Spinal tuberculosis--the commonest cause of non-traumatic paraplegia in Papua New Guinea.

A retrospective study was undertaken of 53 cases of non-traumatic paraplegia admitted to two major hospitals in Papua New Guinea (PNG) from 1975-1982; 19 of these cases were examined. The mean age of the patients was 29 years (range: 2-70 years). Spinal tuberculosis was the commonest cause of paraplegia (83%), followed by neoplasia (7.

A clinico-pathological study of a case of kuru.

Kuru was diagnosed in a 42-year-old Melanesian male from the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. The clinical features indicated predominant cerebellar degeneration together with widespread cortical neuronal dysfunction and involvement of the diencephalon, hippocampus and basal ganglia. Dementia was an early and prominent feature.

Severe staphylococcal pneumonia complicating pyomyositis.

Severe staphylococcal pneumonia developed secondary to pyomyositis of the buttock in an adult male Melanesian in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from the abscess, and S. aureus, together with Gram-negative organisms, were cultured from sputum.

A probable case of ocular angiostrongyliasis in New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Unilateral iritis, keratitis and episcleritis presented in a 45-year-old female Melanesian from New Britain, Papua New Guinea. A motile nematode was seen in the anterior vitreous but was not recovered. Inflammation resolved with topical corticosteroid and antibiotic treatment, but visual impairment persisted.