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Query: UMLS:C0024530 (malaria)
 44,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Characteristics of pediatric cerebral malaria, including specificity of clinical diagnosis, efficacy of antimalarial regimens, and the influence of drug resistance remain poorly defined in many parts of the world. The utility of the Glasgow coma scale and quantitative assessment of parasitaemia levels as diagnostic and prognostic indices in cerebral malaria were determined in this study. Thirty-one pediatric patients with admission diagnoses of cerebral malaria in the emergency ward at Korle Bu Hospital, Accra, Ghana were evaluated. Mean age was 4.8 years. The initial diagnosis of malaria was confirmed in 65 per cent of patients; 16 per cent ultimately received another diagnosis including pneumonia, meningitis or encephalitis. In 19 per cent the diagnoses were inconclusive. Mean initial blood parasitaemia level was 10(4.6) parasites per mm3, and mean initial Glasgow coma score was 10.4. The initial Glasgow score was a better predictor of length of stay (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.66) than initial parasitaemia level (r = 0.17). For most treated patients parasitaemia levels decreased a mean of 1.3 logs per day of therapy; however, in 33 per cent parasitaemia continued to rise or fluctuate. High parasitaemia levels were associated with deep levels of coma, but only when both parameters were assessed throughout the hospital stay. Both deaths in this series occurred in patients who had persistently negative blood smears for malaria parasites, but showed autopsy findings consistent with cerebral malaria.
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PMID:Pediatric cerebral malaria in Accra, Ghana. 184 87

Glycaemic status on hospital admission was compared in 97 children with severe falciparum malaria (36 with cerebral malaria) and 89 children with other serious illnesses (32 in coma; 57 with acute pneumonia, not in coma). The frequency of hypoglycaemia (blood glucose below 2.2 mmol/l) did not differ significantly between malarial and control patients (5.2% vs 11.2%) nor between the comatose (11.1% vs 18.8%) and conscious (1.6% vs 7.0%) malarial and control subgroups. Compared with normoglycaemic patients, hypoglycaemic patients had appropriately low serum insulin (3.0 vs 8.2 mU/l) and C-peptide (0.13 vs 0.42 mmol/l) and high plasma non-esterified fatty acids (1.42 vs 0.83 mmol/l). Hypoglycaemia, the level of consciousness, and death were all significantly associated with the time since the last meal. Hypoglycaemia is not a specific complication of malaria but is found in severely ill fasted children, resulting from glycogen depletion and perhaps impaired hepatic gluconeogenesis. It should be sought in all severely sick children. A single bolus dose of glucose may not be enough to correct it.
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PMID:Specificity of hypoglycaemia for cerebral malaria in children. 197 69

Eight cases of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-2 were documented by ELISA and Western blot in Gambia between January 1988-September 1989 from a hospital-based screening of 205 malnourished children, 864 subjects in a malaria study, 34 patients with probable immunodeficiency and 24 children of 17 HIV-2 seropositive mothers. AIDS was diagnosed by WHO clinical definition. Diagnosis of HIV-2 was made if sera were positive by ELISA and Western blot (LAV Blot2, Diagnostics Pasteur, Marnes-La-Coquette, France) and negative by Wellcozyme I competitive ELISA to HIV-a (Wellcome Diagnostics, Dartford, UK). The children ranged in age from 17 months-5 years, and in ponderal index from 50-90%. 6 had CD4 percentages or counts below the normal range. 7 of the 8 could only have been infected pre- or perinatally, while 1 had been transfused from her mother. The clinical features included 5 with diarrhea 1 month; 3 with Cryptosporidium, 3 with Candida, a pneumonia, an interstitial pneumonia by x-ray, a streptococcus abscess, a staphylococcus abscess, 1 infant with failure to thrive and 1 4-year old who was asymptomatic. This group of patients was more severely affected than a series reported from Guinea Bissau: their mothers also had advanced AIDS in comparison to asymptomatic mothers in the other series. While mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 occurs in approximately 33% of children of HIV-1 seropositive mothers, these data cannot estimate the actual rate of transmission of HIV-2.
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PMID:AIDS following mother-to-child transmission of HIV-2. 197 26

In this article it is outlined the work of doctor Bustamante in fighting against diseases such as yellow fever, typhus, malaria, and smallpox; and the development and impel that this professional gave to preventive and social medicine is pointed out. It is established that health care professionals currently must not only highly studied and prepared, as they should manage all features related with public health, but also change-men-and-women who are capable to influence future generations, which will be the responsible in relocating men at the equilibrium point concerned to their health. Said equilibrium point is not only modified in its biopsychosocial aspect, but also its essence is deeply affected. This paper is a warning to physicians to fight together in response to humanity, that has set their confidence in them, as the current problem of drugs and dependence to drugs unhinges everything wholeness. To doctor Suarez is intolerable that, in spite of technological advances in the world, yet exist deaths caused by pneumonia or diarrhea. The hazards of the century are frightened: nuclear war and AIDS; but the characteristics that have distinguished human species and allowed its survival and superation are trusted: mental activity, ability of judgement, and consciousness; which are valuable for a deep philosophic discussion that allows us to continue our advance. An enumeration of the medicine achievements in this century is made.
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PMID:[Health challenges as the second millenium is ending. Conceptual epidemiology, social pathology, medicine and professional ethics]. 208 47

