Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH
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Paraphimosis usually develops when a tight foreskin is retracted over the glans penis for a prolonged period. Many esoteric aetiologies have been implicated in the development of paraphimosis including piercing the foreskin, Plasmodium falciparum infection, application of celadine juice to the foreskin, chancroid, pessaries and the implantation of pearls. We report the first two cases of paraphimosis developing during wining, an erotic dance native to Trinidad & Tobago.
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Trop. Med. Int. Health · Nov 2000
Evaluation of clinical pallor in the identification and treatment of children with moderate and severe anaemia.
Anaemia from malaria is a common problem in developing countries. Blood transfusion in developing countries is available in few hospitals. Children who are severely anaemic and may require urgent blood transfusion usually present to peripheral first-level health facilities from where they must be referred to hospitals. Since most peripheral facilities do not determine haemoglobin levels, the decision on referral has to be made on clinical grounds. ⋯ Moderate and severe anaemia can be identified clinically in most cases for treatment and referral purposes. A systolic ejection murmur, altered sensorium, the presence of splenomegaly or malarial parasitaemia may be used as additional tools in considering urgent referral for blood transfusion.
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Trop. Med. Int. Health · Mar 2000
Comparative StudyThe immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis used in a non-endemic area.
To evaluate an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for diagnosis of schistosomiasis in nonimmune travellers and immigrants from endemic areas. ⋯ In patients from nonendemic areas GAA is a sensitive marker of acute infection with schistosomiasis. In patients from endemic areas the demonstration of both GAA and MBA is necessary to properly identify long-lasting, nonacute infections. Egg-detection and/or measurement of CAA and CCA remain the methods of choice to monitor treatment as the immunofluorescence assay may remain positive for several years after treatment.
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Trop. Med. Int. Health · Feb 2000
Field trial of a haemoglobin colour scale: an effective tool to detect anaemia in preschool children.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the Haemoglobin Colour Scale, developed by Stott and Lewis, to diagnose anaemia in a primary health care setting where anaemia was prevalent and severe. Three measures of anaemia were compared in 535 preschool children: haemoglobin based on the Haemoglobin Colour Scale, clinical assessment in three sites (conjunctiva, palm and nail bed) and haemoglobin based on a digital haemoglobinometer (HemoCue method) taken as gold standard. A statistically significant correlation (r = 0.80, coefficient = 0.77 and Y intercept = 2.33) was obtained between the results of the Haemoglobin Colour Scale and the HemoCue. ⋯ We found the Haemoglobin Colour Scale to be a useful tool in identifying anaemic and severely anaemic children. Efficiencies in term of cost, accuracy and time make it an important resource in primary health care settings in developing countries. Further testing with other staff in other settings is recommended to determine the usefulness of large-scale distribution.
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Trop. Med. Int. Health · Feb 2000
Crimean-congo haemorrhagic fever: a seroepidemiological and tick survey in the Sultanate of Oman.
In 1995 and 1996, 4 persons from the Sultanate of Oman were confirmed with clinical Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). To assess the prevalence of CCHF virus infection in Oman, a convenience sample of imported and domestic animals from farms, abattoirs and livestock markets was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to CCHF virus. Ticks were collected from selected animals, identified, pooled by species, host and location and tested for evidence of infection with CCHF virus by antigen-capture ELISA. ⋯ Of the individuals working in animal contact-related jobs, 73 (30.3%) of 241 non-Omani citizens and only 1 (2.4%) of 41 Omani citizens were CCHF antibody-positive. Butchers were more likely to have CCHF antibody than persons in other job categories. The presence of clinical disease and the serological results for animals and humans and infected Hyalomma ticks provide ample evidence of the presence of CCHF virus in yet another country in the Arabian Peninsula.