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This study compared the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in 78 Colombian patients, from two ethnic groups, with dengue virus infection. TNF-alpha levels were significantly higher in Afro-Colombians than in Mestizos and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in Mestizos than in Afro-Colombians, during the acute phase. IFN-gamma levels were similar in both ethnic groups. Significantly higher TNF-alpha levels were found in Afro-Colombians than in Mestizos in both dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The IL-6 levels were higher in Mestizos than in Afro-Colombians among patients with DF, but levels of this cytokine were higher in Afro-Colombians than in Mestizos among patients with DHF. Levels of IFN-gamma were higher in patients with DHF than DF. Higher levels of these cytokines were observed in secondary infection. These results suggest that ethnicity may contribute to differences in immune responses to dengue infections.

This study compared the serum levels of IL-6, TNF-and IFN-, in children under 1 year of age with and without dengue. Sera were collected from a total of 41 children living in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia (27 patients with dengue and 14 controls). The results showed higher cytokine levels in children with dengue than without dengue, with statistically significant differences for IL-6 and IFN-. No statistically significant differences were found between clinical forms, although IL-6 and IFN-levels were higher in dengue fever cases than in dengue hemorrhagic fever cases. On the other hand, TNF-levels were higher in dengue hemorrhagic fever than in dengue fever. The levels of IL-6 and TNF-were higher in secondary infection than in primary infection, although IFN-levels were higher in primary infection. These results suggest that IL-6, TNF-and IFN-are involved in dengue infection independently of the clinical form.

A dengue fever surveillance study was conducted at three medical facilities located in the low-income district of San Javier in Medellin, Colombia. During March 2008 to 2009, 781 patients with fever regardless of chief complaint were recruited for acute dengue virus infection testing. Of the 781 tested, 73 (9.3%) were positive for dengue infection. Serotypes DENV-2 (77%) and -3 (23%) were detected by PCR. One patient met the diagnostic criteria for dengue hemorrhagic fever. Only 3 out of 73 (4.1%) febrile subjects testing positive for dengue infection were diagnosed with dengue fever by the treating physician. This study confirms dengue virus as an important cause of acute febrile illness in Medellin, Colombia, but it is difficult to diagnose without dengue diagnostic testing.

Estado nutricional de niños y niñas indígenas de hasta seis años de edad en el resguardo Embera-Katío, Tierralta, Córdoba, Colombia Introducción. El conocimiento del estado nutricional de la población infantil es un valioso indicador del desarrollo de una población. Objetivo. Determinar la prevalencia de desnutrición en niños y niñas indígenas Embera-Katío de hasta seis años de edad e identificar algunos de sus factores condicionantes. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal en el resguardo Embera-Katío, municipio de Tierralta, departamento de Córdoba, Colombia, en 272 niños de hasta seis años de edad a quienes se les midió el peso, la estatura y el perímetro cefálico. En 194 hogares se realizó una encuesta sobre aspectos alimentarios y de salud y a 172 niños y niñas se les practicó un examen de materia fecal.Resultados. La prevalencia de desnutrición crónica moderada y grave fue de 63,6% y de desnutrición aguda leve y moderada fue de 8,8%. La desnutrición crónica se asoció con el incremento de la edad (p < 0,005) y fue mayor en hombres que en mujeres (89,9 vs. 80,4%: p = 0,028). Se observó mayor prevalencia de desnutrición crónica en los niños con infección respiratoria aguda, con enfermedad diarreica aguda y en hogares con más de tres niños y niñas menores de cinco años. En 74% de los niños y niñas, el perímetro cefálico fue inferior al percentil 5. La alimentación de los niños y niñas después del destete fue básicamente arroz y maíz (92,8%) y plátano (80,9%). Sólo 28,9% consumió carne, 4,6% huevos y 4,1% leche. La prevalencia de parasitosis intestinal fue de 78,1%. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de desnutrición crónica en los niños y niñas Embera-Katio fue elevada, lo cual es el reflejo de las condiciones adversas a las que están sometidos.Palabras clave: salud de la población indígena, preescolar, niño, estado nutricional, desnutrición, morbilidad. Nutritional status of indigenous children aged up to six years in the Embera-Katio Indian reserve in Tierralta, Cordoba, ColombiaIntroduction. Knowledge of the nutritional state of the children is an valuable indicator of the general state of development in an entire population.Objective. The prevalence of malnutrition was determined in Embera-Katio's indigenous children, aged 0-6 years, and associated factors associated with malnutrition were identified. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in the Resguardo EmberaKatío, in Tierralta in the Province of Cordoba, located in northern Colombia. The weight, height and cephalic perimeter was assessed for each of 272 children under six years of age. Nutritional paramterers were surveyed in194 homes; fecal samples of 172 children were examined for evidence of intestinal parasites.Results. Prevalence of moderate and severe chronic malnutrition was found in 63.6% of the children's; 8.8% were categorized with slight and moderate acute malnutrition. Chronic malnutrition was associated with age increase (p=0.005) and was greater in males than in females (89.9% versus 80.4%; p=0.028). Chro...