Journal of travel medicine
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Helminth infections caused by parasitic worms, including nematodes (roundworms), cestodes (tapeworms) and trematodes (flukes), can cause chronic symptoms and serious clinical outcomes if left untreated. The US military frequently conducts activities in helminth-endemic regions, particularly Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. However, the military does not currently screen for these infections, and to date, no comprehensive surveillance studies have been completed to assess the frequency of helminth diagnoses in the military personnel and their families. ⋯ The results of this study demonstrate that helminth infections capable of causing severe morbidity are often diagnosed in the US military. As helminth infections are often asymptomatic or go undiagnosed, the true burden of helminth infections in US military personnel and dependents may be higher than observed here. Prospective studies of US military personnel deployed to helminth-endemic areas may be indicated to determine if post-deployment screening and/or empirical treatment are warranted.
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Case Reports
Efficacy and safety of Pentamidine isethionate for tegumentary and visceral human leishmaniasis: a systematic review.
We performed a systematic review of the literature to investigate the efficacy and safety of pentamidine isethionate for the treatment of human tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis. ⋯ Pentamidine isethionate is associated with a similar cure rate of the first-line anti-leishmanial drugs. Severe and irreversible adverse effect appear to be rare. The drug may still have a role in the treatment of any form of human leishmaniasis when the first-line option has failed or in patients who cannot tolerate other drugs also in the setting of travel medicine. In difficult cases, the drug can also be considered as a component of a combination treatment regimen.