Hookworm-Related Anaemia among Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review

Anaemia affects large numbers of pregnant women in developing countries and increases their risk of dying during pregnancy and delivering low birth weight babies, who in turn are at increased risk of dying. Human hookworm infection has long been recognized among the major causes of anaemia in poor communities, but understanding of the benefits of the management of hookworm infection in pregnancy has lagged behind the other major causes of maternal anaemia. Low coverage of anthelmintic treatment in maternal health programmes in many countries has been the result. After systematically reviewing the available literature we observed that increasing hookworm infection intensity is associated with lower haemoglobin levels in pregnant women. We also estimate that between a quarter and a third of pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with hookworm and at risk of preventable hookworm-related anaemia. However, all identified intervention studies showed a benefit of deworming for maternal or child health and we argue that increased efforts should be made to increase the coverage of anthelmintic treatment among pregnant women

Complex Interactions between Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Malaria in Pregnant Women on the Thai-Burmese Border

Intestinal worms, particularly hookworm and whipworm, can cause anaemia, which is harmful for pregnant women. The WHO recommends deworming in pregnancy in areas where hookworm infections are frequent. Some studies indicate that coinfection with worms and malaria adversely affects pregnancy whereas other studies have shown that coinfection with worms might reduce the severity of malaria. On the Thai-Burmese border malaria in pregnancy has been an important cause of maternal death. We examined the relationship between intestinal helminth infections in pregnant women and their malaria risk in our antenatal care units. In total 70% of pregnant women had worm infections, mostly hookworm, but also roundworm and whipworm; hookworm was associated with mild anaemia although ova counts were not high. Women infected with hookworm had more malaria and their babies had a lower birth weight than women without hookworm. In contrast women with roundworm infections had the lowest rates of malaria in pregnancy. Deworming eliminates all worms. In this area it is unclear whether mass deworming would be beneficial

Delay in diagnosis of generalized miliary tuberculosis with osseo-articular involvement: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Diagnosis of atypical tuberculosis is difficult. Therefore, it is important that physicians are aware of rare presentations of tuberculosis to avoid diagnostic delays.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a 17-year-old Sri Lankan man who presented to our facility with an ill-defined large induration over the skin of his left buttock and thigh. A cause could not be found despite extensive investigations. He also complained of chronic knee pain, but this was not investigated further at the time due to spontaneous resolution. Three years later his knee disease flared up again, with pain, swelling and restriction of movement. A synovial biopsy was suggestive of tuberculosis. He was started on antituberculosis therapy, to which he responded well. Our patient was asymptomatic two months after completion of therapy without any subsequent flare-ups. A chest roentgenogram taken on his second presentation showed evidence of tuberculosis sequelae in his lungs. The most likely diagnosis for the buttock and thigh swelling, when considering the entire clinical picture, is a tuberculous abscess. The constellation of skin and skeletal symptoms and pulmonary tuberculosis is a rare occurrence in an immunocompetent individual, but cases have been reported.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This case demonstrates the different presentations and the diagnostic difficulties posed by atypical manifestations of tuberculosis. It also demonstrates the value of maintaining a high degree of suspicion in endemic areas, even in the absence of microbiological evidence.</p