[Scorpion poisonous stings in the population of Khouribga (Morocco)].

Poisonous stings caused by scorpion constitute a public health problem in Morocco because of their frequency severity and socio-economic consequences that they generate. The province of Khouribga surveyed for this study is situated in a zone of high incidence and high lethality caused by scorpion stings in Morocco. In order to analyze the epidemiological profile and the poisoning risk factors, we are presenting the results of a past study conducted from April to December 2001.

[National strategy in the battle against scorpion stings and envenomations. Application and evaluation].

Scorpion stings represent the first cause of poisoning with an incidence of 30 to 50% of all declared cases in the Centre Anti Poison of Morocco (CAPM). Aware of this increasing problem, the CAPM paid special attention to this pathology. Thanks to its retrospective and prospective studies, the scorpion species mapping has been determined as well as the demographic features of stung patients, the nature and the chronology of clinical events in scorpion envenimation, and the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutical factors of severity.

[Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (Brooks syndrome)].

Introduction: Although the existence of classical occupational asthma is well known and described after fairly prolonged exposure to moderate levels of air-contaminators, authentic asthma can be provoked by rapid single inhalation of a high dosed corrosive gas: this is Brooks' syndrome.

Observation: A 30 year-old woman, without respiratory past history and no atopy presented with post-toxic asthma following a single accidental inhalation of hydrochloric acid. The diagnosis was established on the 8 criteria of Brooks and the clinical outcome remained stable with, however, excellent response to the inhalation of broncho-dilatators during asthma attacks.

Ochratoxin A in human plasma in Morocco: a preliminary survey.

Available epidemiological information seems to indicate that Balkan endemic nephropathy is associated with consumption patterns involving foodstuffs contaminated with ochratoxin A (OTA) and with a higher frequency of OTA-positive blood samples. The aim of this preliminary study was to assess OTA concentrations in human plasma in Morocco. Therefore, samples from 309 healthy volunteers (213 males, 96 females) were analysed.