First report of acute autochthonous hepatitis E in Portugal

Hepatitis E infection is usually a self-limiting disease. In industrialized countries, sporadic cases of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections have been described; their number seems to be increasing in European countries. We report the first human case of autochthonous acute hepatitis E confirmed in Portugal. Patients with acute non-A-C hepatitis should be tested for HEV in Portugal and hepatitis E infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained hepatitis cases

Seroepidemiological survey of transmissible infectious diseases in a portuguese prison establishment

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 151 (71.6%) of 211 male inmates of a regional Portuguese prison in order to establish the seroprevalence for viral hepatitis (HAV, HBV, HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and to analyze some psychosocial and criminal characteristics. Mean age was 34 years. Anti-HAV was positive in 69.5% (n = 105) and in 34.4% (n = 52) for anti-HCV. One (0.7%) person had HBsAg and 29 (19.2%) had laboratory markers of past HBV infection. Non-immune inmates for HBV were 40.4% (n = 61). Syphilis was diagnosed in 6.0% (n = 9). The rate of HIV infection was 6.6% (n = 10; all HIV-1). The seropositivity of HSV-2 was 19.9% (n = 30) and of HSV-1 was 82.1% (n = 124). Alcohol dependence was reported by 26.5% (n = 40). Excluding tobacco and prescription medication, 73.5% (n = 111) reported drug use in prison. The most commonly used drugs were: cannabis (100%; n = 111) followed by heroin (56.7%; n = 63). Anti-HCV rate was noteworthy. The HIV infection rate (6.6%) in this regional prison is at least 13 to 22 times greater than in general population. As the inmate return to the community increases the risk of disease exposure for the general population, early detection and counseling is urgently needed for prisoners

Spondylodiscitis associated with recurrent Serratia bacteremia due to a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS): a case report

We report a case of spondylodiscitis caused by multiresistant Serratia marcescens in a cirrhotic patient who had several Serratia bacteremias after the placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) device. We concluded that an endovascular stent that can not be removed makes management of recurrent bacteremia difficult. Furthermore, back pain due to bacteremia is indicative of spondylodiscitis. Serratia marcescens can be an aggressive pathogen, causing spinal infection

Plasmodium falciparum malaria, bilateral sixth cranial nerve palsy and delayed cerebellar ataxia

We describe the case of a 14-year-old Caucasian male, a resident in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who was observed in Portugal with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria with high-level parasitemia and severe thrombocytopenia. The course was complicated by bilateral sixth cranial nerve palsy during acute malaria, followed by the appearance of delayed cerebellar ataxia during the recovery phase. This occurred after successful treatment with quinine plus doxycycline over seven days. Different levels of thrombocytopenia and C-reactive protein were observed during both neurologic events in the presence of HRP-2 positive tests for Plasmodium falciparum antigen. The patient recovered completely after three months

Clinical manifestations of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in the ambulatory setting

INTRODUCTION: In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared an influenza pandemic associated with the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 strain. It was summer in the northern hemisphere, and therefore travelling and vacation time, which also provided an increased opportunity for the dissemination of respiratory diseases. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed the paper case report forms from all the patients with influenza-like illnesses with nasopharyngeal samples submitted for laboratory diagnosis of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection during the first wave of pandemic influenza that occurred between June and August 2009, in the central region of Portugal. RESULTS: From all the patients with influenza-like illnesses, one third was found positive for pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Individuals under the age of 29 (75%) were the most affected. Most of the patients (91%) presented with fever. A group of symptoms were positively correlated with the probability of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection: cough, epistaxis, lack of dyspnea or vomiting, fever, headache and myalgia. CONCLUSIONS: During the first wave of the pandemic influenza, young individuals were the most affected, and in the ambulatory setting, presentation was of a mild febrile illness without complications

Kikuchi's disease associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Visceral leishmaniasis and HIV infection in the HAART era

Visceral Leishmaniasis is an endemic infection in Portugal, as well as in other Mediterranean basin countries, where it has become a frequent complication of HIV infection. There are several studies published about Leishmania/HIV co-infection, however some particularities of its epidemiology, pathogenesis and especially of its treatment and prophylaxis remain unclear and undefined. The authors review some aspects of this co-infection, particularly epidemiology, clinical classic manifestations and laboratory features, diagnosis, treatment, prophylaxis and prevention and report the casuistic of the Infectious Diseases Department of the University Hospital of Coimbra during the last ten years (1996-2006) in the HAART (>) era. Visceral Leishmaniasis behaves as an opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients and should be considered as an AIDS-defining disease. Nowadays and according to World Health Organization, VL is the second most important protozoan disease and one of the most neglected; therefore the establishment of treatment and prophylaxis guidelines is urgent

Cervical abscess in an immunocompetent patient with Mycobacterium malmoense pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium malmoense is a nontuberculous mycobacteria seen mainly in two age groups and with different clinical presentations. Most patients are male adults presenting clinical symptoms and signs similar to those of pulmonary tuberculosis. The second group is formed by immunocompetent children with localized cervical lymphadenitis. Although cervical adenitis is the main extrapulmonary manifestation of M. malmoense, virtually all cases of cervical disease were documented in children. Disseminated disease is rare and has been reported in patients with severely impaired immunity. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 47-year-old immunocompetent man with a cervical abscess, in whom we identified a M. malmoense pulmonary disease with multiple cervical, thoracic and abdominal adenopathies. CONCLUSION: Extrapulmonary infection due to M. Malmoense needs to be considered on the differential diagnosis of cervical masses and adenopathies, not only in pediatric patients but also in adults with no impaired immunity. A high index of suspicion for nontuberculous mycobacteria is essential for the diagnosis and prognosis

Mediterranean spotted fever and encephalitis: a case report and review of the literature

Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is a disease caused by Rickettsia conorii and transmitted by the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. It is widely distributed through southern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It is an emerging or a reemerging disease in some regions. Countries of the Mediterranean basin, such as Portugal, have noticed an increased incidence of MSF over the past 10 years. It was believed that MSF was a benign disease associated with a mortality rate of 1-3% before the antimicrobial drug era. It was called benign summer typhus. Severe forms were described in 1981, and the mortality rate reached 32% in Portugal in 1997. However, neurological manifestations associated with brain lesions are a rare event. We describe the case of a man with fever, maculopapular rash, a black spot, and hemisensory loss including the face on the left side of the body with brain lesions in the imaging studies