Epidemiology and outcomes of bacterial meningitis in Mexican children: 10-year experience (1993–2003)

SummaryBackgroundAcute bacterial meningitis remains an important cause of morbidity, neurologic sequelae, and mortality in children in Latin America.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the hospital-based medical records of children diagnosed with acute bacterial meningitis, aged 1 month to 18 years, at a large inner city referral Hospital in Mexico City, for a 10-year period (1993–2003). To characterize the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes of acute bacterial meningitis, we subdivided our study into two time periods: the period prior to the routine use of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine (1993–1998) and the period after the vaccine became available (1999–2003).ResultsA total of 218 cases of acute bacterial meningitis were identified during the study period. The most frequently affected age group was that of children aged between 1 and 6 months. Hib was the most commonly isolated pathogen, found in 50% of cases. However, its incidence declined significantly after the introduction of the combined diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and conjugated Hib (DTP–HB/Hib) pentavalent vaccine into the universal vaccination schedule for children in 1998. Streptococcus pneumoniae followed as the second most commonly isolated bacterial pathogen. Neisseria meningitidis was isolated in only a few cases, confirming the historically low incidence of this pathogen in Mexico. Identified risk factors for death were found to include the presence of septic shock and intracranial hypertension, but were not attributable to any particular bacterial pathogen.ConclusionsIn our hospital, acute bacterial meningitis remains a severe disease with important sequelae and mortality. The incidence of Hib meningitis cases has declined since the introduction of the Hib vaccine. However, S. pneumoniae persists as an important cause of bacterial meningitis, highlighting the need for the implementation of vaccination policies against this pathogen

Perspectiva histórica de la viruela en México: aparición, eliminación y riesgo de reaparición por bioterrorismo

Alcance y contenido: Desde la certificación de la erradicación de la viruela en 1980, ésta enfermedad había tenido únicamente un carácter histórico. Sin embargo, debido a los acontecimientos terroristas del 2001 en Estado Unidos de Norte América con la liberación intencional de esporas de Bacillus anthracis y a la actual situación política, el bioterrorismo ha escalado a los primeros peldaños de la salud pública mundial. La posibilidad de la utilización del virus Variola, como arma biológica, obliga a una revisión del impacto histórico de la viruela en nuestro país y evaluación del riesgo de su reintroducción. La entrada de la viruela en el continente Americano en el siglo XVI ocasionó epidemias catastróficas que contribuyeron al colapso de Imperio Azteca. En 1804, Francisco Xavier Balmis, realiza la expedición filantrópica desde España al Continente Americano para introducir la vacuna anti-variola, que representa la primera campaña mundial de erradicación contra una enfermedad inmunoprevenible. México logra eliminar la viruela en 1951. La era posterradicación ofrece un riesgo mínimo pero real de la posible liberación intencional del virus.. México, ha desarrollado planes de respuesta... Sin duda alguna, el enfrentar una nueva epidemia de viruela seria desastroso desde un punto de vista histórico y de salud pública

Perspectiva histórica de la viruela en México: aparición, eliminación y riesgo de reaparición por bioterrorismo

Alcance y contenido: Desde la certificación de la erradicación de la viruela en 1980, ésta enfermedad había tenido únicamente un carácter histórico. Sin embargo, debido a los acontecimientos terroristas del 2001 en Estado Unidos de Norte América con la liberación intencional de esporas de Bacillus anthracis y a la actual situación política, el bioterrorismo ha escalado a los primeros peldaños de la salud pública mundial. La posibilidad de la utilización del virus Variola, como arma biológica, obliga a una revisión del impacto histórico de la viruela en nuestro país y evaluación del riesgo de su reintroducción. La entrada de la viruela en el continente Americano en el siglo XVI ocasionó epidemias catastróficas que contribuyeron al colapso de Imperio Azteca. En 1804, Francisco Xavier Balmis, realiza la expedición filantrópica desde España al Continente Americano para introducir la vacuna anti-variola, que representa la primera campaña mundial de erradicación contra una enfermedad inmunoprevenible. México logra eliminar la viruela en 1951. La era posterradicación ofrece un riesgo mínimo pero real de la posible liberación intencional del virus.. México, ha desarrollado planes de respuesta... Sin duda alguna, el enfrentar una nueva epidemia de viruela seria desastroso desde un punto de vista histórico y de salud pública

Demodex and rosacea: Is there a relationship?

Purpose: The objective of the study is to compare the frequency of Demodex on the eyelash follicle of patients with rosacea and referents without rosacea or ophthalmological disorders. Methods: This is a comparative, open, observational, and cross-sectional study that included 41 patients diagnosed with rosacea and 41 referents without rosacea diagnosis or ophthalmic alterations. The individuals underwent a slit-lamp examination in which two eyelashes per eyelid were removed with fine forceps. The presence of Demodex was sought by direct visualization under a light microscope. The results were expressed as “positive” when at least one mite on one lash was found and “negative” when no mite was identified. Chi-square test was used to compare the presence of mites in both groups. Results: Eighty-two study individuals (45 females and 37 males) were included, of which 41 patients were diagnosed with rosacea and 41 were without rosacea or ophthalmic alterations. The average mean age was 37 years with a minimum of 19 and a maximum of 87 years. Of the 41 patients with rosacea, 31 had erythematotelangiectatic rosacea and 10 had papulopustular rosacea. There were no patients with phymatous or ocular rosacea. The presence of Demodex was found in 32 patients: 24 patients with rosacea diagnosis (16 of the erythematotelangiectatic subtype and 8 of papulopustular subtype) and 8 patients without rosacea or ophthalmic alterations (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: Rosacea was found to be a statistically significant risk factor for Demodex infestation in eyelashes, irrespective of age and sex, with a higher prevalence in papulopustular variety

Spectroscopic and Imaging Characteristics of Pigmented Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer and Melanoma in Patients with Skin Phototypes III and IV

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