Epidemiologic and virologic assessment of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic on selected temperate countries in the Southern Hemisphere: Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa.

UNLABELLED: INTRODUCTION AND SETTING: Our analysis compares the most comprehensive epidemiologic and virologic surveillance data compiled to date for laboratory-confirmed H1N1pdm patients between 1 April 2009 - 31 January 2010 from five temperate countries in the Southern Hemisphere-Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa. OBJECTIVE: We evaluate transmission dynamics, indicators of severity, and describe the co-circulation of H1N1pdm with seasonal influenza viruses. RESULTS: In the five countries, H1N1pdm became the predominant influenza strain within weeks of initial detection. South Africa was unique, first experiencing a seasonal H3N2 wave, followed by a distinct H1N1pdm wave. Compared with the 2007 and 2008 influenza seasons, the peak of influenza-like illness (ILI) activity in four of the five countries was 3-6 times higher with peak ILI consultation rates ranging from 35/1,000 consultations/week in Australia to 275/100,000 population/week in New Zealand. Transmission was similar in all countries with the reproductive rate ranging from 1.2-1.6. The median age of patients in all countries increased with increasing severity of disease, 4-14% of all hospitalized cases required critical care, and 26-68% of fatal patients were reported to have ≥1 chronic medical condition. Compared with seasonal influenza, there was a notable downward shift in age among severe cases with the highest population-based hospitalization rates among children <5 years old. National population-based mortality rates ranged from 0.8-1.5/100,000. CONCLUSIONS: The difficulty experienced in tracking the progress of the pandemic globally, estimating its severity early on, and comparing information across countries argues for improved routine surveillance and standardization of investigative approaches and data reporting methods.

Comportamiento de la mortalidad por infecciones respiratorias agudas en Chile entre 2005-2009 / Mortality pattern from acute respiratory infections in Chile from 2005-2009

Se realizó un análisis del comportamiento de la mortalidad por infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRA) y se obtuvieron los corredores endémicos para el periodo 2003-2009, mediante la determinación de la media geométrica de las tasas históricas y su intervalo de confianza. Se presentan corredores acumulativos para los grupos de edad que presentan bajas tasas de mortalidad en el periodo observado.

An analysis of the course of mortality from acute respiratory infections (ARI) and the endemic levels during the period2003-2009, by determining the geometric average of historical rates and confidence intervals, is made. Cumulative levels are presented for age groups that present low rates of mortality in the period observed.

Síndrome de Peutz-Jeghers y Obstrucción Intestinal Baja, Reporte de un Caso / Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome and Low Intestinal Obstruction, Report of a Case

El presentamos el caso clínico de un niño de 12 años, que acude al Servicio de Pediatría del Hospital Manuel Ascencio Villarroel, transferido del Centro Pediátrico Albina Rodríguez de Patiño con los posibles diagnósticos de estreñimiento pertinaz, desnutrición de III grado secundario, Síndrome de Peutz-Jeghers probable, anemia microcítica e hipocrómica severa y soplo sistólico en estudio. Si bien el Síndrome de Peutz-Jeghers se presenta en contadas ocasiones en nuestro medio, el diagnóstico diferencial y sus complicaciones deben ser mejor estudiadas para así poder ser tratada de forma más oportuna. Consideramos importante este reporte porque en nuestro medio es una rara causa de abdomen agudo.

The present case report of a child 12 year old boy, who was admitted to the pediatric department of the Hospital Manuel AscencioVillarroel, transferred to the Pediatric Center Albina Rodriguez Patiño with possible diagnoses of persistent constipation, grade III secondary malnutrition, Peutz-Jeghers probable syndrome, severe hypochromic microcytic anemia and systolic murmur in the study.While the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome rarely occurs in our environment, the differential diagnosis and its complications should be better studied so we can be treated in a more timely manner. We consider it important our report because this disease is a rare cause of acute abdomen in our environment.