ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite the expected high prevalence of several infectious diseases among the homeless, a majority of them have not received screening test and early treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of this study were 269 homeless patients who had been hospitalized in the National Medical Center (Korea) between January 2002 and August 2004. Their medical histories and records were reviewed to analyze the prevalence and clinical characteristics of hepatitis B and C, syphilis, tuberculosis and HIV infection among them. RESULTS: The entire 269 homeless patients being hospitalized during the period of this study consist of 249 male patients and 19 female patients. For the prevalence of infectious diseases, HBV was seen in 15 of 228 patients (6.6%); HCV in 8 of 113 patients (7.1%); VDRL positive in 25 of 234 patients (10.7 %); HIV antibody positive in 2 of 130 (1.5%); and tuberculosis in 19 of 269 (7.1%). The number of patients who had the antibody to hepatitis B was 118 (51.7%). Of 28 patients hospitalized with the chief complaints of liver diseases and/or their complications, the number of cases infected with hepatitis B and C viruses was only 5 (17.9%). On the other hand, for patients with tuberculosis, 13 of 19 cases (68.4%) were hospitalized with the chief complaints associated with symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis or enlarged lymph nodes. The number of patients with multiple infectious diseases was 9 in total. CONCLUSION: As expected, the prevalence of some infectious diseases were higher among the homeless inpatients, than non-homeless population. Proper screening tests in order to determine the presence of any infectious diseases among the patients and protect involved medical staff are necessary. Further, the government should take proactive measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the aspect of public health.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Communicable Diseases , Hand , Hepatitis B , HIV , HIV Infections , Inpatients , Liver Diseases , Lymph Nodes , Mass Screening , Medical Staff , Prevalence , Public Health , Syphilis , Tertiary Care Centers , Tertiary Healthcare , Tuberculosis , Tuberculosis, PulmonaryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite the expected high prevalence of several infectious diseases among the homeless, a majority of them have not received screening test and early treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of this study were 269 homeless patients who had been hospitalized in the National Medical Center (Korea) between January 2002 and August 2004. Their medical histories and records were reviewed to analyze the prevalence and clinical characteristics of hepatitis B and C, syphilis, tuberculosis and HIV infection among them. RESULTS: The entire 269 homeless patients being hospitalized during the period of this study consist of 249 male patients and 19 female patients. For the prevalence of infectious diseases, HBV was seen in 15 of 228 patients (6.6%); HCV in 8 of 113 patients (7.1%); VDRL positive in 25 of 234 patients (10.7 %); HIV antibody positive in 2 of 130 (1.5%); and tuberculosis in 19 of 269 (7.1%). The number of patients who had the antibody to hepatitis B was 118 (51.7%). Of 28 patients hospitalized with the chief complaints of liver diseases and/or their complications, the number of cases infected with hepatitis B and C viruses was only 5 (17.9%). On the other hand, for patients with tuberculosis, 13 of 19 cases (68.4%) were hospitalized with the chief complaints associated with symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis or enlarged lymph nodes. The number of patients with multiple infectious diseases was 9 in total. CONCLUSION: As expected, the prevalence of some infectious diseases were higher among the homeless inpatients, than non-homeless population. Proper screening tests in order to determine the presence of any infectious diseases among the patients and protect involved medical staff are necessary. Further, the government should take proactive measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the aspect of public health.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Communicable Diseases , Hand , Hepatitis B , HIV , HIV Infections , Inpatients , Liver Diseases , Lymph Nodes , Mass Screening , Medical Staff , Prevalence , Public Health , Syphilis , Tertiary Care Centers , Tertiary Healthcare , Tuberculosis , Tuberculosis, PulmonaryABSTRACT
Kaposi sarcoma is a rare tumor originated from skin in patients with immune suppressive illness like as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or organ transplantation. It may be widely disseminated internally such as digestive or respiratory organ. In Korean patients with AIDS, Kaposi sarcoma is rarely seen rather than western countries. The reason is unknown. Although few cases of Kaposi sarcoma in patients with AIDS had been described in the Korean literatures, multi-organ involved cases were extremely rare. We describe a case of old AIDS patient in whom Kaposi sarcoma had affected multi-organs including esophagus, stomach, duodenum, colon, bronchi and skin.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Bronchi , Colon , Duodenum , Esophagus , Gastrointestinal Tract , Organ Transplantation , Sarcoma, Kaposi , Skin , Stomach , TransplantsABSTRACT
Systemic manifestation of tuberculosis is common, but tuberculous biliary obstruction of the pancreas and a colon adenocarcinoma with combined colonic tuberculosis is an uncommon disorder. We encountered a case of the above condition in 63-year-old male that was admitted to our hospital because of fever, diffuse abdominal pain and rigidity. Abdominal computed tomography showed biliary and pancreatic duct dilatation with left colonic wall thickening and surrounding peritoneal infiltration. Emergency segmental resection of the descending colon with intraoperative T-tube choledochostomy was performed due to the colon mass and biliary obstruction. A colonofiberoscopy was performed for low abdominal pain and hematochezia at 12 days after surgery. It showed multiple colonic ulcerations with a partial stricture. A colonic biopsy showed granulomatous inflammation with acid-fast bacilli. The cause of the biliary obstruction was also revealed as pancreatic tuberculosis by an intraoperative pancreatic and mesenteric biopsy. The patient improved after antituberculous treatment and the patient has been in good health until the last outpatient follow-up visit.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Abdominal Pain , Adenocarcinoma , Biopsy , Choledochostomy , Colitis , Colon , Colon, Descending , Colonic Neoplasms , Constriction, Pathologic , Dilatation , Emergencies , Fever , Follow-Up Studies , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage , Inflammation , Outpatients , Pancreas , Pancreatic Ducts , Tuberculosis , UlcerABSTRACT
A 53 year-old woman presented with intermittent dizziness and palpitation. She had received VVI type pacemaker due to complete AV block in 1990, and exchanged by VVIR type pacemaker thirteen years later. 1 year later, she suffered intermittent dizziness and palpitation in erect position, not in supine position. Intermittent pacing failure and sensing failure was observed in pacemaker test, especially in erect position, not in supine position. Pacing threshold was increased in erect position, but lead impedance was not changed. Insulation break was observed in bipolar lead by fluoroscope. Initially we tried a new lead implantation by cephalic access to prevent lead related complication, but failed. So, we implanted a new bipolar lead by subclavian access. Finally, she was treated by a new bipolar lead implantation.