received adequate management (AU)

[Presence of abdominal angiostrongylosis in Guadeloupe. Apropos of 2 recent cases]. / Présence de l'angiostrongylose abdominale en Guadeloupe. A propos de deux cas récents.

The authors describe the first two cases of abdominal angiostrongylosis in Guadeloupe, confirmed by a histological analysis. Physicians must be aware of the presence of Angiostrongylus costaricensis in the West Indies in order to provide better care for children presenting with fever, abdominal pain and rectorragiae, along with intense biological markers of inflammation.