Varicella-zoster infection in adult males: risk factors for varicella-zoster virus pneumonia

To study the risk factors for varicella pneumonia [VP] in adults and to predict the early progression to severe pneumonitis in order to establish early therapeutic intervention. Prospective study. Infectious Diseases Hospital. Fifty-two male patients with VP and 52 Varicella patients without pneumonia as control. Beside history taking and routine work-up, all cases were subjected to arterial blood gas analysis, and hypoxemic index [HI] was calculated as an indicator for severity of pneumonia. Arterial blood gas analysis. Occurrence of VP. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between pulmonary findings, chronic diseases, severe varicella rash and smoking in patients with VP than those without pneumonia [p = 0.001, 0.03, 0.001, 0.03 respectively]. Blood gas analysis showed significantly lower mean values of PaO[2], SaO[2] and hypoxemic index in patients with VP than controls [p = 0.001]. However, the mean PaCO[2] was significantly higher in the same patient group [p = 0.001]. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that older age, clinical pulmonary findings, severe varicella rash, low PaO[2], low HI and FDPs > 1000 were significantly associated with VP. In adult males with VP, presence of HI < 150, generalized radiological pulmonary opacities, FDPs > 1000, low PaO[2] and SaO2% could be considered good predictors of progression to serve VP. These factors should alert the physician for an early intervention as VP is potentially lifethreatening

Hematological changes in malaria: relation to plasmodium species

To evaluate different hematological changes in patients with malaria and to establish a possible role of Plasmodium species in the pathogenesis of these changes. Hematological changes were prospectively studied in randomly selected patients, immediately on admission and on a daily basis after starting anti-malarial treatment. Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kuwait, during the year 2004. The study enrolled 103 patients with malaria, [37 infected with Plasmodium falciparum, 34 infected with Plasmodium vivax, and 32 infected with both species i.e., mixed infections]. Antimalarial drugs Beside history taking, clinical examination, and routine laboratory work, thick and thin blood films were prepared and examined from all patients for defining the species involved. In addition, blood picture [red and white blood cells, platelets, and reticulocytes] was studied in all patients. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were the two most important hematological abnormalities seen in cases of acute malaria infection. The degree of anemia was related more to P. falciparum infection, while, thrombocytopenia was associated with P. vivax infection and mixed infections. Hematological changes were mild in the first 24 hours, but continued to deteriorate for few days after anti-malarial therapy. One P. falciparum infection was associated with severe hematologic abnormalities, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy [DIC], and acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS]. We recommend that subsequent checkup of blood cells and platelets are of utmost importance particularly in cases infected with P. falciparum or mixed infections

Urinary antingen detection for diagnosis of hydatid disease

Hydatid antigen was demonstrated for the first time in urine of patients with hydatidosis by coagglutination test [Co-A]. Urinary antigen was detected in all Co-A positive serum corresponding samples of surgically confirmed hydatid disease. The sensitivity and specificity were 100% in urine compared with the corresponding serum samples. These results clarified that the use of Co-A test for the detection of hydatid antigen in urine is an easy, simple, rapid, noninvasive and efficient method for the diagnosis of hydatidosis