The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Nov 2012
ReviewUse of multiple data sources to estimate the economic cost of dengue illness in Malaysia.
Dengue represents a substantial burden in many tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. We estimated the economic burden of dengue illness in Malaysia. Information about economic burden is needed for setting health policy priorities, but accurate estimation is difficult because of incomplete data. ⋯ Because Malaysia has a passive surveillance system, the number of dengue cases is under-reported. Using an adjusted estimate of total dengue cases, we estimated an economic burden of dengue illness of US$56 million (Malaysian Ringgit MYR196 million) per year, which is approximately US$2.03 (Malaysian Ringgit 7.14) per capita. The overall economic burden of dengue would be even higher if we included costs associated with dengue prevention and control, dengue surveillance, and long-term sequelae of dengue.
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Oct 2012
Case ReportsTreatment of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis with voriconazole and miltefosine in an immunocompetent soldier.
A 38-year-old male immunocompetent soldier developed generalized seizures. He underwent surgical debulking and a progressive demyelinating pseudotumor was identified. Serology and molecular testing confirmed a diagnosis of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis caused by Acanthamoeba sp. in this immunocompetent male. The patient was treated with oral voriconazole and miltefosine with Acanthamoeba titers returning to control levels and serial imaging demonstrating resolution of the residual lesion.
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Oct 2012
Case ReportsOccurrence of Paracoccidioides lutzii in the Amazon region: description of two cases.
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), the most important human systemic mycosis in Latin America, is known to be caused by at least four different phylogenetic lineages within the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex, including S1, PS2, PS3, and Pb01-like group. Herein, we describe two cases of PCM in patients native from the Amazon region. The disease was originally thought to have been caused by P. brasiliensis. ⋯ A phylogenetic approach based on the gp43 and ARF loci revealed high similarity between our clinical isolates and the Pb01-like group. The occurrence of PCM caused by P. lutzii in the Brazilian Amazon (Pará State) was thus proven. The incidence of PCM caused by P. lutzii may be underestimated in northern Brazil.
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Oct 2012
Historical ArticleThe history of dengue outbreaks in the Americas.
Dengue is a viral disease usually transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Dengue outbreaks in the Americas reported in medical literature and to the Pan American Health Organization are described. ⋯ A dramatic increase in the number of outbreaks has been reported in recent years. Urgent global action is needed to avoid further disease spread.