Case Report: A Challenging Case of Tetanus Presenting with Headache.

Tetanus is a life-threatening infectious neurological condition that has become uncommon due to large-scale immunization campaigns. We describe a rare instance of generalized tetanus presenting with a headache on a tropical island in Malaysia. A 43-year-old woman presenting with headaches and generalized body weakness, which progressed into trismus and neck stiffness. Her medical history indicated a wound on the sole of her foot caused by shattered glass in an unhygienic area, but no tetanus prophylaxis had been administered. The patient was subsequently given immunoglobulin, tetanus toxoid, metronidazole, and sedatives in the recommended dosages. Her neurological condition improved remarkably, but she suffered blood pressure fluctuations due to dysautonomia. She was successfully discharged with complete recovery after 6 months of follow-up. The case demonstrates the significance of appropriate identification and care of tetanus, as well as the lethal effects of untreated wounds in vulnerable patients.

Spontaneous Bilateral Basal Ganglia Haemorrhage Secondary to Methanol Poisoning.

Methanol toxicity remains as major problem in the medical field.[1],[2],[3] With its active metabolite, formic acid often leads to severe metabolic acidosis and to some extend brain damaged.[4],[5],[6] We are reporting a case of brain hemorrhage at the right external capsule and left basal ganglia with mass effect and obstructive hydrocephalus in a methanol poisoning patient. A confused 29-year-old gentleman was brought into hospital. Initial investigation showed severe metabolic acidosis with raised anion gap. Initial brain CT scan was normal. Subsequently, serum methanol was reported to be high (112 mg/dL). Intravenous (IV) ethanol 10% was given without any delayed. As there was no improvement in his consciousness level, a repeat brain CT was performed and it showed multiple cerebral hemorrhage with obstructive hydrocephalus. Hence, clinicians should have high index of suspicion for cerebral hemorrhage in a patient with methanol toxicity, who presented with altered mental status and severe metabolic acidosis.

Knowledge on the action to be taken and recognition of symptoms of stroke in a community: findings from the May Measurement Month 2017 blood pressure screening Programme in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: Information regarding the knowledge on the action to be taken during stroke and good recognition of stroke symptoms is mandatory in helping to plan out educational strategies to deliver health education to the community. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of adults aged 18 and above attending a blood pressure screening program in community in conjunction with May Measurement Month 2017 in Malaysia. A structured self-administered questionnaire was given to the participants who gave verbal consent. Data analysis was done using SPSS v. 23 and multiple logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of knowledge on actions to be taken during stroke and recognition of stroke symptoms. RESULTS: Out of 4096 respondents, 82.9-92.1% of them able to recognise the common stroke symptoms. and 74.2% of the study respondents will go to hospital within 4.5 h of stroke onset. According to binomial logistic regression analyses, adults aged 45 years old and above (OR 1.39 95%CI 1.01-1.92), being Malay (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.27-2.40), being non-smokers (OR = 2.491, 95% CI: 1.64-3.78), hypertensives (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.02-2.42)and diabetics (OR: 2.54, 95% CI:1.38-4.69) are determinants of right actions to be taken during stroke. Meanwhile, respondents aged 45 years old and older (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.39-2.03), being Malay (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.24-1.79), hypertensive (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04-1.66) and those who had a previous history of stroke (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.01-5.00) are determinants of good recognition of stroke symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The overall knowledge of stroke in our study population was good. Older age, being Malay, non-smokers, hypertensives and diabetics are determinants of right actions to be taken during stroke. Meanwhile, older age, being Malay, hypertensive and those who had a previous history of stroke are determinants of good recognition of stroke symptoms.