A retrospective survey was carried out on adult medical admissions to Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi during the period January to December 1986, and results compared with those obtained in Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre in 1973. There were 4700 admissions which was more than twice the number seen in Blantyre. However, the age distribution, the pattern of disease and the overall hospital mortality were similar. Infections (malaria, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gastroenteritis/dysentery and meningitis) were the most common cause of admission, and the major causes of death were still tuberculosis, pneumonia and meningitis. Smoking related diseases were uncommon, and there was no documented case of ischaemic heart disease. The reasons for the importance of periodic surveys, such as the present study, are discussed.
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PMID:Medical admissions to Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi in 1986: comparison with admissions to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre in 1973. 229 37

This review describes the transmission, clinical picture and immunological abnormalities of HIV infection in children in general, and the special problems of AIDS in African children. The review begins with a thorough introduction to the epidemiology of AIDS. Transmission to children generally involves vertical transmission by placental transfer or transmission of HIV via transfusion of blood and blood products, or by contaminated needles. Casual transfer is unknown, and only a few cases of transmission via breast milk are known. The clinical picture of HIV infection in infants and children differs from that in adults in 3 important aspects: earlier onset, different clinical presentation and existence of AIDS embryopathy. The average onset was 5 months of age. The most common symptoms in young children are chronic interstitial pneumonitis without demonstrable etiology, hepatomegaly, failure to thrive, adenopathy, diarrhea, oral or perineal thrush, eczema and thrombocytopenia. The common opportunistic infections are pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Cryptosporidium diarrhea, pyogenic infections of the middle ear and gram-negative septicemia. Several infections seen in adult AIDS cases are rare in children: mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, toxoplasma gondii, hepatitis B, as well as Kaposi's sarcoma, malignant lymphoma and cardiac abnormalities. The AIDS embryopathy or HIV dysmorphic syndrome is characterized by immunological abnormalities, growth failure, and craniofacial dysmorphism, particularly microcephaly, prominent box-like forehead, hypertelorism, flattened nasal bridge, obliquity of the eyes, blue sclerae and patulous lips. AIDS in African children is extremely difficult to diagnose because of similarities between the presenting symptoms and those commonly seen in sick children there, many of whom are also immune compromised. Where serotesting is available, the picture is complicated by cross reaction between the test agents and some factor found in sera from malaria patients. Seropositivity in some areas is high, increased by the prevalence of transfusion and injection treatments. Diagnosis is made more difficult by lack of laboratory facilities and difficulties in follow-up for pediatric patients. The CDC definitions of AIDS and ARC, and the WHO/CDC definitions of AIDS are appended.
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PMID:Human immunodeficiency virus infection in childhood. 245 15

As part of a multi-disciplinary research programme undertaken by the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research near the town of Madang, northern PNG, a three-year study of mortality was conducted in a rural population of approximately 16,500 people. From early 1982 the area was under continuous demographic surveillance which continued for the three years of the study. All deaths which occurred in this period were investigated by interviewing relatives of the deceased and examining any available health service records. Respiratory diseases were the commonest cause of death, with pneumonia accounting for 20% of deaths in children under 10 years of age, and pneumonia and chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) together accounting for a third of all deaths. Deaths from COLD were more common in the study population than in PNG hospitals and health centres. The proportion of deaths caused by malaria in children under 10 years was estimated to be between 4 and 17%. Mortality rate in the first year of life were determined by following up a cohort of 1015 births occurring in the first 20 months of the study. Of the 1002 live births, 46 died in the first 12 months of life, giving an infant mortality rate of 45.9% live births. Other mortality and demographic rates were consistent with data reported from the 1980 PNG National Census, suggesting that the study population belonged to an advantaged rural area. Demographic features found in this population were a high birth rate, a relatively low crude death rate, and a rate of natural population increase of 2.8% per annum. The methodological difficulties associated with the measurement of malaria mortality have important implications for the evaluation of future malaria vaccines. The methods employed in this study are critically discussed, and recommendations made for future studies.
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PMID:Mortality in a rural area of Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. 260 69

