Serological and clinical evidence of toxoplasmosis in the Upper Leeward Islands

Toxoplasma infections are common on the Upper Leeward Islands (Saba, St. Maarten and St. Eustatius, Neth. Antilles) as proved by clinical evidence and serological determinants in patients and in healthy people. In schoolchildren an overall positive percentage of 45.5 percent was found. On St. Eustatius the highest frequency of recent infections was in the youngest age groups, in contrast with findings in the Netherlands and in Germany (AU)

Acute infectious lymphocytosis with echo virus type 25

An 8 month-old negro infant is described with clinical and haematological findings of acute infectious lymphocytosis. Additional findings were anaemia and thrombocytosis. Echovirus TYPE 25 isolated from the faeces gave a four-fold increase of antibody titre in the convalescent serum. Causal relationship with different virus-strains is emphasized (AU)

Communications: an outbreak of dengue haemorrhagic fever on Curacao

In 1968 an outbreak of dengue was studied in the closed community of a Catholic Hospital at Curacao. This permitted a close supervision of the epidemic. The epidemic was characterized by an unusual severity and involved dengue virus 2 with primary and secondary type of reactions. It resembled Thai haemorrhagic fever. The thrombopenia observed supports the opinion that this is a universal characteristic of the virus. Classic adult dengue and Thai haemorrhagic fever are probably the same clinical entity. (AU)

An outbreak of dengue (haemorrhagic) fever in Curacao 1968 - abstract

In 1968 a dengue epidemic spread through the Caribbean. It reached Curacao at the middle of October, 1968, to disappear at the end of December, 1968. Besides the classical febrile onset (monophase type) with headache myalgia, this time a more severe clinical picture developed. Gastrointestinal symptoms with haematemesis in one case, epistaxis, peripheral vascular collapse with syncope and convulsions in one case, were observed. Macular rashes, peticheae, increased capillary fragility were present in many cases. Haematodepressive features as leucopenia to 1,400, thrombopenia to 10,000 with purpura and coagulation disorders could be recorded. Bone marrow aspirations performed in two cases revealed abnormal megakaryocytes. Virological studies from acute serum specimen resulted in the isolation if Dengue virus type II, similar to findings in Dominica and St. Lucia. Serologically the increase of titres in paired sera (TRVL) pointed to Dengue virus type II. They confirmed the clinical diagnosis - Dengue epidemic, this time in some of them with haemorrhagic manifestations (AU)

Pycnodysostosis - abstract

Pycnodysostosis, a rare bone disease is characterized by marble bone-like esseous deviations combined with multiple dysostosis. Physically there is a short stature. The head is broad with a froglike expression. The hands and feet are shortened with typical digital and nail anomalies however not always fully expressed. Clinically the disease is marked by multiple spontaneous fractures, and osteomyelitis of lower and upper jaw occurs frequently. In young children, probably due to the absence of the maxillary sinus, pulmonary complications occur, sometimes with a fatal outcome. Haematologically, it runs a benign course; leucocytosis and severe anaemia as in marble bone disease, were not observed. Genetically, is a recessive dominant disease and no chromosomal deviations could be demonstrated. The typical roentgenological features were present. Two families from Curacao and Bonaire were investigated and intermarriage consanguinity was present (AU)

Intermittent (hepatic) porphyria

A fifty-year old Curacaoan negro woman presented the clinical features of intermittent (hepatic) porphyria. Bullous skin lesions on hand and legs were concomittant. Family examination was negative. Neurological and psychiatric symptoms as well as severe abdominal distress marked the first attack. Biopsies of nerve, skin and liver were performed. A biochemical follow-up is presented. A chromatografic pattern of the urinary porphyrins showed that this patient belong to the so-called unclassified group of porphyrins. Clinically she was of the mixed type of porphytis (variegate porphyria) (AU)

Early syphilitic gastritis

A twenty-two year old Curacaoan negro boy presented atypical stomach complaints with continuous vomiting. Two months previously he suffered from an untreated penile ulcer. There was a general lymphadenopathy. The serological reactions were strongly positive. Fractional stomach contents revealed a histamine resistant achylia gastrica. Rontgenologically there were extensive atypical gastric antrum deviations. Surgical exploration indicated no tumor, only gastritis. Histologically the surgical biopsy showed atrophic gastritis with plasmocellular infiltration. Antiluetic treatment resulted in the disappearance of the rontgenological gastric lesion with return of normal acidity. A follow-up biopsy by means of the Crosby capsule was made (AU)

Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Curacao

This report dealt with cases of blood transfusion reactions, hematesis and hemolytic jaundice of the newborn due to the defect. The inheritance was discussed: it was found to be incomplete, sex-linked, dominant with a variable expression in the female and intermediate in the male (AU)

Occurrence of rheumatic carditis in the native population of Curacao, Netherlands West Indies

Among 3,391 admissions for internal diseases at Curacao, Netherlands West Indies, over a period of five years, there were 61 for acute rheumatic fever. Three cases were complicated by chorea minor. Scarlet fever was not observed. Among 1,307 autopsies on native of Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire there were 20 which disclosed typical gross lesions or sequelae of rheumatic carditis. In 12 of these histologic examination was possible, and in 11 typical Aschoff bodies were found. The supposition is advanced that rheumatic carditis is more frequent in the tropics than is commonly believed but that the true incidence can be determined only by collecting reliable data, based especially on autopsies with histologic examinations. (summary)