Deep hand infection complicating chickenpox in an otherwise healthy infant.

Chickenpox is a common childhood infection, and complications are rare in the healthy child. This report describes a significant complication of varicella in an otherwise healthy infant.

The effect of antibiotic- and hydrocortisone-containing ointments in preventing secondary infections in guinea worm disease.

A randomized, single-blind, controlled study comparing the efficacy of an ointment containing two antibiotics, one containing one antibiotic plus hydrocortisone, and no treatment in reducing secondary infections in patients with patent Guinea worm was undertaken in the northern region of Ghana. Seventy-seven patients were included. Time to complete healing was significantly shorter in the treatment groups compared with the controls (P = 0.

Parasitological and clinical aspects of bancroftian filariasis in Kassena-Nankana District, upper east region, Ghana.

A survey of the prevalence of bancroftian filariasis was conducted in August-September 1992 in the northern part of the Kassena-Nankana District, Upper East Region, Ghana. 200 compounds from 3 different communities were randomly selected from the vitamin A trial database. All resident compound members were examined for clinical manifestations of lymphatic filariasis and capillary blood was obtained between 21:00 and 01:00 and examined using the counting chamber technique.

Lack of effect of ivermectin on prepatent guinea-worm: a single-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

The effect of ivermectin on prepatent guinea-worm was tested in a single-blind placebo-controlled trial; 400 adults were randomly allocated to a single dose of ivermectin (150 micrograms/kg) or placebo. Fifty-four of the 385 participants who were followed for 15 months developed a total of 69 emergent guinea-worms. There was no significant difference in the proportion of persons with emergent guinea-worms between the 2 treatment groups; 58% appeared in males.

Antibiotic usage in an intensive care unit in a Danish university hospital.

We report a study of antimicrobial use in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a Danish university hospital during the course of 1 year. Of 615 patients admitted, 434 (71%) received antibiotics, 220 (36%) for infections and 222 (36%) for prophylaxis. Therapy for suspected infection accounted for 67% of the total consumption of antibiotics and prophylaxis for 33%.

Nosocomial pneumonia in an intensive care unit in a Danish university hospital: incidence, mortality and etiology.

We studied the patients admitted to the ICU at a Danish university hospital during 1 year with respect to nosocomial pneumonia (NP). Among 242 patients, who stayed more than 48 h, 23 (10%) developed NP. Patients with NP had significantly higher mortality (43% vs.

Axial movement and tibial fractures. A controlled randomised trial of treatment.

Diaphyseal fractures of the tibia in 80 patients were treated by external skeletal fixation using a unilateral frame, either in a fixed mode or in a mode which allowed the application of a small amount of predominantly axial micromovement. Patients were allocated to each regime by random selection. Fracture healing was assessed clinically, radiologically and by measurement of the mechanical stiffness of the fracture.

[Occurrence of complement defects in meningococcal disease: who should be examined?].

Congenital complement deficiency states occur very rarely. These deficiencies are associated with a high risk of meningococcal disease (MD). We suggest that the following groups of individuals with MD are examined for complement deficiencies: 1.

Treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria with mefloquine alone or in combination with i.v. quinine at the Department of Communicable and Tropical Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen 1982-1988.

At the Department of Communicable and Tropical Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Denmark, mefloquine has been used since 1982 for the treatment of patients with suspected or verified chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant P. falciparum malaria. Eighty-one patients treated with mefloquine are reviewed.

Tuberculous meningitis. 23 cases from a 12-year period (1976-1987).

Twenty-three patients with tuberculous meningitis were reviewed to see whether clinical features or initial laboratory findings could discriminate between these patients and other patients with bacterial meningitis. Nineteen patients were Danes and four immigrants. Preexisting diseases were found in eight cases.

Extensor indicis proprius transfer for rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon.

We reviewed 21 patients with 22 ruptures of the extensor pollicis longus at a mean of 5.3 years after transfer of the extensor indicis proprius tendon. Of these, 19 with 21 transfers described the result as good, and two as fair.

The management of the painful first metatarsophalangeal joint in the older patient. Arthrodesis or Keller's arthroplasty?

We report a prospective randomised trial comparing Keller's arthroplasty and arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint for the management of symptomatic hallux valgus and hallux rigidus in the older patient. In 81 patients (110 feet), with a minimum of two years follow-up, both procedures gave a similar degree of patient satisfaction and symptom relief. The incidence of metatarsalgia was also similar.

Cementless PCA unicompartmental joint arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the knee. A prospective study of 51 cases.

The authors report a prospective study of the first 51 cementless P.C.A.

Complement and immunoglobulin studies in 15 cases of chronic meningococcemia: properdin deficiency and hypoimmunoglobulinemia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether patients with chronic meningococcemia have abnormalities in their humoral immune system. The alternative and classical complement system, the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM, as well as IgG subclasses were studied in 15 individuals who had recovered from chronic meningococcemia. We found one individual with complete deficiency of properdin, a component of the alternative complement pathway.

Palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve.

The palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve was dissected in 25 fresh cadavers. The origin from the median nerve, the course, termination, and variability of the palmar cutaneous nerve are described in relation to two reference lines. In no case did a branch of the palmar cutaneous nerve extend ulnar to the axial line of the ring finger.

[Treatment of hydatidosis with albendazol].

Eight patients with hydatidosis treated with albendazol in daily doses of 10 mg/kg daily in courses of 28 days (4-6 courses) were analysed. The patients came from Morocco, Spain, Turkey and Yugoslavia. Seven patients had a cyst (or cysts) in the liver and one had also cysts in the kidneys.

[Imported infectious diseases in patients at Blegdam's Hospital and the epidemic diseases department of Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, during 1975-1986].

Imported infectious diseases in the Departments for Epidemic Diseases in Blegdams Hospital and the University Hospital, Copenhagen, are reviewed for the period 1975-1986. A total of 3,454 cases were diagnosed. 92% were due to parasitic infections.

Kala-azar in a four-year-old child 18 months after brief exposure in Malta.

A four-year-old Danish boy developed kala-azar 18 months after a holiday in Malta. Splenectomy, with liver biopsy, was performed six months after onset of symptoms because of hypersplenism, and the diagnosis of kala-azar was only made four months later, when the histopathological specimens were reviewed. Previous bone marrow biopsies did not show Leishmania.

[Anaphylactic shock caused by rupture of hydatid cysts].

A case of anaphylactic shock in a Maroccan man with hydatid cysts in the liver is described. Attention is drawn to the increased prevalence of hydatid disease among immigrants from South European countries, the Middle East and Africa. Medicinal treatment of hydatosis in cases with risk of spread is mentioned.

Complement deficiencies in selected groups of patients with meningococcal disease.

We have examined 125 individuals who have earlier had meningococcal (mgc) disease. They belonged to one or more of the following groups: (1) 2 or more cases of mgc disease in the same family; (2) individuals with 2 episodes of mgc disease or with 1 episode of mgc disease and 1 or more episodes of purulent meningitis of another aetiology; and (3) infections with Neisseria meningitidis belonging to serogroups that are uncommon as causes of disease and presumably low-virulent (W-135, 29E, X, Y). Among these we found 15 complement (C)-deficient individuals (12%).

Preoperative lower limb venography in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty.

Using bilateral ascending venography, the authors examined 93 consecutive patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty for the presence of asymptomatic preoperative leg vein thrombosis. Radiologic abnormalities were seen in only four patients, and this was not statistically significant (P greater than .1).