Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Disease Outbreaks/statistics & numerical data , Meningococcal Infections/epidemiology , Meningococcal Infections/prevention & control , Meningococcal Vaccines , Vaccination , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Disease Notification , Female , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Male , Meningococcal Infections/microbiology , Meningococcal Vaccines/economics , Population Surveillance , Program Development , Registries , Serotyping , Switzerland/epidemiology , Vaccination/economics , Vaccination/methods , Vaccination/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
This study includes 80 patients (38 children and 42 adults) who contracted aseptic meningitis in the summer of 1996 in Fribourg, Switzerland. Virological studies revealed an enteroviral infection in 65 out of 70 (93%) investigated patients. In 47 out of the 53 cases (89%) where a precise virus could be identified, the causative agent was an Echovirus 30. More than 50 patients lived in an area within a 5-km radius. The patients presented with the classic symptoms and signs of aseptic meningitis. In contrast, polymorphonuclear leukocytes predominated in the cerebrospinal fluid in the first 24 h and 32% of the cases had a left shift in their peripheral blood smear. The patients' age did not influence white blood cell count, the proportion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes or protein concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid. Thirty-three patients (41%) received antibiotic treatment, and 38 patients (48%) left the hospital within 24 h. Only 2 neuroradiological procedures and 1 electroencephalographic recording were performed. The outcome was favourable in all patients.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Echovirus Infections/epidemiology , Meningitis, Viral/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Echovirus Infections/drug therapy , Echovirus Infections/virology , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Length of Stay , Leukocyte Count , Male , Meningitis, Viral/drug therapy , Meningitis, Viral/virology , Middle Aged , Switzerland/epidemiologySubject(s)
Bacterial Infections/drug therapy , Ceftriaxone/therapeutic use , Meningitis/drug therapy , Adolescent , Blood-Brain Barrier/drug effects , Ceftriaxone/administration & dosage , Ceftriaxone/cerebrospinal fluid , Child , Child, Preschool , Clinical Trials as Topic , Humans , Infant , Injections, IntravenousSubject(s)
Arthritis, Infectious/etiology , Arthritis/etiology , Gonorrhea , Adult , Arthritis/diagnosis , Arthritis, Infectious/diagnosis , Female , Gonorrhea/diagnosis , Gonorrhea/transmission , Humans , Infant , MaleABSTRACT
Between 1964 and 1976, we have seen 197 cases of cerebral tumors in children. We have studied the frequency of each histological group of tumors, their localization, the results of the clinical investigation, their clinical manifestations and the prognosis for each group. This study has confirmed that in children brain tumors are more frequently localized in the posterior fossa (56.4%). As in other series, tumors derived from the glia represent nearly 80% of the total. Clinically, increased intro-cranial pressure is the most frequent manifestation of posterior fossa lesion (75% of cases) while cerebellar involvement was seen in 60% of these children. Brain lesions and supratentorial tumors are more insidious in their presentation and their clinical manifestations more diversified. The EEG appeared useful in the investigation of brain tumors and showed irregularities in 78% of our patients. However, a more specific diagnosis requirelography. As in previous series, the mortality rate remained high in the children we have followed, particularly for some groups of tumors (glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, brain stem lesions). It is to be hoped that with the introduction of the CT Scan, the improvement of neurosurgical techniques and the use of immuno and chemotherapy, the prognosis may be improved.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Astrocytoma/epidemiology , Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis , Brain Neoplasms/mortality , Brain Stem , Child , Child, Preschool , Craniopharyngioma/epidemiology , Ependymoma/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Medulloblastoma/epidemiology , Quebec , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
The case is described of an 18 months old boy with sudden onset complete heart block, heralded by Stokes-Adams attacks. General signs of viral illness preceded and accompanied the syndrome; this, along with angiographic evidence of poorly contracting left ventricle, led to the diagnosis of non bacterial myocarditis. Serologic tests disclosed a significant rise in antibodies against mycoplasma pneumoniae (1/16 to 1/128). The His-bundle electrogram showed a block above the His-bundle, but fairly widespread damage to the conduction system is suspected. The complete heart block proved to be permanent and a fixed rate pacemaker had to be implanted.
