A case of sarcoidosis is reported in the hope that this seemingly rare disease in Malaysia will be better recognised. A brief review of the literature is made and various points regarding the aetiology, pathology, clinical features and diagnosis are discussed.
Investigations in 30 healthy control subjects of Indian, Chinese and Malay ethnic origin, revealed that all the Chinese and about two thirds of the Indians and Malays had a normal capacity to absorb D—xylose, Vitamin A, Co58 labelled Vitamin B12 and dietary fat. About a third of the Indians and Malays were unable to absorb one or two of the four test substances used in the absorption studies. Jejunal biopsies did not differ in the 3 ethnic groups and were normal or mildly abnormal. 27 patients presenting with anorexia, a sore tongue and pallor were also investigated. Indians formed the majority of the patients. Diarrhoea occurred in only 51 % of the patients. All had a megaloblastic anaemia. Absorption studies revealed malabsorption of xylose, Vitamin A and Vitamin B12 in the majority but steatorrhoea occurred in only 26% of the patients. Jejunal biopsies were mildly abnormal in 8% and moderately or severely abnormal in 92 % of the patients. All responded to folic acid or Vitamin B12 therapy. 16 patients were restudied after 5 to 24 months therapy and the majority were found to have improved. Results of investigations and response to therapy indicate that these patients were suffering from tropical sprue. These studies indicate that tropical sprue in Singapore affects Indians mainly and can often present without diarrhoea and steatorrhoea.
The records associated with 83 children from 16 months to 12 years of age who were admitted with snake bite to Kota Bharu General Hospital and University Hospital, Universiti Sains Malaysia over a 5 year period were reviewed. Elapid bites were more common than viper bites while sea-snake bites were not recorded. Symptoms were relatively mild, the common clinical features being pain and local swelling. Antivenom therapy was required in 11 children. Only three of the 11 children developed minor adverse reactions to antivenom. Four of the 83 required ventilatory support for respiratory failure and two children died.
A 7-year-old Indian girl developed complete paralysis of her lower limbs and acute urinary retention 10 days after suffering from mumps. Encephalomyelitis due to mumps was not suspected initially since it is a rare complication of mumps, although relatively well-documented. However, the preceding history of parotitis and the presence of mumps-specific IgM in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid led to the diagnosis. The initially severe acute neurological deficits resolved completely three months after onset of her illness. Serological investigations were helpful in diagnosing neurological complications of mumps in this case, and especially where there is no preceding parotitis.
Keywords: Mumps, encephalomyelitis, infection, Pulau Pinang, general hospital, Malaysia
Two hundred and eleven blood transfusions were administered to 26 multi-transfused thalassemic children (aged 9 months-13 years) over a 6-month period. Eighteen children were receiving buffy coat-poor packed red cells (PRC) prepared by centrifuge while 8 children received filtered blood through a leucocyte-filter (Sepacell R-500A). Transfusion reactions occurred in 8.5% (n = 18) of transfusions and in 42.3% (n = 11) of patients. 11.9% (n = 16) and 2.6% (n = 2) of reactions occurred in 50% (n = 9) and 25% (n = 2) of patients receiving buffy coat-poor PRC and filtered blood respectively. Transfusion reactions in toto were significantly reduced in the group receiving filtered blood (p < 0.05). However, febrile reaction alone was not significantly reduced (p > 0.1). The median onset and duration of reaction were 2 hours (range 10 minutes-18 hours) and 4 hours (range 1/2-24 hours) respectively. 72.2% (n = 13) of the reactions occurred occurred during transfusion. 88.8% (n = 16) of the reactions caused only one symptom. 19.2% (n = 5) of all patients had recurrent reactions, all of them receiving buffy coat-poor PRC. The commonest clinical manifestation was fever (n = 7), followed by urticaria (n = 5) and petechial rash (n = 2). The outcome was good, with no patient experiencing symptoms exceeding 24 hours. Only 0.9% (n = 2) of the transfusions were discontinued.
