The Medical journal of Australia
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Review Case Reports
Anaphylactoid reaction to intravenous hydrocortisone sodium succinate: a case report and literature review.
Reports of corticosteroid sensitivity reactions are rare in the medical literature. We report an anaphylactoid reaction to hydrocortisone sodium succinate given intravenously which occurred on two occasions during treatment of a patient for asthma. ⋯ No reactions occurred to dexamethasone sodium phosphate administered intravenously, prednisolone given orally or beclomethasone dipropionate by inhalation. Results of a radioallergosorbent test (RAST) were negative for hydrocortisone sodium succinate.
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Comparative Study
Heterosexual gonorrhoea in central Sydney: implications for HIV control.
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmissible disease (STD) characteristic of a core group of individuals and their contacts. From the experience of a Sydney STD clinic, as well as local and national population-based reports, trends in heterosexually acquired gonorrhoea in Australia over a decade were examined. An overall decline of 90% in case numbers between 1981 and 1989 was found, with an average yearly decline of 30%. ⋯ Improved health professional training and public access to specialist STD services against a background of demographic changes may also have contributed. However a persistent "seeding" of penicillinase-producing strains of gonorrhoea from Southeast Asia through men not using condoms was detected. These data have potential implications for the importation of heterosexually acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection into Australia.