Analysis of components of variation in schistosoma mansoni egg counting

Analysis of variance was applied to data collected. from counting of S. mansoni eggs obtained from fecal specimens of seventeen patients. The technique used (Bell method)'was unable to show a statistically significant difference among individuals, although these patients had var;ying d.egrees of severity of S. mansoni infections. The highest variation was due to sample to sample variation. The smallest variation was due to interobserver variation. The variation among single counting was very high therefore influencing the results found in the other components. Regarding the conditions under which this experiment was carried out, one must be careful in considering classiflying individual patients, according to the severity of S, mansoni infections, based on a single egg counting

O efeito da infecção pelo Schistosoma mansoni sobre a morbidade de crianças do Estado da Bahia, Brasil: II Análise ao nível individual

The present investigation was carried out on a sample of 840 children (5 to 16 years old) from ten small towns of the State of Bahia in northeastern Brazil. The objetive was to study, by using a cross sectional methodology, the evolution of schistosomiasis morbidity (hepatic and splenic enlargement) in children, and the role of the intensity of S. mansoni infection in this process. The children were analised in three age groups (5 to 8, to 12 and 13 to 16 years old) and classified as uninfected, mildly infected, moderately infected and heavily infected according to the number of eggs in the stool. In children aged 5 to 8 years, increasing egg counts were not associated with increasing frequencies of hepatic or splenic enlargement. In the 9 to 12 years old group and association was observed with the prevalence of hepatic enlargement, but not with the prevalence of spleen enlargement. In the oldest group, 13 to 16 years old, an association was observed with the prevalence of enlargement of both organs. It was evident that in this population schistosomiasis morbidity develops in the early period of life as a gradual process starting with liver enlargement and followed by spleen enlargement some years later. It was found that the intensity of infection has a fundamental role in this process, although there is a latent period of some years before clinical splenomegaly appears in moderate-heavily infected children. The Authors suggest that the prevalence of splenomegaly in the 13 to 16 years old group is a good measure of the community level of schistosomiasis morbidity and could be used to measure the impact of control programs.Foi estudada uma amostra de 840 crianças de 5 a 16 anos em 10 pequenas cidades do Estado da Bahia. O objetivo foi, analisar, através de um estudo de prevalência, as características evolutivas da morbidade esquistossomótica em crianças, bem como o papel da intensidade da infecção pelo S. mansoni neste processo. As crianças foram agregadas em 3 grupos de idade (5-8, 9-12 e 13-16 anos) e foram classificadas com relação ao número de ovos excretados em: não infectados, infecção leve, infecção moderada e infecção grave. No grupo de 5 a 8 anos o aumento do número de ovos não se associou a uma maior prevalência de hepatomegalia ou esplenomegalia. No grupo de 9 a 12 anos observou-se uma associação com a prevalência de hepatomegalia mas não com a prevalência de esplenomegalia. No grupo de 13 a 16 anos a associação foi observada com as prevalências de hepatomegalia e esplenomegalia. Ficou evidente nesta população que, a morbidade esquistossomótica é um processo gradual, que se inicia em uma etapa precoce da vida e tem como primeiro sinal a hepatomegalia, seguida pela esplenomegalia, após alguns anos. A intensidade da infecção tem um papel fundamental neste processo, porém é necessário um período de latência de alguns anos para ocorrer o desenvolvimento de esplenomegalia clínica no grupo com infecção moderada ou grave. Os Autores propõem o uso da prevalência de esplenomegalia no grupo de 13 a 16 anos de idade como um bom indicador do nível de morbidade esquistossomótica na comunidade, útil para avaliar o impacto de programas de controle sobre a morbidade

Migrações internas e malária urbana - Bahia, Brasil

It is proposed to study the socio-economic characteristics of individuals who were infected with malaria in the urban area of Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil, in 1983. Special emphasis being given to the subgroups of migrants and nonmigrants. The precarious living conditions of both subgroups are identified as determinative of the malaria outbreak which occurred there.Estuda-se as características sócio-econômicas dos indivíduos acometidos pela malária, em 1983, na área urbana de Camaçari - Bahia, Brasil, com destaque para os subgrupos migrantes e não migrantes. As condições de vida precárias de ambos os subgrupos são apontadas como os determinantes do surto de malária desencadeado no local

Epidemiologia da leishmaniose tegumentar americana e suas relações com a lavoura e o garimpo, em localidade do Estado da Bahia (Brasil)

Realizou-se um estudo sobre a associação entre infecção leishmaniótica e a ocupação dos indivíduos em Lençóis-Bahia (Brasil). Foram utilizados um questionário com variáveis biológicas, sociais e econômicas e o teste de Montenegro. Houve captura de flebotomíneos em locais peri e intra-domiciliares. Encontrou-se maior prevalência da infecção no grupo ocupacional de lavradores/garimpeiros em comparação às demais ocupações. Explica-se esse resultado em razão da dupla exposição dos lavradores/garimpeiros à leishmaniose tegumentar americana, em sua área de moradia e local de trabalho.This study was carried out in the city of Lençóis, State of Bahia, with the objective of verifying the association between leishmaniasis infection and occupation. A Montenegro test and a questionnaire including biological and socio-economic variables were applied to the study group. Sandflies were captured in and around dwellings. The higher-than-average prevalence of leishmaniasis observed among agricultural workers and prospectors is explained by the double exposure to the infection-both at home and at work

