[Vertical HIV transmission in Poland from 1989-2000]. / Odmatczyne zakazenia HIV w Polsce w latach 1989-2000.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate vertical HIV transmission rate in Poland. METHODS: 132 children born to HIV positive mothers were evaluated and their HIV infection status was established. MAIN OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS: There are 60 HIV-infected children in Poland. 92% of them have been infected perinataly. From 1989 to 1994 the rate of vertical transmission was 25%. Since September 1994, when prophylactic strategies were started, the rate has decreased to 21.4% (in children with prophylaxis to 1.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Vertical HIV infection prophylactic programs rely on women's knowledge about their HIV infection status and are the only way to diminish pediatric HIV infection worldwide. The authors show difficulty of providing proper medical care of HIV positive women in Poland and underly the need of voluntary HIV testing for all women before pregnancy.

[Effects of measles vaccination in HIV infected children]. / Skutecznosc szczepienia przeciw odrze u dzieci zakazonych HIV.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of measles vaccination in HIV infected children. METHODS: 13 measles seronegative HIV-infected children received polyvalent measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. MAIN OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS: Measles seroconversion occurred in 10/13 patients (in revaccinated children in 7/10), rubella seroconversion in 7 out of 9 patients. None of the 12 children responded mumps component. CONCLUSIONS: Measles vaccination seems to be safe and effective in HIV-infected children without severe immunodeficiency.

Vertical transmission of HIV-1 in Poland.

The aim of our study was to evaluate changes in vertical transmission of HIV infection in Poland after introducing zidovudine prophylactic strategies. Data from the Department of Children's Infectious Diseases (a paediatric HIV referral centre) at the Medical University, Warsaw was studied. Since 1989 vertical transmission of HIV-1 has been studied in 100 children born to 91 HIV-positive mothers (2 sets of twins). Zidovudine therapy, mode and timing of delivery and their relationship to perinatal HIV-1 infection were analysed. From 1989 to 1994 the transmission rate was 31.5%. Since 1995, when recommendations based on ACTG 076 were issued, a decline in a transmission rate to 19.6% was reported. 62% (32 out of 52) mother-infant pairs received zidovudine therapy. None of those children have become HIV infected. Zidovudine chemoprophylaxis regimen reduces the risk for mother to child transmission. It should be recommended for all HIV-infected pregnant women or women in labour and their infants.

[Clinical course and treatment of toxocariasis in children]. / Przebieg kliniczny i leczenie toksokarozy u dzieci.

Toxocariasis is a parasitic disease. Larvae of Toxocara canis, as intra-tissular parasites, can survive in human organism for 10 years. Clinical symptoms depend on massiveness of infection, organ localisation and defensive reactions of patients. 74 children were observed (in age from 1 year 8 months to 15 years). 70% of them had intraocular lesions which is the most serious complication of toxocariasis. Larva of T. canis is neurotropic. EEG revealed abnormalities in 73% of patients. The diagnosis of toxocariasis was confirmed by immunoenzymatic reaction ELISA with T. canis antigen. The patients were treated with hetrazan, if intraocular lesions were present prednisone was added. Improvement was achieved in 78% of children with intraocular lesions, in the rest effectiveness of the treatment is questionable.

[Diagnosis and treatment of eye infections caused by the canine ascaris larva Toxocara canis]. / Diagnostyka i leczenie postaci ocznej infekcji larwa glisty psiej toxocara canis.

UNLABELLED: In the years 1990-1993 the authors diagnosed and treated 48 children on account of uveitis probably caused by Toxocara canis. This etiology was established in 43 cases based on the characteristic clinical picture and presence of antibodies as determined by the ELISA test for Toxocara in serum, anterior chamber fluid and vitreous. Diagnostic punction of anterior chamber was done in 30 cases (in 18 titres were positive, in 7 higher than in serum), in 3 the level of antibodies were determined in vitreous. In 30 patients Hetrazan, in 3 Hetrazan and Mintezol was applied; in 31 together with Encorton. SURGICAL TREATMENT: vitrectomy and lensectomy were done in 9 children. Improvement of visual acuity was achieved in 41.9% of cases, deterioration in 9.3%. In 33 cases the active signs of vitritis recovered after 2-6 months of treatment, recurrence was observed in 4. An increase of serum titres was found in 10 children in early period after treatment, in 15 they decreased after 6-18 months and in 18 treatment had no influence on the titres level. A relationship was found between the level of titres in anterior chamber and vitreous and the activity and duration of intraocular inflammation.

[Incubation period of varicella in children with neoplastic diseases]. / Okres wylegania ospy wietrznej u dzieci z chorobami nowotworowymi.

Duration of varicella incubation period has been analysed in 21 pediatric patients with neoplastic diseases and in 59 children without immunological deficiency. In has been found, that incubation period has been significantly longer in children with neoplastic diseases (mean 19.58 days), than that in children without immunologic disorders (15.45 days). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

[Recurrence of Varicella-zoster virus infection]. / Powtórne ujawnienie sie zakazenia varicella zoster.

A case of Varicella-zoster virus re-infection in a 3.5-year child with the acute lymphoblastic leukemia is presented. This report aims at emphasizing a possibility of re-activation of the virus in younger and younger children with immunodeficiency. A clinical course may imitate chicken-pox creating diagnostic problems.

[Q fever in a 5-year-old girl]. / Przypadek goraczki Q u 5-letniej dziewczynki.

The first case of Q fever in Poland in a 5-year girl is presented. A girl is inhabitant of the Lublin region where this disease is of endemic character. Q fever was diagnosed on the base of the clinical examinations and serological tests. The course of the disease was acute. Doxycycline and lincomycin were given. A short time lapse between the treatment and eradication of Coxiella burnetii antigen indicates rather spontaneous recovery.