Description of two fatal cases of melioidosis in Mexican children with acute pneumonia: case report.

BACKGROUND: Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. In Mexico, the disease is rarely diagnosed in humans and there is no evidence of simultaneous environmental isolation of the pathogen. Here, we describe clinical profiles of fatal cases of melioidosis in two children, in a region without history of that disease. CASE PRESENTATION: About 48 h before onset of symptoms, patients swam in a natural body of water, and thereafter they rapidly developed fatal septicemic illness. Upon necropsy, samples from liver, spleen, lung, cerebrospinal fluid, and bronchial aspirate tissues contained Burkholderia pseudomallei. Environmental samples collected from the locations where the children swam also contained B. pseudomallei. All the clinical and environmental strains showed the same BOX-PCR pattern, suggesting that infection originated from the area where the patients were swimming. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of B. pseudomallei confirmed that melioidosis disease exists in Sonora, Mexico. The presence of B. pseudomallei in the environment may suggest endemicity of the pathogen in the region. This study highlights the importance of strengthening laboratory capacity to prevent and control future melioidosis cases.

Ruptura uterina secundaria a embarazo ectópico cornual del segundo trimestre / Uterine rupture secondary to ectopic pregnancy in the second trimester

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: El embarazo ectópico cornual es poco común. La prevalencia estimada es de 2% y debido a su ubicación cercana a las arterias uterinas, el índice de mortalidad materna es de 10%. CASO CLINICO: Paciente de 42 años, con embarazo de 20.2 semanas, quien acudió al servicio de Urgencias por dolor pélvico opresivo, intenso, de 24 horas de evolución. A la exploración física se encontraron: tensión arterial 80-70 mmHg, frecuencia cardiaca de 112 latidos por minuto y signo de Murphy positivo. La biometría hemática reportó leucocitosis de 22.4/mL y hemoglobina de 10.7 g/dL. El ultrasonido evidenció un feto vivo de 21 semanas, con frecuencia cardiaca de 152 latidos por minuto, placenta grado 0-1, líquido amniótico normal, con abundante líquido libre en el espacio retroperitoneal. Los estudios de control de hemoglobina mostraron descenso a 5.38 g/dL, por lo que se decidió efectuar una laparotomía exploradora, en la que se encontró un embarazo ectópico cornual izquierdo; se extrajo el feto. Se practicó histerectomía subtotal, se trasladó a la paciente a la unidad de cuidados intensivos, donde su evolución fue satisfactoria. CONCLUSION: El diagnóstico de embarazo ectópico cornual sigue siendo difícil de establecer, su cuadro clínico puede simular otras alteraciones, con posibilidad de falla en 50-90% de los casos, dependiendo de la destreza del médico ultrasonografista y la sospecha clínica.

Abstract BACKGROUND: The cornual ectopic pregnancy has an unusual location representing 2% of the prevalence and because of its location close to the uterine arteries it has a maternal mortality of 10%. CLINICAL CASE: A 42-year-old patient with a pregnancy of 20.2 weeks of gestation attended the emergency department for oppressive, intense pelvic pain of 24 hours of evolution; physical examination: blood pressure of 80/70 mmHg and heart rate 112 beats per minute in addition to Murphy positive, laboratory studies were collected with blood count that reported leukocytes: 22.4/mL) and hemoglobin of 10.7 g/dL. An ultrasonographic scan was performed, finding a single 21-week live product with a heart rate of 152 beats per minute, placental grade 0-1, normal amniotic fluid, with abundant free fluid in the retroperitoneal space. Control of hemoglobin was requested with decrease to 5.38 g/dL, so it was decided to go to exploratory laparotomy, finding broken left cornual ectopic pregnancy, which was extracted product of conception and subtotal hysterectomy was performed and subsequently moved to the Intensive Care Unit achieving an adequate evolution. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of cornual ectopic pregnancy continues to be difficult to perform among medical entities, its clinical picture can simulate other entities with possibility of failure in the diagnosis by 50-90% depending on the skill of the ultrasonographer and clinical suspicion.

[A fatal case series of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Sonora, México].

INTRODUCTION: Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a highly lethal infectious disease, particularly if specific treatment with doxycycline is given belatedly. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical profile of fatal Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases in hospitalized patients in the state of Sonora, México. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a series of 47 deaths caused by Rickettsia rickettsii from 2013 to 2016. The diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever was confirmed in a single blood sample by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or by a four-fold increase in immunoglobulin G measured in paired samples analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared stratifying subjects into two groups: pediatric and adult. RESULTS: There were no differences in clinical characteristics between groups; petechial rash was the most frequent sign (96%), followed by headache (70%) and myalgia (67%). Although that doxycycline was administered before the fifth day from the onset of symptoms, death occurred in 55% of patients. In clinical laboratory, thrombocytopenia, and biomarkers of liver acute failure and acute kidney failure were the most frequent. CONCLUSION: Rocky Mountain spotted fever remains as one of the most lethal infectious diseases, which may be related not only to the lack of diagnostic suspicion and delayed administration of doxycycline, but to genotypic characteristics of Rickettsia rickettsii that may play a role in the variability of the fatality rate that has been reported in other geographical regions where the disease is endemic.

