- Home
- The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Previous Issues
- Volume 74, Issue 3, March 2006
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - Volume 74, Issue 3, March 2006
Volume 74, Issue 3, March 2006
- Articles
-
-
COGNITIVE EFFECTS OF DIARRHEA, MALNUTRITION, AND ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA INFECTION ON SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH
Pages: 475–481More LessCognitive function was assessed in 191 Bangladeshi children 6–9 years of age using verbal and nonverbal tests. These scores were added to a health surveillance database that was compiled over the four previous years that includes incidence of diarrhea and Entamoeba histolytica infection and nutritional status. The associations of diarrhea, malnutrition, and social factors with cognitive scores were analyzed statistically, and associations between diarrhea and test scores were controlled for the influence of social factors. Cognitive scores were negatively associated with stunting during school age, as well as the height-for-age and weight-for-age scores at study enrollment. Incidence of diarrhea was associated with nonverbal test scores before, but not after, controlling for socioeconomic factors. Generally E. histolytica infection was not found to independently influence scores, except that E. histolytica-associated dysentery was associated with lower test scores while dysentery of any etiology was not. Thus, malnutrition during the school age years, but not diarrhea or E. histolytica infection, was associated with a lower level of cognitive functioning. This suggested that intervention during school age years may be able to mitigate the cognitive deficiencies associated with malnutrition.
-
MICROSPORIDIOSIS IN VENEZUELA: PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL MICROSPORIDIOSIS AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO DIARRHEA IN A GROUP OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS–INFECTED PATIENTS FROM ZULIA STATE
Pages: 482–486More LessMicrosporidia are recognized as a cause of morbidity among patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Infection rates for intestinal microsporidiosis in HIV-infected patients from Venezuela are unknown. To determine the prevalence and pathogenic role of microsporidia in these patients in northwestern Venezuela, a case control study was conducted in 103 outpatients (mean ± SD age = 37.3 ± 5.6 years). Microsporidia were detected using unconcentrated formalin-fixed stools examined by Weber’s chromotrope-based staining method. For identification of coccidia, modified Ziehl-Neelsen carbolfuchsin staining of formalin-ether concentrates were used, and for other pathogenic parasites, iron hematoxylin–stained smears and formalin-ether concentrates were examined. Microsporidial infections were detected in 14 (13.6%) of 103 patients and 39 (37.9%) had other parasitic pathogens. No significant difference was noted in the occurrence of the infection in patients with diarrhea (13 of 74, 17.6%) and controls (1 of 29, 3.4%) (P = 0.118). Nevertheless, this result may be due to the small sample size (n = 14) of infected individuals. The proportions of other pathogens in patients with or without diarrhea were not significantly different (P = 0.828). Microsporidiosis is common among the HIV-infected population in northwestern Venezuela. However, its pathogenic role in these patients is uncertain and warrants further investigation.
-
UNIQUE FAMILY CLUSTERING OF HUMAN ECHINOCOCCOSIS CASES IN A CHINESE COMMUNITY
Pages: 487–494More LessWe have identified a significant focus and unusual clustering of human cases of cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in the village of Nanwan, Xiji County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in one of the most highly endemic areas for both diseases in China. The village, a Chinese Hui Islamic community, is composed of 167 members of four extended families. A total of 28 people died (12 of echinococcosis) since the village was first settled in the 1950s. Despite similar life patterns, the number of AE and CE cases occurring in each family was different. Overall, the prevalences of AE and CE were 9% (20 cases) and 5.9% (13 cases), with a combined prevalence of 14.9%. In contrast to CE, a comparison of the prevalence of AE indicated significant differences between the four family clusters. Although suggestive that host genotype might play a role in susceptibility to AE, this hypothesis requires further investigation.
