Is Visceral Leishmaniasis the same in HIV-coinfected adults?

Introduction: Visceral Leishmaniasis is the most severe form of disease caused by the Leishmania donovani complex, with significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Worse outcomes occur among HIV-positive individuals coinfected with Leishmania. It is unclear, however, if there are significant differences on presentation between Visceral Leishmaniasis patients with or without HIV coinfection.

Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009: epidemiological analysis of cases in a tropical/semi-arid region of Brazil.

Introduction: The year 2009 marked the beginning of a pandemic caused by a new variant of influenza A (H1N1). After spreading through North America, the pandemic influenza virus (H1N1) 2009 spread rapidly throughout the world. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cases of pandemic influenza in a tropical/semi-arid region of Brazil.

Factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis among patients seeking medical attention at referral clinics for tuberculosis.

Objective: The identification of behavioral and clinical factors that are associated with pulmonary tuberculosis might improve the detection and treatment of the disease, thereby reducing its duration and transmission. Our objective was to identify sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors that are associated with the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between April of 2008 and March of 2009 at three health care clinics in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis: description of two cases autochthonous in Ceará.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is endemic in most countries of Latin America. Brazil has the greatest number of cases, with no autochthonous case registered in the state of Ceará. The cases of two patients that had never gone outside the State of Ceará and lived at least some years in the municipality of Palmácia.

Intestinal barrier function and serum concentrations of rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Intestinal barrier function and serum concentrations of rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide were studied in healthy controls and patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. A case-control study of 29 controls and 30 cases attending at the Health Center, July, 2004 to December, 2005 was conducted. The body mass index was significantly reduced in cases compared to controls (p < 0.

Serum concentrations of rifampin, isoniazid, and intestinal absorption, permeability in patients with multidrug resistant tuberculosis.

This study evaluates the serum concentrations of rifampin (RMP), isoniazid (INH), and intestinal barrier function in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), drug susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB), and health volunteers (HC; controls). Peak serum concentrations of RMP were significantly lower in MDR-TB and DS-TB as compared with HC (odds ratio [OR] = 3.125, confidence interval [CI] [1.

Health team training and active community surveillance: strategies for the detection of TB cases.

Objective: To evaluate the impact that Family Health Program (FHP) team training and active surveillance have on the detection of TB cases in a low-income community in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil.

Methods: The study was performed in an area with approximately 25,000 inhabitants, served by a health care center with five FHP teams, in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. Although all of the teams were trained, active surveillance was carried out only in one of the areas (area 5).

Evolution of tuberculosis-related mortality in Fortaleza, Brazil from 1980 to 2001.

Objective: To evaluate the evolution of tuberculosis-related mortality, as well as gender-related and age-related tendencies, in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil.

Methods: A descriptive study, based on secondary data, was conducted. All deaths from tuberculosis occurring among residents of Fortaleza in the 1980-2001 period and reported to the Ministry of Health via the Mortality Database were included.

Intestinal permeability and malabsorption of rifampin and isoniazid in active pulmonary tuberculosis.

Low antimycobacterial drug concentrations have been observed in tuberculosis (TB) patients under treatment. The lactulose/mannitol urinary excretion test (L/M), normally used to measure intestinal permeability, may be useful to assess drug absorption. The objective of this research was to study intestinal absorptive function and bioavailability of rifampin and isoniazid in TB patients.

[Cysticercosis' admissions in public health hospitals: Ceará State distribuition].

The geographic distribution of case registered in the System of Hospital Information of Ceará (1996-2004) and its relation with flock swine and availability of computerized tomography scan in patients' residence city, from those were studied. 424 Patients were admitted with cysticercosis (neurocysticercosis 98.3%) originating from 75 cities.

Occupational and nosocomial transmission of varicella.

We examined varicella transmission in a hospital specialized in cancer treatment. A cases series study was made of a case of intra-hospital transmission of varicella, based on a revision of the records of patients who had been admitted during the time the index case was in the same service. Records of interviews of employees were also reviewed.

[Acute diarrhea treated by health care services in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil, from 1996 to 2001].

Diarrhea is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years old. It is not mandatory to report diarrheal diseases, and the statistics are not accurate. The objective of this study was to describe follow-up of acute diarrhea in Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará State, Brazil.

[Distribution of acute respiratory diseases in Brazil from 1996 to 2001, Brazil].

Objective: Acute respiratory diseases -- ARD, mainly pneumonias, are the most important cause of death among children under five years of age and are responsible for severe diseases among people over sixty years of age. This study aims to describe the main epidemiological characteristics of ARD cases notified by healthcare centers.

Methods: ARD patients' records from medical consultations at 100 public health care centers and hospitals were reviewed every week in the period from 1996 to 2001 and data was filled out on a specific form.