Hospital management of malnutrition—Part 1

This paper describes the first step in the management of severe PEM in the hospital viz the identification and treatment of life threatening conditions such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, severe anemia, septicemia, hypoglycemia and replacement of missing nutrients.     

Kocher-Debr��-S��m��laigne syndrome and congenital nystagmus

A 11-year-old boy with hypothyroidism developed generalized muscle hypertrophy and proximal muscular weakness. Electromyographic findings were suggestive of myopathy. He had had congenital nystagmus (CN) since early infancy. Although the association of childhood hypothyroidism and CN has been documented before, the triad of hypothyroidism, hypertrophic myopathy and CN exhibited by the patient is believed to be unique.     

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia studied by gallium-67 scanning

The validity and reliability of gallium-67 (Ga-67) scanning for diagnosis and follow-up of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) were assessed in 34 patients thought to have pulmonary complications of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Overall sensitivity was 94% and specificity 74%. Among patients with normal or equivocal chest radiographs at the time of admission, sensitivity was 86% and specificity 85%. The authors consider Ga-67 scanning a valid and reliable adjunct in the diagnosis of PCP in AIDS patients with respiratory symptoms when the chest radiograph is normal or equivocal.     

An unusual presentation of refractory cutaneous Langerhans cell histiocytosis in an adult

Primary cutaneous adult-onset Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare disorder typically characterized by a diffuse papular rash accentuated in a seborrheic distribution. We present a unique case of large plaques and nodules in a sporotrichoid pattern isolated to the lower extremity.     

Age-related clinical and microbiological characteristics of enteric fever in India

A retrospective, hospital-based study at Safdarjang Hospital, India, was undertaken between January 1999 and December 2003 to estimate age-related epidemiological, clinical and microbiological characteristics in enteric fever cases. A total of 750 blood-culture-proven cases of enteric fever were studied. The majority of cases occurred in children aged 5-12 years and 24.8% of cases were in children up to 5 years of age. Salmonella serotypes showed an age-related predilection, with paratyphoid fever more common in adults. Classically-described clinical features of the disease were comparable among patients under and above 5 years of age. Hepatomegaly, anaemia and complications in general were more frequent in children up to 5 years of age. The antimicrobial resistance pattern, irrespective of Salmonella serotype, did not reveal a statistically significant difference across age groups for the different antibiotics tested. Multidrug resistance was seen only in Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi but not in S. Paratyphi A isolates. However, resistance to nalidixic acid was comparable in both serotypes. Age-related differences of serotype isolation rates, clinical presentation and associated complications are noteworthy for better case management and policy planning. More epidemiological studies regarding reasons for age-related differential serotype patterns would enable and guide public health strategies to contain enteric fever in endemic locations.