Gallbladder ascariasis in Kosovo - focus on ultrasound and conservative therapy: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the most common intestinal infections in developing countries, including Kosovo. In contrast to migration to the bile duct, migration of the worm to the gallbladder, due to the narrow and tortuous nature of the cystic duct, is rare. When it does occur, it incites acalculous cholecystitis. CASE PRESENTATIONS: This case series describes a 16-month-old Albanian girl, a 22-month-old Albanian girl, a 4-year-old Albanian girl, and a 10-year-old Albanian boy. Here we report our experience with gallbladder ascariasis including clinical manifestations, diagnostic procedures, and treatment. Fever, diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration, pale appearance, and weakness were the manifestations of the primary disease. In all patients, a physical examination revealed reduced turgor and elasticity of the skin. Abdomen was at the level of the chest, soft, with minimal palpatory pain. The liver and spleen were not palpable. A laboratory examination was not specific except for eosinophilia. There were no pathogenic bacteria in coproculture but Ascaris was found in all patients. At an ultrasound examination in all cases we found single, long, linear echogenic structure without acoustic shadowing containing a central, longitudinal anechoic tube with characteristic movement within the gallbladder. Edema of the gallbladder wall was suggestive of associated inflammation. There were no other findings on adjacent structures and organs. All patients received mebendazole 100 mg twice a day for 3 days. They also received symptomatic therapy for gastroenteritis. Because of elevated markers of inflammation all patients were treated with antibiotics, assuming acute cholecystitis, although ultrasound was able to confirm cholecystitis in only two of our four patients. Since the length of stay was dependent on the primary pathology it was 7 to 10 days. At control ultrasounds on 14th day, third and sixth month, all patients were free of ascariasis. CONCLUSIONS: Gallbladder ascariasis should be considered in all patients presenting with abdominal pain, distension, colic, nausea, anorexia, and intermittent diarrhea associated with jaundice, nausea, vomiting, fever, and severe radiating pain. Eosinophilia, ova, and parasites on stool examination as well as an anechogenic tube with characteristic movement within the bile duct found on abdominal ultrasound are conclusive for diagnosis. Mebendazole is an effective drug for the treatment. Surgical treatment is rarely needed.

Socio-demographic, Clinical and Laboratory Features of Rotavirus Gastroenteritis in Children Treated in Pediatric Clinic.

AIM: The aim of work was presentation of several socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus. THE EXAMINEES AND METHODS: The examinees were children under the age of five years treated at the Pediatric Clinic due to acute gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus. Rotavirus is isolated by method chromatographic immunoassay by Cer Test Biotec. RESULTS: From the total number of patients (850) suffering from acute gastroenteritis, feces test on bacteria, viruses. protozoa and fungi was positive in 425 (49.76%) cases. From this number the test on bacteria was positive in 248 (58.62%) cases, on viruses it was positive in 165 (39.0%), on protozoa in 9 (2.12%) cases and on fungi only one case. Rotavirus was the most frequent one in viral test, it was isolated in 142 (86.06%) cases, adenoviruses were found in 9 (5.45%) cases and noroviruses in only one case. The same feces sample that contained rotavirus and adenoviruses were isolated in five cases, whereas rotavirus with bacteria was isolated in the same feces sample in five cases. The biggest number of cases 62 (43.66%) were of the age 6-12 months, whereas the smallest number 10 (7.04%) cases were of the age 37-60 months. There were 76 (53.52%) of cases of male gender, from rural areas there were 81 (57.04%) cases and there were 58 (40.80%) cases during the summer period. Among the clinical symptoms the most prominent were diarrhea, vomiting, high temperature, whereas the different degree of dehydration were present in all cases (the most common one was moderate dehydration). The most frequent one was isonatremic dehydration in 91 (64.08%) cases, less frequent one was hypernatremic dehydration in 14 (9.85%) cases. The majority of cases (97.89%) had lower blood pH values, whereas 67 (47.17%) cases had pH values that varied from 7.16 -7.20 (curve peak), normal values were registered in only 3 (2.11%) cases. Urea values were increased in 45 (31.07%) cases (the maximum value was 26.5 mmol/L), whereas creatinine value was increased in 41 (28.87%) cases (maximum value was 302 mmol/L). CONCLUSION: The results show the high frequency of rotavirus infections in children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis. Rotavirus may cause different dehydration degree with electrolyte, acid-base and other biochemical disorders. Preventing the infection caused by rotavirus is of a great importance.

Causes of infectious acute diarrhea in infants treated at pediatric clinic.