-
EVALUATION OF AN IMPROVED APPROACH USING RESIDENCES OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS-POSITIVE SCHOOL CHILDREN TO IDENTIFY CARRIERS IN AN AREA OF LOW ENDEMICITY
Pages: 495–499More LessSchool children were used as indicators for the identification of schistosomiasis-positive family members in a area of low endemicity. This study was designed to improve current schistosomiasis control programs by applying this strategy to identify schistosomiasis-positive individuals in a more efficient way. The initial prevalence among school children was 8.6%. However, the prevalence among the family members of these school children increased to 15.5%. In contrast to these findings the prevalence in family members of schistosomiasis-negative school children was 3.8%. Although the applied methodology showed a relatively low sensitivity (50.0%), the high negative predictive value (87.7%) indicates that a few positive family members of school children with a negative stool result will be missed. This shows that this method of evaluation could be a strategy for a more efficient and cheaper identification of schistosomiasis-positive individuals in areas of low endemicity.
-
HEALTH WORKERS’ AGREEMENT IN CLINICAL DESCRIPTION OF FILARIAL LYMPHEDEMA
Pages: 500–504More LessSeverity of lymphedema and presence of entry lesions are risk factors for acute bacterial dermatolym-phangioadenitis (ADLA) in those with filarial lymphedema. Recurrent ADLA causes acute morbidity and progression of lymphedema severity; however, there is little work assessing the ability of health workers to reliably stage disease severity and identify risk entry lesions. This knowledge is important in initiation of management and assessing interventions. We evaluated inter-rater reliability with two independent health workers rating both legs of 17 patients using a questionnaire and the Dreyer classification of lymphedema. The health workers could reliably stage lymphedema with high agreement (RMAC weighted kappa of 0.89) and identify nail, interdigital, and other skin lesions. However, there was less consistency in identifying the clinical nature of skin lesions. This indicates that the Dreyer classification can be a replicable way to stage lymphedema and a questionnaire can deliver high observer agreement on the presence of risk lesions.
-
OPERATIONAL EVALUATION OF THE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS FOR GRADING ACTIVE TRACHOMA
Pages: 505–508More LessWe evaluated the reliability of photographs to verify field diagnoses of active trachoma. We examined 956 residents of a trachoma-endemic village for signs of trachoma using the World Health Organization simplified grading system. Two photographs of the right eye of 948 persons were independently graded (masked to field assessment) by the field examiner and two other experienced graders. There was only moderate agreement between field assessment and the subsequent photographic evaluations by the three graders. When we counted ungradable photographs as disagreements, mean kappa scores for the signs trachomatous inflammation (follicular [TF]) and trachomatous inflammation (intense [TI]) were 0.44 and 0.51, respectively. There was also only fair-to-moderate agreement between the three assessments (by different examiners) of the photographs. Either the signs TF and TI themselves are not as reliable as previously believed, or photographs should be used for their diagnosis only when reliability testing demonstrates better agreement than found here.
-
HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B MENINGITIS AMONG CHILDREN IN HANOI, VIETNAM: EPIDEMIOLOGIC PATTERNS AND ESTIMATES OF H. INFLUENZAE TYPE B DISEASE BURDEN
Pages: 509–515More LessFrom March 2000 to February 2002, a population-based study of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis was conducted among children less than five years of age in Hanoi, Vietnam. Children with suspected bacterial meningitis were referred to hospitals and each patient underwent standardized clinical examination and microbiologic testing. In Hanoi, 580 children were evaluated for bacterial meningitis and 23 (4%) had confirmed or probable Hib meningitis. The incidence of all Hib meningitis was 12/100,000 child-years less than five years of age and 26/100,000 child-years less than two years of age. Nationally, an estimated 1,005 children less than five years of age are hospitalized for Hib meningitis and 5,107 are hospitalized for Hib pneumonia. Among children with Hib meningitis, at least 100 will develop severe neurologic sequelae and 40 will die. These data suggest there is a substantial burden of Hib disease in Vietnam. National leaders will be provided with these data to facilitate development of national vaccination policies for children in Vietnam.
