[Pulmonary toxoplasmosis in immunosuppressed patient]. / Toxoplasmoza pulmonara la pacientul imunodeprimat.

Pulmonary toxoplasmosis occurs mainly in immunosuppressed patients and its diagnosis mainly relies upon biological confirmation of the parasite. We present the case of a 47 years patient in medullar aplasia after induction chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia that developed pulmonary infiltrates of parasitic origin. The diagnosis of pulmonary toxoplasmosis was established after identification of the parasite in brochioloalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and peripheral blood. Serological tests are of limited utility in immunosuppressed patients. We used classical methods for the diagnosis of parasitosis but they are being replaced by molecular methods. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) allows a highly specific and sensitive diagnosis on any sample but it cannot be performed in any center.

[Sensitization to ascaris lumbricoides and asthma severity in children]. / Influenta ascaridiozei asupra severitatii astmului bronsic la copil.

UNLABELLED: There is little information concerning asthma severity and sensitization to Ascaris lumbricoides in pediatric patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The relationship between sensitization to Ascaris lumbricoides and asthma severity in 219 patients with a high prevalence of parasitic exposure (IgE antibodies) was studied by using linear, multivariate and logistic regression. RESULTS: Sensitization to Ascaris lumbricoides was associated with positive skin tests for aeroallergens, increased total serum IgE, increased eosinophils, reductions in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio, increased airway Methacholine, bronchodilator responsiveness, and hospitalizations for asthma in the past year. CONCLUSIONS: Sensitization to Ascaris lumbricoides is associated with increased severity of asthma among Romanian children. This association is mediated by a high degree of atopy among the asthma children sensitized to Ascaris lumbricoides and belonging to a population with a low prevalence of helminthiasis.

[Atopic diseases and intestinal helminth infections]. / Afectiunile atopice si infectia intestinala cu helminti.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between past and current intestinal helminth infections, and asthma, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study was performed on 84 patients aged 2-18 years with a mean of 9.31 +/- 3.75 years. Helminth infection was determined by stool examinations and questionnaire. Asthma was diagnosed by spirometry, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhino-conjunctivitis by skin prick testing. RESULTS: Stool examinations revealed infection with A. lumbricoides in 5.95% of cases and E. vermicularis in 4.76% of cases. 8 patients had positive tests for at least a helminth. The most frequent respiratory symptoms were caught, wheezing and dispneea. Spirometry showed anormal results in 4.76% of patients and skin tests were positive in 20.24% of cases. 11 patients were diagnosed with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and 5 with atopic dermatitis. A history of infection with E. vermicularis was associated with increased risk of atopic dermatitis (OR 1.86), asthma (OR 2.11), and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (OR 1.34), and a positive stool examination for A. lumbricoides was negatively associated with asthma (OR 2.60). CONCLUSIONS: Current A. lumbricoides infection protects against asthma while past infection with E. vermicularis are risk factors for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis. Interactions depend on the type of helminth and time of infestation.

[Cutaneous manifestations on toxocariasis cases hospitalized in the Paediatric Diseases Clinic of Iasi, between 2005-2008]. / Manifestari cutanate la copiii cu toxocaroza spitalizati in perioada 2005-2008.

UNLABELLED: The authors present the results of retroprospective epidemiological, clinical and laboratory diagnosis on toxocariasis cases hospitalized in the Paediatric Diseases Clinic of Iasi, between January 2005- June 2008. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study included a number of 228 children. RESULTS: Cutaneous manifestations were present in 65 children: 30 boys (46.15%) and 34 girls (52.30%), with a slight advance of the urban environment (53.84%). The age distribution highlighted a predominance of 1-6 age (66.15%). Cutaneous manifestations were pruritus, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, prurigo. The distribution of toxocariasis in children patients in Moldavia, Romania, highlighted a predominance in Iasi. The laboratory diagnosis of the children with cutaneous manifestations: hypereosinophilia was present on 87.69% of the children associated with hyperleucocytosis. All the patients were serologicaly confirmed with toxocariasis. The children responded well to treatment with albendazole.

[Toxocariasis respiratory manifestations in cases hospitalized in the Paediatric Diseases Clinic of Iasi, between 2005-2008]. / Manifestari respiratorii la copiii cu toxocaroza spitalizati in perioada 2005-2008.

UNLABELLED: The authors present the results of retrospective epidemiological, clinical and laboratory diagnosis on toxocariasis cases hospitalized in the Pediatric Diseases Clinic of Iasi, between January 2005-June 2008. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study included a number of 228 children. RESULTS: Respiratory manifestations were present in 184 children: 105 boys (46.05%) and 79 girls (34.64%), with a slight advance of the rural environment (44.29%). The age distribution highlighted a predominance of 1-5 years of age (65.76%). Respiratory manifestations were fever, coughing, wheezing, asthma, infections of respiratory pathways, pneumonia. The distribution of toxocariasis in children patients in Moldavia, Romania, highlighted a predominance in Iasi. The children with respiratory manifestations had hypereosinophilia associated with hyperleucocytosis. All the patients were serologically confirmed with toxocariasis. The children responded well to treatment with albendazole.