A 27-year old male sustained a 60 per cent TBSA burn with inhalation injury following a road traffic accident. He developed respiratory distress on day 3 postburn, and was intubated and ventilated. He was noted to have greenish aspirate from his trachea on day 17 of ventilation. He succumbed from sepsis and died on day 21 post injury. At post-mortem, a large tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) was found at the level of the cuff of the nasotracheal tube.
A three day old male, term infant with hemothorax due to hemorrhagic disease of the newborn was treated successfully with vitamin K and thoracocentesis. Exclusive breast feeding and absence of vitamin K prophylaxis were important diagnostic clues, although hemothorax as a sole manifestation of hemorrhagic disease of the newborn is rare. This case highlighted the good prognosis of an uncommon complication when prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are instituted. The importance of vitamin K prophylaxis to all newborns is emphasized.
OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to determine the effect of dual therapy with omeprazole and amoxicillin and of triple therapy with omeprazole, amoxicillin, and metronidazole in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (HP) and to study the long-term results of eradication in these patients.
METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial was performed. Patients who were recruited had unequivocal evidence of HP infection based on culture, histology, rapid urease test, and Gram's stain of a tissue smear. Eradication was defined as the absence of bacteria in all tests performed on both corpus and antral biopsies.
RESULTS: The infection was eradicated in 15 of 19 (78.9%) patients randomized to receive dual therapy and in 19 of 22 (86.4%) patients who received triple therapy. We followed the course of 30 patients in whom HP had been eradicated for a prolonged term (up to 12 months). All remained clear of HP. Twenty-five of 28 patients (89.3%) with duodenal ulcers in whom HP was successfully eradicated remained healed at 12 months. Fewer side effects were reported among patients who received the dual therapy.
CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy with omeprazole and amoxicillin with or without metronidazole is effective in the eradication of HP. In particular, the dual therapy regimen with amoxicillin is not only effective but is also well tolerated by patients.
Non-O1 vibrio cholerae infections are associated with sporadic cases of gastroenteritis and extraintestinal infections. Septicaemia due to non-O1 vibrio cholerae is rare and are mainly reported in adults, particularly in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of non-O1 vibrio cholerae septicaemia and gastroenteritis in an 8-year-old child. The patient presented with bloody diarrhoea, fever and severe dehydration. Non-O1 vibrio cholerae were isolated from blood and stool cultures. The clinical course was uneventful after starting appropriate rehydration and supportive therapy.
This is a retrospective study of the epidemiology, clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment and outcome of haemorrhagic disease in 42 Kelantanese infants who were admitted to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia during a 2-year period (1987-1988). Classical haemorrhagic disease of the newborn was the commonest presentation (48%), followed by early onset (29%) and late onset (24%) disease. Home deliveries accounted for 81% of the affected infants. Most of these babies were not given vitamin K at birth in contrast to those delivered in hospitals. All except one infant were breastfed. The six commonest presenting clinical features were pallor, jaundice, umbilical cord bleeding, tense fontanelle, convulsions and hepatomegaly. All the infants had prolonged prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times which were corrected by administration of vitamin K. Subdural haemorrhage was the commonest form of intracranial haemorrhage, followed by subarachnoid haemorrhage. The overall case fatality rate was 14%. The results of this study once again emphasize the value of vitamin K prophylaxis in the newborn.
Baby walker associated injuries are occurring in Malaysia. Most are not noticed as paediatricians are more concerned with the treatment of the injury and forget the preventive measures required to overcome this problem. We believe that baby walkers should be banned in Malaysia as the risks of injury far outweighs any benefits. We present 4 cases of baby walker associated scalding injuries.
A 5-year-old Chinese boy presented with difficulty in walking and weakness of his lower limbs for one year, especially towards the evening. Bilateral equinovarus posturing of the feet and tremors of the upper limbs were noted on physical examination. Dopa-responsive dystonia was diagnosed after a remarkable symptomatic response to levodopa. This disorder is reported here to highlight an often misdiagnosed condition is children which is important because it is treatable. Dopa-responsive dystonia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of gait disturbance in children.
