Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de la parasitación intestinal por Blastocystis hominis / Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of intestinal parasite infection by Blastocystis hominis

Objetivos. Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) es uno de los parásitos intestinales más frecuentemente aislados en el ser humano. Puede producir sintomatología gastrointestinal o, en la mayoría de los casos, permanecer asintomático. Existen dudas sobre el carácter patógeno del parásito. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de la parasitación por B. hominis, con y sin otras coparasitaciones. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio observacional retrospectivo de aislamientos de B. hominis en heces, desde octubre del 2004 hasta marzo del 2016 en una Unidad de Medicina Tropical. Se revisó a todos los pacientes con parasitación exclusiva, o no, por B. hominis. Resultados. Se estudió a 3.070 pacientes. En 570 (18%) se diagnosticó infección por B. hominis, de los que en 245 (43%) representó el único aislamiento; 325 (57%) presentaron otras coparasitaciones (Entamoeba hystolitica o dispar, Strongyloides stercoralis, uncinarias y Schistosoma sp.). El síntoma principal fue dolor abdominal (41,8%). En un 31,2% el parásito se detectó en el cribado de enfermedades importadas en pacientes asintomáticos. De los que recibieron tratamiento con metronidazol, un 78,2% mejoró y en el 82,6% los parásitos se negativizaron. Conclusiones. La parasitación por B. hominis es una de las enfermedades más frecuentes en nuestra Unidad de Medicina Tropical. La mayoría de los pacientes están asintomáticos o bien la clínica puede ser atribuida a otras parasitaciones. En aquellos casos en los que persisten los síntomas sin poder ser atribuidos a otras causas, es recomendable un tratamiento específico

Objectives. Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) is one of the most common intestinal parasites isolated in humans. The parasite can cause gastrointestinal symptoms or, in most cases, remain asymptomatic. There are issues concerning the parasite's pathogenic character. The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the parasite infection by B. hominis, with or without other parasitic co-infections. Patients and methods. An observational retrospective study was conducted of B. hominis isolates in faeces from October 2004 to March 2016 in a tropical medicine unit. We reviewed all patients with a parasite infection, exclusively or not by B. hominis. Results. We studied 3070 patients, 570 (18%) of whom were diagnosed with B. hominis infection, which was the only isolate in 245 (43%) of the 570 patients. A total of 325 (57%) patients presented other parasitic co-infections (Entamoeba histolytic or Entamoeba dispar, Strongyloides stercoralis, hookworm and Schistosoma spp.). The main symptom was abdominal pain (41.8%). In 31.2% of cases, the parasite was detected in the imported diseases screening of asymptomatic patients. Of those who underwent treatment with metronidazole, 78.2% improved. The parasite was neutralised in 82.6% of the patients. Conclusions. Parasite infection by B. hominis is one of the most common diseases in our tropical medicine unit. Most patients are asymptomatic, or their symptoms can be attributed to other parasite infections. In those cases in which symptoms persist without being able to attribute them to other causes, a specific treatment is recommended

Hepatitis virales e inmigración: un reto para el sistema sanitario / Viral hepatitis and immigration: a challenge for the healthcare system

Introducción. Las hepatitis virales representan un importante problema de salud en los países africanos. El incremento de la población inmigrante procedente de este continente supone un reto para el sistema sanitario. Material y métodos. Estudio descriptivo sobre la prevalencia de marcadores serológicos de hepatitis viral B (VHB), C (VHC) y delta (VHD) en inmigrantes africanos atendidos en una consulta especializada. Resultados. Se incluyó a 2.518 pacientes (87,7% subsaharianos) con una edad media de 31,3 años. El 78,8% presentó algún marcador positivo de infección por el VHB y en 638 pacientes (25,3%) se diagnosticó una hepatitis B activa (AgHBs+). En 19 casos se detectaron anticuerpos frente al VHD (4 con detección del genoma viral). Sesenta y ocho pacientes presentaron anticuerpos contra el VHC, de los que 26 tenían carga viral positiva. Conclusiones. La elevada prevalencia de hepatitis virales en inmigrantes, en especial la infección por VHB, ha supuesto un cambio significativo en el perfil de pacientes atendidos en nuestro país, y precisa de medidas encaminadas a un diagnóstico precoz y prevención de la transmisión (AU)

Background. Viral hepatitis is a significant health problem in African countries. The increase in the immigrant population from this continent represents a challenge for the Spanish healthcare system. Material and methods. A descriptive study was conducted on the prevalence of the serological markers of hepatitis B (HBV), C (HCV) and D (HDV) in African immigrants treated in a specialised doctor's office. Results. The study included 2518 patients (87.7% Sub-Saharan natives), with a mean age of 31.3 years. Some 78.8% of the patients had a positive infection marker for HBV, and 638 patients (25.3%) were diagnosed with active hepatitis B (HBsAg +). In 19 cases, antibodies against HDV were detected (4 cases with detection of the viral genome). Sixty-eight patients had antibodies against HCV, 26 of whom had a positive viral load. Conclusions. The high prevalence of viral hepatitis in immigrants, especially HBV infection, represents a significant change in the profile of patients treated in Spain and requires measures aimed at early diagnosis and transmission prevention (AU)

Exhaled nitric oxide in school children: Searching for the lost variability

OBJECTIVE: The factors including asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis - which influence FeNO values in a general population of school children have been studied in order to know to what extent the variability of those values can be explained. METHODS: FeNO was measured in a population of 240 school children aged 6-12 years by means of a Niox-Mino(TM) device in a standardised way. Parents filled in an ISAAC-validated questionnaire of symptoms and environmental factors. Diagnoses were checked against clinical records. Height and weight were measured. A multivariate regression analysis including all variables in the questionnaire was performed, which was followed by two Xi stepwise tests in order to build a predictive model which included the main variables influencing FeNO values. RESULTS: Among the 240 children, 10 suffered from asthma, 16 from rhinoconjunctivitis and 15 from both conditions. FeNO values (GM ± GSD) in children with rhinoconjunctivitis (19.61 ± 1.20 ppb), with asthma (18.62 ± 1.32 ppb), and with both conditions (17.62 ± 1.19 ppb) tended to be significantly higher than control children (11.42 ± 1.04 ppb), p = 0.0016, p = 0.08 and p = 0.01, respectively. The different predictive models were able to explain only 20-27% of FeNO variability. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of FeNO inter-individual variability which can be explained by individual (including suffering from asthma or rhinoconjunctivitis), family, and environmental factors is very low (20-27%). This could have implications on the usefulness of FeNO as a diagnostic tool in asthma

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