About 120,000 infants are born each year with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Africa. The majority have Hb SS, but Hb SC and Hb S/beta+ thalassaemia are common in west Africa. The development of Plasmodium falciparum and P. malariae is partially inhibited in the Hb SS red cells, but malaria precipitates both haemolytic and infarctive crises, and is the commonest and most important cause of morbidity and mortality. The pneumococcus is likely to be the second major infectious cause of sickness and death. In one rural community, there were less than 2% of the expected number of subjects with SCD surviving beyond 5 years of age. Genetic factors improving prognosis include (1) the Senegal beta chain haplotype, which is linked to a high level of Hb F, and (2) alpha+ thalassaemia. Of environmental factors improving prognosis, the family is of first importance. The commonest age of presentation is 1-3 years. Children present with anaemic crises (malaria, splenic sequestration, folate deficiency, and possibly aplastic), infarctive crises (hand-foot syndrome, bone-pain, pulmonary and abdominal) or acute infections (malaria, pneumonia, septicaemia, meningitis, osteomyelitis). Tragically, many patients in central Africa have been infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through blood transfusions; they present with generalised lymphadenopathy and other features of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The principles of management are (1) to ensure freedom from malaria, (2) to continue folic acid supplements, (3) to give blood transfusions only when anaemia endangers life, (4) to control pain, (5) to restore hydration, and (6) to prescribe broad spectrum antibiotics in large dosage and without delay, but only when there are definite indications, such as fever (greater than 39 degrees C), acute pulmonary disease, meningitis, and acute osteomyelitis. The advent of HIV and AIDS makes the control of SCD of even greater importance. Principles of control are (1) early diagnosis through appropriate laboratory techniques and selective screening, (2) education of parents, patients, health professionals and public, and (3) the maintenance of health at sickle cell clinics; measures must include antimalarial prophylaxis. SCD programmes should be integrated with primary health care and AIDS control programmes.
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PMID:The presentation, management and prevention of crisis in sickle cell disease in Africa. 265 Jul 73

The fact that economic progress has a bearing on health can be seen in most developing countries where widespread poverty causes poor health and high mortality. Childhood mortality is highest in Africa and in Southern Asia. The rate of decline in mortality has decreased in these areas since the 1950s. In Sri Lanka, approximately 5% of the children 5 years old die, yet yearly 1/3 of the children 5 Afghanistan and a few West African countries die. In less developed countries, adult mortality is high: in places where the life expectancy of a 15-year-old is under 50 years, 30-40% will die before age 60. 80-90% of the deaths from water and food borne diseases are accounted for by diarrhea and dysentery, and 60-70% of the deaths from airborne diseases by pneumonia and bronchitis. Present estimates from 4 localities indicate that measles, malaria, tetanus, and acute respiratory infection account for more than 90% of all child mortality. Various estimates suggest that there are 100-300 million cases of malaria and 1-2 million malaria-related deaths annually. Estimates indicate a ratio of abortions varying between 9/1000 live births in East Africa to 325/1000 live births in Latin America. 1986 WHO data indicate that induced abortion is responsible for 7-50% of all maternal deaths in developing countries. More than 90 countries now that operational diarrheal disease control programs, 47 countries are producing oral rehydration solutions, 8450 health personnel have been trained in diarrhea program supervisory skills, and oral rehydration use rates are slowly rising.
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PMID:Identifying health problems and health research priorities in developing countries. 266 49

The mean annual rate of decline of the probability of dying 5 years of age in developing countries is 2.5%. Nevertheless disease accounts for a considerable proportion of premature deaths. The leading causes of death in these countries, in order, include respiratory disease, diseases of the circulatory system, low birth weight, diarrhea, measles, injuries, malnutrition, and neoplasms. These conditions represent diseases of poverty and affluence. Respiratory infections are common among 5-year old children and cause a high proportion of child deaths. Circulatory diseases tend to be limited to adults. Control of hypertension, diet, smoking prevention, and exercise can prevent circulatory diseases. The risk of dying in infancy and childhood and of developmental disabilities is higher among low birth weight infants than those who weigh 2500 gm. In Bangladesh, 50% of infants weight 2500 gm. Low birth weight is the underlying cause of death for many infants who die of respiratory infections and diarrhea. Oral rehydration can successfully treat most diarrhea cases. Malnutrition and diarrhea tend to occur together and feed off each other. In fact malnourished people are more susceptible to all infections. Malnourished children suffer from disabilities in development and growth. The greatest sufferers of measles are infants and malnourished children. Immunization of all =or 9-month old infants would eradicate measles. Children and young adults are at the highest risk of injuries. Lung cancer is on the rise in developing countries due to the increase of tobacco smoking. Various means of controlling malaria are use of mosquito nets, antimalarial drugs, reduction of mosquito breeding places, and pesticides. The new infectious disease, AIDS, has emerged as a considerable health problem in developing countries. High priority research areas are vaccines for Streptococcus pneumonia, Plasmodium app., rotavirus, Salmonella typhi (Ty21a), and Shigella spp.
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PMID:Disease problems in the Third World. 269 79


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