Omeprazole has been shown to have a suppressive effect on Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this study was to determine if prolonged treatment with omeprazole would result in a higher eradication rate than short course treatment. Twenty patients with endoscopy proven duodenal ulcers and unequivocal evidence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection based on culture, histology, urease test and Gram's stain of a fresh tissue smear were treated with omeprazole 40 mg om for 2-4 weeks. Following ulcer healing, patients received either maintenance omeprazole 20 mg om or placebo for up to one year. All 20 patients had healed ulcers following a 2-4 week course of omeprazole 40 mg om.. All were negative for HP at the end of treatment. Thirteen patients received short course therapy with omeprazole only, followed by placebo. On follow-up endoscopy at 3 months, only one of 13 (7.7%) had eradicated the bacteria. Seven patients received maintenance treatment with omeprazole 20mg om for one year. Following completion of treatment, patients were followed up at 1, 3 and 6 months. Only one of 7 (14.3%) patients had eradicated the infection on long term follow-up. The eradication rates of HP with both short and long course omeprazole monotherapy were low.
Six hands from five patients were seen with full-thickness burns following a ritual practice between June 1993 and June 1994. Three hands were treated with excision and medium-thickness split-skin grafts, one patient was treated with a medium-thickness split skin graft taken from the instep of the foot. The first patient with bilateral burns of the palms refused surgery and returned 3 months later with contractures of the palms. The results of the treated hands are presented.
Unilateral pulmonary agenesis is a rare disorder and is an unusual cause of respiratory distress in the newborn. It is often associated with other congenital abnormalities, as documented in about 200 cases of unilateral pulmonary agenesis in the current literature. The onset and mode of presentation are highly variable, from asymptomatic cases discovered incidentally to symptomatic cases diagnosed in early infancy. We report a newborn infant with right pulmonary agenesis associated with facial and skeletal abnormalities who presented with respiratory distress. Unilateral pulmonary agenesis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of respiratory distress in the newborn, particularly when there are other associated congenital abnormalities.
Recto-prostatic fistula is a rare complication of prostatic surgery, occurring usually because surgical planes are not appreciated. We describe a combined abdomino-perineal approach for the repair of a large recto-prostatic fistula with the interposition of omentum and gracilis without formally closing the fistula in layers.
From 10th September 1998 till 5th June 1999, the Paediatric and Cardiothoracic Surgery Units of Sultanah Aminah Hospital Johor Bahru managed three children with lung collapse secondary to pneumonia. The dominant initial clinical presentation in all three cases was acute abdominal pain. Basal pneumonia was diagnosed in two cases post-operatively after surgical contributory causes were excluded intra-operatively. Thoracotomy, evacuation of infected debris and decortication of the collapsed lung was done in all three cases. In children presenting with acute abdominal pain, basal pneumonia should be considered as a possible contributory cause.
Tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite (TCP/HA), hydroxyapatite (HA), chitosan and calcium sulphate (CaSO4) were studied and evaluated for possible bone tissue engineered construct acting as good support for osteogenic cells to proliferate, differentiate, and eventually spread and integrate into the scaffold. Surface morphology visualized by SEM showed that scaffold materials with additional fibrin had more cell densities attached than those without, depicting that the presence of fibrin and collagen fibers were truly a favourite choice of cells to attach. In comparison of various biomaterials used incorporated with fibrin, TCP/HA had the most cluster of cells attached.
The strategy used to generate tissue-engineered bone construct, in view of future clinical application is presented here. Osteoprogenitor cells from periosteum of consenting scoliosis patients were isolated. Growth factors viz TGF-B2, bFGF and IGF-1 were used in concert to increase cell proliferation during in vitro cell expansion. Porous tricalcium phosphate (TCP)-hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffold was used as the scaffold to form 3D bone construct. We found that the addition of growth factors, greatly increased cell growth by 2 to 7 fold. TCP/HA proved to be the ideal scaffold for cell attachment and proliferation. Hence, this model will be further carried out on animal trial.