Una serie de casos fatales de fiebre manchada de las Montañas Rocosas en Sonora, México / A fatal case series of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Sonora, México

Resumen Introducción. La fiebre manchada de las Montañas Rocosas es una infección muy letal, particularmente si no se diagnostica y se trata oportunamente. Objetivo. Describir el perfil clínico de los casos fatales de pacientes con fiebre manchada de las Montañas Rocosas, hospitalizados en Sonora, México. Materiales y métodos. Se analizó una serie de 47 defunciones por fiebre manchada de las Montañas Rocosas en el periodo de 2013 a 2016. El diagnóstico se confirmó mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) o la cuadruplicación de los títulos de inmunoglobulina G (IgG) en muestras de suero pareadas analizadas mediante inmunofluorescencia indirecta. Se compararon las características clínicas y de laboratorio, estratificando a los sujetos en dos grupos: pediátricos y adultos. Resultados. No hubo diferencias en las manifestaciones clínicas entre los grupos; el exantema petequial fue el signo más frecuente (96 %), seguido por cefalea (70 %) y mialgias (67 %). La muerte ocurrió en el 55 % de los sujetos a pesar de haber recibido doxiciclina antes del quinto día del inicio de los síntomas. Los marcadores de laboratorio más frecuentes fueron trombocitopenia, falla hepática e insuficiencia renal. Conclusión. La fiebre manchada de las Montañas Rocosas es una enfermedad muy letal, lo cual puede estar relacionado con la ausencia de sospecha del diagnóstico y el retraso en la administración de doxiciclina, pero también con características atribuibles a Rickettsia rickettsii que inciden en la variabilidad de los resultados adversos que se han observado en regiones donde la enfermedad es frecuente.

Abstract Introduction: Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a highly lethal infectious disease, particularly if specific treatment with doxycycline is given belatedly. Objective: To describe the clinical profile of fatal Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases in hospitalized patients in the state of Sonora, México. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a series of 47 deaths caused by Rickettsia rickettsii from 2013 to 2016. The diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever was confirmed in a single blood sample by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or by a four-fold increase in immunoglobulin G measured in paired samples analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared stratifying subjects into two groups: pediatric and adult. Results: There were no differences in clinical characteristics between groups; petechial rash was the most frequent sign (96%), followed by headache (70%) and myalgia (67%). Although that doxycycline was administered before the fifth day from the onset of symptoms, death occurred in 55% of patients. In clinical laboratory, thrombocytopenia, and biomarkers of liver acute failure and acute kidney failure were the most frequent. Conclusion: Rocky Mountain spotted fever remains as one of the most lethal infectious diseases, which may be related not only to the lack of diagnostic suspicion and delayed administration of doxycycline, but to genotypic characteristics of Rickettsia rickettsii that may play a role in the variability of the fatality rate that has been reported in other geographical regions where the disease is endemic.

[Adolescent with paraovarian cyst. Surgycal treatment]. / Adolescente con quiste paraovárico. Tratamiento quirúrgico.

BACKGROUND: Adnexal paraovarian cysts are not frequently seen during teen development, their incidence is around 10% and usually benign. CLINICAL CASE: Adolescent female 15 years old with no pathological family and personal history relevant to her current condition. Chief complaint: Six months ago she complained with abdominal pain in meso, hypogastrium and right iliac fossa. Later, she observed an increased volume on her lower quadrant of the abdomen, mostly on her right side. During physical examination an abdominal tumor was palpated. By an abdominal-rectal manouvre, the presence of tumor was confirmed and located in front of the rectum and no implants. Imaging studies confirmed a paraovarian cyst. She underwent on surgical laparatomy and a paraovarian cyst was found. The histological diagnosis was a cystadenoma. The postoperative course was satisfactory. DISCUSSION: Epidemiological data and ultrasonographic findings are examined to confirm the diagnosis of paraovarian cyst. The laparoscopic treatment for adnexal problems is described.

[Complications and cause of death in mexican children with rocky mountain spotted fever]. / Complicaciones y causa de muerte en niños mexicanos con fiebre manchada de las Montañas Rocosas (FMMR).

BACKGROUND: Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a life threatening disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsia, characterized by multisystem involvement. METHODS: We studied 19 dead children with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. All children who were suspected of having rickettsial infections were defined as having Rocky Mountain spotted fever by serology test and clinical features. Through the analysis of each case, we identified the clinical profile and complications associated to the death of a patient. RESULTS: In nine (69.2%) of 13 cases that died in the first three days of admission, the associated condition was septic shock. Others complications included respiratory distress causes by non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, renal impairment, and multiple organ damage. CONCLUSIONS: The main cause of death in this study was septic shock. The fatality rate from Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be related to the severity of the infection, delay in diagnosis, and delay in initiation of antibiotic therapy. Pulmonary edema and cerebral edema can be usually precipitated by administration of excess intravenous fluids.

