Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Central America: first enterovirus epidemic in the western hemisphere.

Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) is an eye infection that was first noted in 1969 and became a pandemic disease in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Japan in the 1970s. It was not noted in the western hemisphere until 1981. This report describes the clinical experience with AHC in Honduras where it was first seen in the western hemisphere. Clinical presentation includes acute onset with symptoms of foreign body sensation, burning, and photophobia. Signs include lid edema, periauricular lymphadenopathy, conjunctival injection, follicular reaction, and typically subconjunctival hemorrhages. Since AHC appears to be a very contagious conjunctivitis, it can spread rapidly and result in a high proportion of the population becoming infected. There is no known specific treatment for this disease, and containment includes increased attention to hygiene.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation fibrinolytic syndrome following head injury in children: frequency and prognostic implications.

Eight-seven consecutive children with head injury were evaluated within two hours of injury by clinical examination, by computed tomographic brain images, and for systemic blood clotting disorders. All were treated by a standard regimen and survival rates calculated according to the initial neurologic abnormalities and pathology of the injury. Patients with the more severe neurologic abnormalities and those with more brain tissue destruction had poorer survival rates. However, 71% of all patients had one or more abnormal clotting tests and 32% had the disseminated intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis syndrome by laboratory criteria. The mortality was over four times greater in those patients with DIC compared to those with normal clotting values. Our findings indicate that minor hemostatic abnormalities are the rule in head-injured children, that DIC occurs in nearly one-third of cases, and that DIC is associated with a marked increase in the mortality after brain injury: DIC may be a treatable secondary effect of head trauma that could decrease the mortality.

LDCs face another kind of health problem.

PIP: Early childbearing is increasing worldwide, in both the developed and the developing countries. In 1975, 13 million young women became mothers before their 18th birthday. Such early childbearing causes major health, economic, social, and demographic problems. The disadvantages are felt by the young women, their sexual partners, the babies born to these women, and society in general. Reasons why adolescents are engaging in earlier sexual activity and experiencing more early pregnancies are enumerated. The 1st Interhemispheric Conference on Adolescent Fertility, sponsored by the Agency for International Development and other involved organizations, was held in 1976. The Conference participants made recommendations concerned with the legal, educational, and social aspects of early childbearing. Many youth education programs have been established since the Conference. Research projects have been launched to study the social consequences of adolescent pregnancy. Many more family life education and family planning services must be offered. A significant hindrance to such developments is the reluctance of adults around the world to recognize and deal with the problem.^ieng