Eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) is a rare form of myocarditis. As there is extreme diversity in its manifestations, the true incidence is difficult to assess and no proper epidemiological criteria are present. It generally presents with a wide array of clinical manifestations. Clinical presentation tends to differ in cases and not all the patients show the same signs and symptoms. The etiology of EM often remains obscure but potential causes have been identified which may include hypersensitivity to drugs, exposure to certain viruses and parasites, and hyper-eosinophilic syndromes. Endomyocardial biopsy is considered to be a gold standard for the diagnosis of EM. Echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and bio markers particularly serum eosinophilic cationic protein concentrations are also known to aid in diagnosis. EM may lead to progressive, irreversible, and fatal myocardial damage if prompt diagnosis is not made and therapy is not initiated. The current treatment regimens include corticosteroids, cytotoxic agents, and immunosuppressive therapy. However, a proper treatment criterion is yet to be established.
IntroductionMigraine, a primary headache disorder, is usually recurrent with moderate to severe intensity. Migraine is the third most common cause of disability under the age of 50. There are various scoring systems for assessing this disability, one of which is MIDAS; the Migraine Disability Assessment Score. The objective of our study was to determine the extent of disability among migraine patients, patterns of prophylaxis, and their healthcare-seeking behaviors.MethodsThis survey was done in 50 migraine patients at Jinnah postgraduate medical Centre from April to May 2018. The questionnaire inquired about the demographic information, management of migraine, and effect of this condition on their sleep, and the last part had assessment to know about their functional disability.ResultsThe majority of the patients were females with a mean age of 31 ± 10 years. Acetaminophen was the most common medication used during a migraine attack, followed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Only 54% of subjects admitted using prophylaxis, out of which 94% had stopped taking it after some time, with the most common reason being their side effects. β-blockers were the most common prophylaxis used. Only 32% had a regular follow-up visit with their doctors. Patients were graded according to the MIDAS score as: little or no disability, 22%; mild disability, 14%; moderate disability, 24%; and severe disability, 40%.ConclusionsThe majority of migraine patients were found to have severe disability, which affected their daily work and social activities. Despite an increase in disability rate due to migraine, people do not seek regular medical care for this type of headache in Pakistan.
Introduction Typhoid fever is a major infectious disease among the pediatric population of Pakistan. With inappropriate use of antibiotics and rising trends of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extended drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid, it is becoming a public health emergency. This study evaluated the current trends in antibiotic susceptibilities to Salmonella (S) typhi and paratyphi A, B, and C in southern Pakistan. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study, conducted in the Pediatrics Department, Civil Hospital, Jamshoro from July to December 2018, included children with S. typhi and S. paratyphi A and B strains isolated from the laboratory-based culture of blood samples. Results There were 223 (81.1%) children with S. typhi and 52 (18.9%) with S. paratyphi isolates. Their mean age was 5 ± 3 years. The most common age group with S. typhi strains was two to five years (n = 102; 37.1%). Previous trials of antibiotics were taken by 162 (58.9%) children; 65 (40.1%) of these were physician-prescribed. Cefixime was most commonly taken (66.6%), followed by ciprofloxacin (33.3%). Cefixime and ceftriaxone showed 60.9% and 65.8% sensitivity, respectively. Ciprofloxacin sensitivity was seen in 50.1% S. typhi isolates. There were six (2.6%) cases of MDR typhoid and two (0.9%) cases of XDR typhoid. Conclusion Resistance to second-line antityphoid agents is increasing. Therefore, there is a need to modify prescribing behavior. The outbreak of XDR typhoid among children is an alarming public health concern for Pakistan. Widespread antibiotic stewardship programs must be conducted.
Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a type of primary systemic vasculitis mainly affecting the medium and large arteries. The signs and symptoms are due to systemic inflammation or ischemia of an organ or limb and include angiodynia, claudication, peripheral pulselessness, murmurs, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction and severe systemic arterial hypertension. The disease tends to affect more women than men. Here we present a case of TA in a 22-year-old male patient. Our patient presented with complaints of aphasia and right-sided weakness, with on-and-off symptoms of malaise, generalized weakness, unilateral headache, fatigue and shortness of breath lasting two years. Color Doppler ultrasound was sufficient for a diagnosis of TA, after which we started the patient on medical treatment and also consulted the department of vascular surgery. Overall, this case report highlights the importance of screening for TA in male patients so that the diagnosis is not overlooked, and also adds more data to the limited literature on male patients.
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