[Serological survey of acquired toxoplasmosis in women of child-bearing age in Yopougon (Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire)]. / Dépistage sérologique de la toxoplasmose acquise chez les femmes en âge de procréer dans la commune de Yopougon (Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire).

The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was assessed from August 2000 to March 2001 on 1025 women in child-bearing age while consulting in the preventive health center (PHC) of Yopougon (Abidjan). Indirect immunofluorescent test was used for detection of IgG and Remington test for detection of IgM. Among the women under investigation, 60% were found to be IG seropositive, including 0.4% IgM seropositive. Soil and food were sources of contamination. When compared to previous studies conducted in the same region for several years, these results give evidence of a stability of the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis, contributing to increase the risk of toxoplasmic encephalitis occurrence in AIDS patients.

Churg-Strauss syndrome.

A 62-year-old woman who had a history of asthma and allergic rhinitis developed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and marked eosinophilia. A transbronchial biopsy specimen did not help clarify the diagnosis. She later developed erythematous nodules on her feet; results of a biopsy specimen revealed necrotizing extravascular granulomas and marked infiltration of the dermis with eosinophils consistent with a diagnosis of Churg-Strauss syndrome. Skin manifestations are often nonspecific in this syndrome and occur in approximately two thirds of cases.

Emergency medical services transport of patients with headache: mode of arrival may indicate serious etiology.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether mode of arrival is associated with seriousness of etiology and use of diagnostic testing in patients treated in the emergency department for headache. METHODS: This observational, retrospective study was conducted by consecutive review of the records of patients presenting to the emergency department with a chief complaint of headache from December 1994 through May 1995. Patients with altered mental status or seizures were excluded. Mode of arrival was classified as either by EMS or other (e.g., private vehicle). Patients with a final diagnosis of meningitis, intracranial hemorrhage, or central nervous system tumor were classified as having serious causes, whereas those with headache due to migraine, tension headache, or headache that was otherwise unspecified were classified as nonserious. The use of diagnostic studies, such as lumbar puncture or CT scan, and their results, was recorded. Patients were included in the category of patients having serious intracranial pathology even if the diagnosis was delayed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Yates-corrected chi-square test, and by determining odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: For 967 patients presenting with a chief complaint of headache, 837 charts were included in the analysis. A total of 102 patients arrived by EMS, and 735 arrived by other means. Patients arriving by EMS had a higher rate of serious cause of headache than did those arriving by other means (OR = 18.5, p < 0.0001). EMS patients tended to undergo additional diagnostic testing (OR = 4.4, p < 0.0001), and those tests were more likely to be abnormal than for those arriving by other means (OR = 9.4, p < 0.0001). Males had a somewhat higher rate of serious diagnosis (OR = 2.6, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this EMS system, patients with headache who arrive by EMS are more likely to have serious causes. Mode of arrival may be of use to the clinician in assessing risk of serious illness among patients with headache. Whether this observation represents an element of self-triage or a combination of other factors remains to be determined.