Spectrum of malaria in Hajj pilgrims in the year 2000.

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to investigate the country wise distribution of malarial parasite in Muslim pilgrims. METHODS: This study was conducted at Ajyad Hospital, Makkah Al-Mukarmah, Saudi Arabia during peak Hajj season, from February to March 2000. The peripheral blood smears for malarial parasites were examined from one hundred and thirty patients suspected to be suffering from malaria. RESULTS: A positive identification of malarial parasite was possible in 19.2%. Seventy-six percent patients were suffering from Plasmodium falciparum infection, while 24% had Plasmodium vivax infection. Fifty percent of patients from Sudan and Saudi Arabia had P. vivax malaria while in the rest of the countries only P. falciparum infection was found. The patients presented with protean clinical manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: Malaria is prevalent in many Muslim countries and the frequency of falciparum species seems to increase as compared to vivax malaria. The majority of falciparum malaria patients develop haematological complications.

Epidemiological risk factors and composition of urinary stones in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to perform the chemical analysis of stones to know the pattern of biochemical composition of stones and to determine epidemiological risk factors for stone formation in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. METHODS: 307 renal stones were analyzed during one year period from September 2000 to August 2001. These stones were sent to central lab Riyadh for analysis from different hospitals attached to this region. The stones were analyzed by semiquantitative method. The kits supplied by Maascia Bruneli SPA. (Italy) was used for chemical analysis of stones. The powered stones and standards both were analyzed for uric acid, cystine, oxalate, carbonate, phosphate, ammonia, calcium and magnesium contents. RESULTS: Male to female ratio was 5:1. The stone frequency was 2.5 times more in Saudis as compared to non-Saudis. Maximum number of stones were analyzed in peak summer months. Calcium oxalate stones were the commonest followed by uric acid and phosphate stones. No cystine stone was found in the series analyzed. CONCLUSION: From the study of epidemiological factors it seems that the Saudis are more prone to development of stones. A clear stone season seems to exist in the area corresponding to the summer months. The relative increased frequency of stones in the region indicates that nutritional, environmental and genetic factors play a role in the occurrence of stones.