[Amebiasis and amebic liver abscess in Mexico: a present-day public health problem]. / La amibiasis y el absceso hepático amibiano en México, un problema de salud pública de actualidad.

BACKGROUND: Amebiasis still remains as a major public health problem in the world. It is one of the most common reasons for medical consult. There are more than half a million cases of amebiasis just at the Mexican Institute of the Social Security. There is still a lack of epidemiologic information on amebiasis in Mexico. AIM: To describe the secular trend fro amebiasis and for amebic liver abscess in the Mexican population, as well as in those covered by IMSS Solidaridad. METHOD: An ecologic trend study was carried on. Incidence rate of amebiasis in all of its forms of presentation, and of amebic liver abscess, were plotted against each year for the 1986-1994 period. RESULTS: Amebiasis incidence in all of its forms of presentation showed a stable trend in this period, as it was seen with amebic liver abscess. Amebiasis is more common in the first years of life. On the contrary, amebic liver abscess showed an inverted 'J' pattern; its occurrence is higher in the extreme years of life. Fatality rates have shown a descendent trend. CONCLUSIONS: Amebiasis reflects socioeconomic conditions in Mexico and the fact that Mexican is still an endless culture. There is a need to promote health education, better diagnostic procedures and detection of asymptomatic carriers. Health policies for mothers that are asymptomatic carriers should be reviewed, due to the high rates of amebiasis and amebic liver abscess in children under one year of age.

[The epidemiological profile of trichinosis in the state of Zacatecas]. / Perfil epidemiológico de la triquinosis en el estado de Zacatecas.

A compilation of data from the cases which have occurred in Zacatecas during the period between 1976 and 1987 has been made. It describes the endemia and locates the problem in time, person and space. Because of their impact, magnitude and consequences the more important data of the outbreaks is presented. The first case of trichinosis diagnosed in Zacatecas was in 1975; since then there have been other outbreaks; four in 1978, with the highest mortality of 33 per cent which occurred in Laguna del Carretero a community of Villanueva. During the period between 1979-1988 there have been 17 more, among these a death occurred in Valparaiso and, in Pozo de Gamboa there was an abortion in a 20-year-old female patient. This infection has higher frequency in urban areas. The most affected group age is 15-44 years; in this group there have been 51 percent of the cases occurring in females in a proportion of 1:1.8. Seven of the 36 countries in the state of Zacatecas, such as Zacatecas, Villanueva, Valparaiso, Panuco, Jerez, Jalpa and Guadalupe, have reported cases; the countries are listed by frequency. The transmission in most of the cases was caused by ingestion of raw pork products, in a fen undercooked pork meat. The diagnosis was confirmed in sixty cases by the conservation of the parasite in muscle biopsy and oronyosistis which represent a 38 percent of the reported total cases. Six cases was confirmed by histologic sections and immunoelectrophoresis test.