[Malaria and pregnancy]

A case of chronic falciparum malaria during pregnancy is reported. The only disturbance was an anaemia, without fever. With chloroquine, the patient was cured. About this case, the barreful results of malaria on pregnancy are discussed: abortion, premature birth, fetal death, low birth weight, congenital malaria, anaemia of mothers. Immune response of the pregnant living in tropical areas is discussed. So is emphasized the need for chemoprophylactic treatment of mothers without immune response, during pregnancy.

[Trial chemoprophylaxis of traveler's diarrhea using nifuroxazide]

Traveler's diarrhea is a very common condition that affects approximately 12 million subjects each year. This disorder is benign but nevertheless interferes with the traveler's plans in 40% of cases. Several drugs have been used for prophylaxis, in association with appropriate precautions concerning food and drink. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and cyclines are effective but may induce adverse effects. Nifuroxazide in a dose of 400 mg each day throughout the trip has proved effective. Tolerance was outstanding with no adverse effects.

[Parasitic appendicitis. Apropos of 4 cases of acute appendicitis]

The authors present 4 observations of acute appendicitis with the presence of parasites at the micropathological examination. To this end, they study the literature in order to try to show the frequency of parasitic appendicitis on the one hand and what it does on the other, which is still controversial in the physiopathological of appendicitis. According to the authors, an aetiology of parasitic involvement is evident in 1.9% to 25% cases of appendicitis. The most frequent intestinal parasites in this area are the pinworms (54.78%), the whipworms (13%) and the ascaris (9%).

[Medical study of missionaries returning from overseas]

The missionary Fathers live in very difficult conditions, very near local populations. The length of their stay is normally of 19 years (from 1 to 61 years). Among 345 files, most of which were drawn up after a stay in Asia, the malaria antecedents were found to be very frequent. The intestinal parasitic infestation (approx. 30%) is lower than in the autochthonous population with a majority of Trichuris trichuria (11%).

[Congenital Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Apropos of a case in Paris]

A 28 years old parturient woman, coming back from Cameroon, was admitted with fever. Blood smear for malaria revealed trophozoïtes of Plasmodium falciparum. Because of fetal troubles, the infant was born by a caesarean. Physical examination of the new-born revealed an hepatomegaly. Cord blood film showed trophozoïtes of Plasmodium falciparum. With treatment with chloroquine, the child looked healthy in a few days. So, congenital malaria is not seldom in areas of high malaria endemicity, but we must be very careful with travellers parturient in other countries. The difference between congenital and perinatal malaria is discussed.

[Strongyloidiasis: a clinical, biological and epidemiological study of 350 cases (author's transl)]

The authors report on a series of 350 cases of strongyloidiasis. The patients had come from the French West Indies or from Africa and had been living in France for less than five years. Stool examinations were performed systematically or on account of eosinophilia, which was often pronounced (400-1500 per cubic millimetre). Although 44 patients offered favourable conditions for the worms to multiply, no death was recorded. The relevant published data are discussed.

[Hydatid cyst of the psoas muscle (apropos of a case)]

A 39 year-old sardinian male patient was operated for psoas muscle hydatic cyst. Recovery was uneventful. Few of such cases have been published to date and are usually first diagnosed as tumors of the iliac fossae. Immunological tests are of little help.

Outbreak of trichinosis near Paris

A localised outbreak of trichinosis occurred in January 1976 in the southern suburbs of Paris. A total fo 125 cases was recorded including 30 children. The prominent symptoms were oedema of the face or eyelids, fever, and myalgia; diarrhoea was unusual and constipation common. An increased blood eosinophil count and raised serum concentrations of muscular enzymes strongly indicated trichinosis. This diagnosis was confirmed later immunologically. The parasite was found in only three out of 32 muscle biopsy specimens but this investigation was made relatively early in the disease. No deaths occurred. In all cases clinical recovery was fast and serum antibody titres were maximum during the first month and decreased slowly. The disease was milder and the recovery faster in children than adults. Epidemiological study suggested that horse meat was responsible for the infection, though no meat could be examined.

[Spontaneous stercoral fistula due to oxyurids: apropos of 1 case]

A spontaneous stercoral fistula containing pinworms was observed in a patient, 35 years after an appendicectomy. The various surgical complications of oxyuriasis are reviewed, in particular, the possibilities for the parasite to traverse the intestinal wall. In the case reported here, it appears that infiltration occurred in the external wall of the caecum.

[Hepatic involvement in Trypanosoma rhodesiense trypanosomiasis]

The authors report a clinical and biological study of 40 cases of T. rhodesiense trypanosomiasis. In 40% of cases there was a hepatomegaly, in 3 cases an ascitis, and biological abnormalities in 25% of cases. After having compared these results with other authors works (including T. rhodesiense and T. gambiense), they reached the conclusion that hepatic involvement in T. rhodesiense trypanosomiasis in frequent, leading sometimes to transient acute hepatic failure.

[Malaria caused by accidental inoculation. 1 case]

The authors report a case of direct infection of a nurse who had taken blood sample from a young patient suffering from malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum. Six similar observations have been reported in the literature. In addition, accidental infection has been observed following the use of non sterile syringes. As a result, malaria could be an unexpected consequence of the drug habit.

[Results of lymphography in 13 cases of onchocerciasis]

Systematic lymphographic studies in 13 cases of infection with Onchocerca volvulus have enabled a "lymphographic diagram" to be made for each infected patient. The images obtained are similar to those observed in wuchereriasis. The microfilariae in onchocerciasis, however, are not transmitted in the lymphatic system, and the lesions, which vary according to the degree of infestation, show little progression. They are found mainly in the inguino-crural ganglia which are the first main ganglionic relay system for the lower limbs.

[Agranulocytosis in visceral leishmaniasis treated with glucantime]

Report of one case of agranulocytosis occurring in a 23 months old child, during treatment of visceral leishmaniasis by antimony.

[Multiple echinococcosis. Therapeutic trials of fluoromebendazole]

The authors describe 3 cases of hydatic cysts (two diffuse echinococcosis and one surgical dissemination) which have been treated by fluoromebendazole for several months. The drugs has been well tolerated. Results seem encouraging, although the little amount of cases does not allow any definite conclusions. More works should help knowing more about the effects of this broad-spectrum anti-helminthic drug, which has, else where, proved itself very efficient against experimental echinococcosis of mice.