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Biomedical subjects

A B Durrani

Publications and source records attributed to A B Durrani.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Epidemiology of cerebral malaria and its mortality.

Over the past 5 years, 1620 comatosed patients of both sexes aged 1-75 years were screened for cerebral malaria. Of these, 505 (31.2%) were positive for Plasmodium falciparum. During this period frequency of malaria increased from 22.1% in 1991 to 44.4% in 1995. Sixty-four percent cases of cerebral malaria were seen in children and thirty-six percent in adults. Mortality was also higher (41%) in children than in adults (25%). As cerebral malaria is particularly prevalent in Pakistan and is a major community problem, accurate and easier methods of its diagnosis are needed at primary health care level, in all febrile comatose patients, without focal neurological findings.

Adolescent

Changing spectrum of typhoid.

To determine the changing spectrum of typhoid fever, a study was conducted on 240 cases of typhoid fever, admitted over a period of 4 years. The classical 'Stepladder fever' and 'relative bradycardia' were less commonly seen. Presentation as hepatitis, psychosis, meningism, myocarditis, polyneuropathy and diarrhea were encountered in a small number of patients. Reversible proximal myopathy occurred in four patients and all of them recovered completely over a period of 2-3 weeks. The total leukocyte counts were within normal range in most of the cases. Bone marrow cultures were positive in all untreated and partially treated patients. All strains of Salmonella typhi in this study were sensitive to ofloxacin ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin.

Adolescent

Typhoid hepatitis.

Typhoid Hepatitis is a rare presentation of typhoid fever, clinically suspected in patients with persistent fever hepatomegaly and jaundice and especially in cases where the liver function tests show predominantly conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, modest elevation of liver enzymes and negative serology for viral hepatitis. From January, 1989 to December, 1994, 476 cases were included in this study, 204 with typhoid fever admitted in JPMC Karachi and 272 in Civil Hospital, Quetta. Eleven percent cases had typhoid hepatitis. Nineteen (4%) cases were initially diagnosed as viral hepatitis and 33 (7%) developed jaundice later on. As typhoid is prevalent in Pakistan and typhoid hepatitis is a challenging problem, accurate and simple methods are required for diagnosis in all febrile cases. It should particularly be considered as a differential diagnosis for cases with fever, jaundice and hepatomegaly.

Adolescent