AIM: The aim of this work has been a presentation of causes of acute infectious diarrhea. MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY: The examinees have been the infants treated at the Pediatric Clinic. The diagnosis has been established on the basis ofanamnesis, physical examination and feces examination on bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi. RESULTS: During the period of seven years a number of patients that suffered from acute infectious diarrhea was 1050 (31.82%) out of a total number (3300) with diarrhea. The bacteriological examination proved positive on majority of them or in 655 (62.38%) cases, the viral examination proved positive in 375 (35.72%) cases, whereas fungi examination proved positive in only 3 cases (0.28%). The most frequent bacteria have been Salmonellae species in 255 (38.93%) cases and E. coli in 142 (21.69%) cases, the less frequent have been Yersinia enterocolitica in 16 (2.44%) cases and Bacillus cereus in 4 (0.61%) cases. The most frequent serotypes of Salmonella have been S. Wien in 92 (36.07%) and S. Gloucester in 42 (16.47%) cases. Enteropathogenic E. Coli (most frequent serotypes O111 and O55) has been found in 112 (78.88%) cases. From the group of Shigella the most frequent has been Sh. Flexneri (most frequent serotypes 6 and 4) in 35 (58.33%) cases. The same feces sample of the majority of examinees 501 (76.48%) cases contained only one bacteria (single bacteria), two bacteria (associated bacteria) have been found in 102 (15.17%) cases, three types of bacteria have been found in 17 (2.59%) cases. Rotavirus has been isolated in 271 (72.26%) cases in comparison to adenoviruses that have been isolated in 65 (17.33%) cases. Rotavirus and adenoviruses have been isolated in 39 (10.40%) cases. CONCLUSION: Infectious acute diarrhea appears frequently, and as causes of it usually appear to be pathogenic bacteria in comparison to viruses, protozoa and fungi.

Acrodermatitis enteropathica.

AIM: The aim of the work was the presentation of one case with Acrodermatitis enteropathica. METHODS: Acrodermatitis enteropathica is diagnosed based on the pedigree, typical clinical manifestations on the skin, laboratory results, small bowel biopsy, skin biopsy and kariotype. RESULTS: The patient was a two years old male toddler, hospitalized due to skin changes, chronic diarrhoea and total alopecia. Skin changes appeared on akral of the limbs, inguinal and perineal region, joints, perioral area and eyes. These changes appeared in different forms (erythematous, squamous, eczematiod, psoriasisforme and crusted). In the eyes were present these changes: blepharitis and conjunctivitis. Also total alopecia was prezent. Diarrhoea was chronic and specific. Laboratory findings showed the existence of sideropenic anemia, hypoproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia and low plasma zinc concentration (7.5 micromol/L). Hystopathological changes on the small bowel and skin biopsy were not typical for this disease. Following the beginning of treatment with zinc sulphate, all clinical skin manifestations disappeared within two months, but the disease itself was characterized with the periods of exarcerbation and remission. CONCLUSION: Acrodermatitis Enteropathica is a rare hereditary autosomal recessive disease. Mandatory clinical manifestations are: skin changes, chronic diarrhoea and alopecia. Treatment with zinc is obligatory for the life time.

Thrombocytopenia absent radius (TAR) syndrome.

AIM: The aim of the work was a presentation of one case with Thrombocytopenia absent radius (TAR) syndrome. METHODS: Diagnosis of TAR syndrome has been established on the basis of pedigree, laboratory findings (hemogram, platelet count, peripheral smear), bone marrow biopsy, radiological examination and karyotype. RESULTS: A patient was a two months old female child, hospitalized due petechial bleeding, upper limb anomalies and diarrhea. LABORATORY FINDINGS: red blood cell count was 2.1 x 1012/L, hemoglobin value was 62 g/L, white blood cell count indicated the existence of leukemoid reaction (40.0 x 109/L), the eosinophyle count at the leukocyte formula was increased (3%), bleeding time was prolonged (10'). The platelets at the peripheral blood smear were rarely present, whereas the megacaryocytes appeared in the bone marrow aspiration in the decreased number, or did not appear at all. At the radiological examination of the upper limbs, radius was absent in both shoulders. CONCLUSION: TAR syndrome is a rare hereditary disease. Obligatory clinical manifestations are: thrombocytopenia and bilateral absence of the radius. Prenatal diagnosis can be established during the 16th week of gestation by ultrasound and if it is continued with the pregnancy it is preferred that the platelet transfusion be given intrauterine. The mortality rate depends on the age of the patient and the platelet count.