Threadworm: an infrequent clinical finding in a genitourinary medicine clinic attendee presenting with ano-genital irritation.

A 24-year-old lady presented to an evening genitourinary (GU) clinic with a short history of vulval and anal irritation. On perianal examination, several threadworms were visible. Symptoms resolved with oral mebendazole and strict personal and environmental hygiene. Threadworm is a common and easily treatable cause of pruritus ani, yet is underreported in GU literature. If the history is suggestive, consider performing the diagnostic cellophane test and/or prescribing empirical treatment.

[Enterobiasis among schoolchildren in a rural population from Estado Falcón, Venezuela, and its relation with socioeconomic level]. / Enterobiasis en escolares de una población rural del Estado Falcón, Venezuela y su relación con el nivel socio-económico.

Between may and july 2001, a survey was conducted in order to investigate the prevalence and symptoms of Enterobius vermicularis infection and its relationship with the socio-economic status and household crowding of 154 schoolchildren aged 6-12 years from a rural village in Falcon State, Venezuela. The Graham technique (perianal swabs with an adhesive cellulose tape) was used to perform the parasitological diagnosis. The overall prevalence was high (57.79%). There was no difference in the prevalence between sexes (X2 = 0.005; d.f. = 1) or ages (X2 = 3.63; d.f. = 6) (p > 0.05), suggesting similar risk conditions for all individuals. Anal pruritus was the most common clinical finding (53.9%). Other less frequent manifestations were the following: perianal lesions (34.8%) and vulvovaginitis (32.6%). Graffar analysis revealed that the majority of schoolchildren belong to the poorer socioeconomic strata: IV (55.9%) and V (29.87%), with overcrowded living conditions. The correlation between E. vermicularis infection and crowding rates was found to be statistically significant (r = 0.98; p < 0.001). In the light on these results, it can be concluded that poverty, overcrowding, anal pruritus, scarcity of water, inadequate personal and community hygiene play a relevant role on the transmission dynamics and endemic maintenance of enterobiasis among schoolchildren from Sabaneta.

[Relationship between activity of hydrolases in fungi isolated from vagina of pregnant women and selected symptoms]. / Zwiazek miedzy aktywnoscia hydrolaz grzybów wyizolowanych z pochwy kobiet ciezarnych i wybranymi objawami klinicznymi.

Pregnancy is considered a factor of vulvovaginal mycosis. Secretion of hydrolases is an important determinant of Candida virulence. Thus, the aim of the study was to found the relationship between activity of 19 hydrolases in fungi isolated from vagina of pregnant women and symptoms of mycosis. 251 pregnant women were examined. Samples were collected from vagina and cultured on Sabouraud media. Activity of hydrolytic enzymes was evaluated using API ZYM (bioMerieux) test Fungi were found in 20.1% of vaginal samples. Symptoms were detected in 45.8% of women. Only 32.1% of women with discharge and 26.4% with pruritus had mycosis. Out of the 19 examined hydrolazes, 13 active enzymes were detected in fungal strains. We found for the first time the relationship between activity of fungal esterase lipase and the presence of vaginal discharge in pregnant women.