- Top
-
- Errata
-
Volumes & issues
-
Volume 104 (2021)
-
Volume 103 (2020)
-
Volume 102 (2020)
-
Volume 101 (2019)
-
Volume 100 (2019)
-
Volume 99 (2018)
-
Volume 98 (2018)
-
Volume 97 (2017)
-
Volume 96 (2017)
-
Volume 95 ([2016, 2017])
-
Volume 94 (2016)
-
Volume 93 (2015)
-
Volume 92 (2015)
-
Volume 91 (2014)
-
Volume 90 (2014)
-
Volume 89 (2013)
-
Volume 88 (2013)
-
Volume 87 (2012)
-
Volume 86 (2012)
-
Volume 85 (2011)
-
Volume 84 (2011)
-
Volume 83 (2010)
-
Volume 82 (2010)
-
Volume 81 (2009)
-
Volume 80 (2009)
-
Volume 79 (2008)
-
Volume 78 (2008)
-
Volume 77 (2007)
-
Volume 76 (2007)
-
Volume 75 (2006)
-
Volume 74 (2006)
-
Volume 73 (2005)
-
Volume 72 (2005)
-
Volume 71 (2004)
-
Volume 70 (2004)
-
Volume 69 (2003)
-
Volume 68 (2003)
-
Volume 67 (2002)
-
Volume 66 (2002)
-
Volume 65 (2001)
-
Volume 64 (2001)
-
Volume 63 (2000)
-
Volume 62 (2000)
-
Volume 61 (1999)
-
Volume 60 (1999)
-
Volume 59 (1998)
-
Volume 58 (1998)
-
Volume 57 (1997)
-
Volume 56 (1997)
-
Volume 55 (1996)
-
Volume 54 (1996)
-
Volume 53 (1995)
-
Volume 52 (1995)
-
Volume 51 (1994)
-
Volume 50 (1994)
-
Volume 49 (1993)
-
Volume 48 (1993)
-
Volume 47 (1992)
-
Volume 46 (1992)
-
Volume 45 (1991)
-
Volume 44 (1991)
-
Volume 43 (1990)
-
Volume 42 (1990)
-
Volume 41 (1989)
-
Volume 40 (1989)
-
Volume 39 (1988)
-
Volume 38 (1988)
-
Volume 37 (1987)
-
Volume 36 (1987)
-
Volume 35 (1986)
-
Volume 34 (1985)
-
Volume 33 (1984)
-
Volume 32 (1983)
-
Volume 31 (1982)
-
Volume 30 (1981)
-
Volume 29 (1980)
-
Volume 28 (1979)
-
Volume 27 (1978)
-
Volume 26 (1977)
-
Volume 25 (1976)
-
Volume 24 (1975)
-
Volume 23 (1974)
-
Volume 22 (1973)
-
Volume 21 (1972)
-
Volume 20 (1971)
-
Volume 19 (1970)
-
Volume 18 (1969)
-
Volume 17 (1968)
-
Volume 16 (1967)
-
Volume 15 (1966)
-
Volume 14 (1965)
-
Volume 13 (1964)
-
Volume 12 (1963)
-
Volume 11 (1962)
-
Volume 10 (1961)
-
Volume 9 (1960)
-
Volume 8 (1959)
-
Volume 7 (1958)
-
Volume 6 (1957)
-
Volume 5 (1956)
-
Volume 4 (1955)
-
Volume 3 (1954)
-
Volume 2 (1953)
-
Volume 1 (1952)
-
Volume s1-31 (1951)
-
Volume s1-30 (1950)
-
Volume s1-29 (1949)
-
Volume s1-28 (1948)
-
Volume s1-27 (1947)
-
Volume s1-26 (1946)
-
Volume s1-25 (1945)
-
Volume s1-24 (1944)
-
Volume s1-23 (1943)
-
Volume s1-22 (1942)
-
Volume s1-21 (1941)
-
Volume s1-20 (1940)
-
Volume s1-19 (1939)
-
Volume s1-18 (1938)
-
Volume s1-17 (1937)
-
Volume s1-16 (1936)
-
Volume s1-15 (1935)
-
Volume s1-14 (1934)
-
Volume s1-13 (1933)
-
Volume s1-12 (1932)
-
Volume s1-11 (1931)
-
Volume s1-10 (1930)
-
Volume s1-9 (1929)
-
Volume s1-8 (1928)
-
Volume s1-7 (1927)
-
Volume s1-6 (1926)
-
Volume s1-5 (1925)
-
Volume s1-4 (1924)
-
Volume s1-3 (1923)
-
Volume s1-2 (1922)
-
Volume s1-1 (1921)