[Left juxtaposition of the heart atrial appendages]. / Yuxtaposición izquierda de las orejuelas atriales.

We present the first case of left juxtaposition of the right atrial appendages that has been seen at the Children's Hospital of the state of Sonora. This anomaly was associated with a complex congenital heart defect, i.e. absence of the right atrioventricular connection and transposition of the great arteries. The two-dimensional echocardiogram is the usual study to reach a clinical diagnoses, but it may also be an incidental of finding during surgery or during autopsy, in ocurred in our case. Its timely diagnosis may have implications in the surgical treatment and in therapeutic cardiac catheterization.

Yuxtaposición izquierda de las orejuelas atriales / Left juxtaposition of the heart atrial appendages

We present the first case of left juxtaposition of the right atrial appendages that has been seen at the Children's Hospital of the state of Sonora. This anomaly was associated with a complex congenital heart defect, i.e. absence of the right atrioventricular connection and transposition of the great arteries. The two-dimensional echocardiogram is the usual study to reach a clinical diagnoses, but it may also be an incidental of finding during surgery or during autopsy, in ocurred in our case. Its timely diagnosis may have implications in the surgical treatment and in therapeutic cardiac catheterization.

Síndrome de Stevens-Johnson: Informe de 7 casos / Stevens-Johnson syndrome: Report of 7 cases

Introducción. Objetivo: dar a conocer la evolución seguida por siete pacientes en edad pediátrica con síndrome de Stevens-Johnson (SSJ) tratados en el Hospital Infantil del Estado de Sonora. Material y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo de 7 niños que incluyó las siguientes variables: edad, sexo, lugar de origen, estación del año, antecedentes de infección, fármacos recibidos, diagnósticos considerados al ingreso, signos y síntomas, estudios de laboratorio y gabinete, estudios histológicos, tratamiento y evolución. Resultados. Se estudiaron 5 pacientes masculinos, 2 femeninos, 4 pacientes fueron menores de 5 años y 3 adolescentes; todos habían recibido medicación relacionada con SSJ, predominando los casos en verano, en cinco se consideró este padecimiento como primer diagnóstico; todos presentaron fiebre de más de 5 días de evolución, secreción conjuntival, eritema en piel, lesiones periorificiales, bulas y flictenas, zonas denudadas; en 2 fueron más graves, como se describen en la necrólisis tóxica epidérmica (NTE). En hallazgos de laboratorio, en 3 hubo trombocitopenia; en biopsia de piel los hallazgos histológicos fueron compatibles con el SSJ en 3 casos. Tratamiento: en tres casos se utilizaron esteroides y transfusiones; un paciente con cuadro de NTE falleció. Conclusiones. El SSJ presenta un cuadro clínico de diferente expresividad en cuanto a gravedad, no existe un tratamiento específico; en los cuidados generales se incluye aislamiento, hidratación similar a los casos de quemaduras, cuidados de la piel, antimicrobianos. Las nuevas propuestas de tratamiento tienen experiencia limitada pero deben ser considerados dentro de los procedimientos terapéuticos del padecimiento.

Introduction. Objective: the purpose of this study is to report on the evolution of 7 patients from Sonora Childrens Hospital (Hospital Infantil del Estado de Sonora) with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). Materials and methods. A retrospective chart review; we reviewed the clinical records of 7 patients hospitalized between 1978 and 2004 with a diagnosis of SJS. The variables were: age gender, place of origin, history of infection and prescription drug use prior to hospital admission and diagnosis; the signs and symptoms, laboratory and histologic features, treatment, complications and clinical course were evaluated. Results. Five male and 2 female patients were admitted with a clinical diagnosis of SJS during the period reviewed; 4 were under 5 years and 3 were adolescents, all had received drugs associated with SJS, The admission diagnosis of SJS was ascertained in 5 patients. All patients presented fever, at least 5 days, conjuntival secretion, dermal erythema and extend blisters, 2 children had signs and sympthoms of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), the laboratory features were thrombocytopenia; the histological findings of skin biopsy were typical for SJS. Treatment: 3 patients received prednisone and blood transfusions, 1 child died as a complication of TEN. Conclusions. In this small series, SJS, showed a clinically variable course. Although there is no specific treatment, medical care should be similar to that of burn patients.

Embarazo ovárico: Informe de un caso / Ectopic, ovarian, pregnancy. A case presentation

El embarazo ectópico (EE) es la implantación del blastocito fuera de la cavidad uterina. La salpinge es el sitio de implante del EE en 95-98 por ciento de los casos y para el EE ovárico es de 0.5 a 1 por ciento. Se presenta el análisis clínico y patológico de un caso de EE de ovario en mujer de 29 años que mostró cuadro abdominal agudo a su ingreso al hospital. La evolución clínica, los hallazgos transquirúrgicos y el estudio anatomopatológico de la pieza quirúrgica reunieron los criterios de Spielgelberg para el diagnóstico de EE ovárico