Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
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Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. · May 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialTreatment of Strongyloides stercoralis infection with ivermectin compared with albendazole: results of an open study of 60 cases.
Ivermectin is highly effective against animal intestinal nematodes and is used in the treatment of onchocerciasis in humans. A study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of the drug with that of albendazole in the treatment of uncomplicated strongyloidiasis. Sixty patients with confirmed Strongyloides stercoralis infection were enrolled in an open randomized study and given either albendazole, 400 mg/d for 3 d or ivermectin, 150-200 micrograms/kg in a single dose. ⋯ The 20 patients who failed therapy were given a second treatment course with 150-200 micrograms/kg of ivermectin in a single dose or on 2 consecutive days. Sixteen patients were cured and the other 4 had only incomplete follow-up. Ivermectin therefore constitutes an acceptable therapeutic alternative for uncomplicated strongyloidiasis.
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Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Mar 1994
Anaemia, blood transfusion practices, HIV and mortality among women of reproductive age in western Kenya.
Severe anaemia among women in sub-Saharan Africa is frequently treated with blood transfusions. The risk of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through blood products has led to a re-evaluation of the indications for transfusions. Prospective surveillance of women admitted to a district hospital in western Kenya was conducted from 1 December 1990 to 31 July 1991, for haemoglobin (Hb) transfusion status, and outcome. ⋯ Decreased mortality rates in hospital were observed with increasing Hb values (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.19, 0.98), but blood transfusions did not improve survival in hospital (OR = 1.56, 95% CI 0.22, 11.03). The attributable mortality due to HIV infection and severe anaemia was 75% and 31%, respectively. Maternal/child health care services must include prevention strategies for HIV transmission and the prevention, recognition, and treatment of severe anaemia.
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Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Jan 1994
Lactic acidosis and hypoglycaemia in children with severe malaria: pathophysiological and prognostic significance.
Serial clinical and metabolic changes were monitored in 115 Gambian children (1.5-12 years old) with severe malaria. Fifty-three children (46%) had cerebral malaria (coma score < or = 2) and 21 (18%) died. Admission geometric mean venous blood lactate concentrations were almost twice as high in fatal cases as in survivors (7.1 mmol/L vs. 3.6 mmol/L; P < 0.001) and were correlated with levels of tumour necrosis factor (r = 0.42, n = 79; P < 0.0001) and interleukin 1-alpha (r = 0.6, n = 34; P < 0.0001). ⋯ Plasma cytokine levels fluctuated widely after admission. Sustained hyperlactataemia (raised lactate concentrations, 4 h after admission) proved to be the best overall prognostic indicator of outcome in this series. Lactic acidosis is an important cause of death in severe malaria.