Incidence, aetiology, and sequelae of viral meningitis in UK adults: a multicentre prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Viral meningitis is increasingly recognised, but little is known about the frequency with which it occurs, or the causes and outcomes in the UK. We aimed to determine the incidence, causes, and sequelae in UK adults to improve the management of patients and assist in health service planning. METHODS: We did a multicentre prospective observational cohort study of adults with suspected meningitis at 42 hospitals across England. Nested within this study, in the National Health Service (NHS) northwest region (now part of NHS England North), was an epidemiological study. Patients were eligible if they were aged 16 years or older, had clinically suspected meningitis, and either underwent a lumbar puncture or, if lumbar puncture was contraindicated, had clinically suspected meningitis and an appropriate pathogen identified either in blood culture or on blood PCR. Individuals with ventricular devices were excluded. We calculated the incidence of viral meningitis using data from patients from the northwest region only and used these data to estimate the population-standardised number of cases in the UK. Patients self-reported quality-of-life and neuropsychological outcomes, using the EuroQol EQ-5D-3L, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Aldenkamp and Baker neuropsychological assessment schedule, for 1 year after admission. FINDINGS: 1126 patients were enrolled between Sept 30, 2011, and Sept 30, 2014. 638 (57%) patients had meningitis: 231 (36%) cases were viral, 99 (16%) were bacterial, and 267 (42%) had an unknown cause. 41 (6%) cases had other causes. The estimated annual incidence of viral meningitis was 2·73 per 100 000 and that of bacterial meningitis was 1·24 per 100 000. The median length of hospital stay for patients with viral meningitis was 4 days (IQR 3-7), increasing to 9 days (6-12) in those treated with antivirals. Earlier lumbar puncture resulted in more patients having a specific cause identified than did those who had a delayed lumbar puncture. Compared with the age-matched UK population, patients with viral meningitis had a mean loss of 0·2 quality-adjusted life-years (SD 0·04) in that first year. INTERPRETATION: Viruses are the most commonly identified cause of meningitis in UK adults, and lead to substantial long-term morbidity. Delays in getting a lumbar puncture and unnecessary treatment with antivirals were associated with longer hospital stays. Rapid diagnostics and rationalising treatments might reduce the burden of meningitis on health services. FUNDING: Meningitis Research Foundation and UK National Institute for Health Research.

Complementary alternative medicine use among patients with dengue fever in the hospital setting: a cross-sectional study in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: In Malaysia, the number of reported cases of dengue fever demonstrates an increasing trend. Since dengue fever has no vaccine or antiviral treatment available, it has become a burden. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become one of the good alternatives to treat the patients with dengue fever. There is limited study on the use of CAM among patients with dengue fever, particularly in hospital settings. This study aims to determine the prevalence, types, reasons, expenditure, and resource of information on CAM use among patients with dengue fever. METHODS: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of 306 patients with dengue fever, which was carried out at the dengue clinic of three hospitals. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21.0 and logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with CAM use. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAM use was 85.3% among patients with dengue fever. The most popular CAMs were isotonic drinks (85.8%), crab soup (46.7%) and papaya leaf extract (22.2%). The most common reason for CAM use was a good impression of CAM from other CAM users (33.3%). The main resource of information on CAM use among patients with dengue fever was family (54.8%). In multiple logistic regression analysis, dengue fever patients with a tertiary level are more likely to use CAM 5.8 (95% confidence interval (CI 1.62-20.45) and 3.8 (95% CI 1.12-12.93) times than secondary level and primary and below respectively. CONCLUSION: CAM was commonly used by patients with dengue fever. The predictor of CAM use was a higher level of education.

Guillain-Barré syndrome complicating dengue fever: Two case reports.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare neurological manifestation associated with dengue infection. More common antecedent infections include Campylobacter jejuni and Cytomegalovirus infection. Here, we report two cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome complicating dengue infection.

Acute necrotising pancreatitis and acalculous cholecystitis: a rare presentation of leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis typically presents with fever and thrombocytopenia, with or without jaundice. Acute necrotising pancreatitis and acalculous cholecystitis are rare presentations of this spirochetal infection. Here is the case of necrotising pancreatitis and acalculous cholecystitis associated with leptospirosis in an elderly patient. Leptospirosis was diagnosed by serological tests and abdominal CT imaging. The patient was successfully treated medically with intravenous antibiotics (imipenem and ceftriaxone) and proper hydration.