An exploratory analysis of the tuberculosis control program of the states of bahia and goiás from a transaction cost theory perspective

Em caráter exploratório, o objetivo deste artigo é analisar o Programa de Controle da Tuberculose (PCTs) dos Estados da Bahia e Goiás e respectivas capitais, Salvador e Goiânia, a partir da Teoria dos Custos de Transação. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo de caso nos PCTs citados, utilizando-se, junto aos seus gestores, do método de entrevistas aprofundadas semidiretivas. Os resultados sugerem: (a) baixa especificidade em ativos humanos; (b) baixo grau de incerteza - relacionada à flutuação da demanda e à introdução de novas tecnologias (medicamentos); (c) aspectos relacionados à racionalidade limitada (informação incompleta) são pouco relevantes - no que tange à redação do contrato (Programa Nacional de Controle da Tuberculose - PNCT) e ao Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN); (d) e alta probabilidade de ocorrência de comportamento de tipo oportunista (risco moral) - devido ao não monitoramento das ações, à ausência de punições em caso de descumprimento das ações pactuadas no PNCT e ao regime de incentivos vigente.From a Transaction Cost Theory perspective, the paper aims to discuss the Programa de Controle da Tuberculose (PCT - Tuberculosis Control Program) of the States of Bahia and Goiás and their Capital Cities, Salvador and Goiânia. A case study was carried out applying a research questionnaire to the PCT managers. The results indicate: (a) low specificity in human assets; (b) low uncertainty - related to fluctuations in demand and to the introduction of new technologies (drugs); (c) aspects related to bounded rationality (incomplete information) are not important - related to the contract (PNCT) and the SINAN; (d) and high probability of opportunism (moral hazard), due to lack of monitoring of the actions, lack of punishment in case of default of actions agreed upon in the PNCT, and the current incentive regime

Cost-effectiveness analysis of a state funded programme for control of severe asthma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases and a major economical burden to families and health systems. Whereas efficacy of current therapeutical options has been clearly established, cost-effectiveness analysis of public health interventions for asthma control are scarce.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>81 patients with severe asthma (12–75 years) joining a programme in a reference clinic providing free asthma medication were asked retrospectively about costs and events in the previous 12 months. During 12 months after joining the programme, information on direct and indirect costs, asthma control by lung function, symptoms and quality of life were collected. The information obtained was used to estimate cost-effectiveness of the intervention as compared to usual public health asthma management. Sensitivity analysis was conducted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>64 patients concluded the study. During the 12-months follow-up within the programme, patients had 5 fewer days of hospitalization and 68 fewer visits to emergency/non scheduled medical visits per year, on average. Asthma control scores improved by 50% and quality of life by 74%. The annual saving in public resources was US$387 per patient. Family annual income increased US$512, and family costs were reduced by US$733.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A programme for control of severe asthma in a developing country can reduce morbidity, improve quality of life and save resources from the health system and patients families.</p

Gastos em saúde e incidência de benefício no município de Senhor do Bonfim (BA) em 2003

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a desigualdade no acesso e utilização dos serviços de saúde no município de Senhor do Bonfim (BA). O método utilizado é o “benefit incidence”, ou incidência de benefício, que permite identificar quais os grupos sociais que se beneficiam dos gastos do Governo. A incidência de benefício no município de Senhor do Bonfim, para 2003, foi estimada por grupos da população previamente definidos (renda, gênero e cor da pele), com o objetivo de avaliar o grau de iniqüidade dos gastos públicos em saúde. Os gastos públicos foram desagregados por nível de complexidade. Combinando os dados referentes aos subsídios com os resultados da pesquisa domiciliar, observou-se iniqüidade da distribuição dos gastos públicos com saúde em Senhor do Bonfim

Clinical features related to severity and mortality among COVID-19 patients in a pre-vaccine period in Luanda, Angola

Background: Infection due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with clinical features of diverse severity. Few studies investigated the severity and mortality predictors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Africa. Herein, we investigated the clinical features of severity and mortality among COVID-19 patients in Luanda, Angola. Methods: This multicenter cohort study involved 101 COVID-19 patients, between December 2020 and April 2021, with clinical and laboratory data collected. Analysis was done using independent-sample t-tests and Chi-square tests. The results were deemed significant when p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of patients was 51 years (ranging from 18 to 80 years) and 60.4% were male. Fever (46%), cough (47%), gastrointestinal symptoms (26.7%), and asthenia (26.7%), were the most common symptoms. About 64.4% of the patients presented coexistent disorders, including hypertension (42%), diabetes (17%), and chronic renal diseases (6%). About 23% were non-severe, 77% were severe, and 10% died during hospitalization. Variations in the concentration of neutrophil, urea, creatinine, c-reactive protein, sodium, creatine kinase, and chloride were independently associated with severity and/or mortality (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Several factors contributed to the severity and mortality among COVID-19 patients in Angola. Further studies related to clinical features should be carried out to help clinical decision-making and follow-up of COVID-19 patients in Angola.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio