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Biomedical subjects

A S Curran

Publications and source records attributed to A S Curran.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Lyme disease in childhood: clinical and epidemiologic features of ninety cases.

In 1982 and 1983 practicing pediatricians in a Lyme disease-endemic county, reported 90 cases of Lyme disease among children 19 years of age and younger (median age, 9 years). Three-fourths of the children had initial symptom onset in the summer months, with peak incidence in July. Infection occurred twice as often in boys than in girls, and tick bites were recalled by less than half (49%) of the children or parents. Erythema chronicum migrans was present in two-thirds (67%) of the cases with median onset 7 days after a definite tick bite. Arthritis or arthralgia occurred in 59% and neurologic symptoms, especially seventh nerve palsy, occurred in 14%. Asymmetric involvement of a few large joints, especially the knee, was most commonly reported for those with joint involvement. antibiotics were prescribed for 79% of the children, three-fourths of whom were treated with oral penicillin. Initial diagnosis of Lyme disease is usually made on clinical grounds alone because serologic tests are often negative. Serologic tests for antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi were more often positive in cases with neurological or joint involvement, in addition to erythema chronicums migrans (80%), than in cases presenting with erythema chronicums migrans only.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

AIDS education: evaluation of school and worksite based presentations.

From 1986 through mid-1988, the Westchester County (NY) Health Department made AIDS education presentations upon request to junior and senior high school students and to adult educators and supervisors. In 1987, an evaluation component was added to measure the effectiveness of the presentations in increasing knowledge on AIDS-related topics. Questionnaires were field tested in a pilot study. During 1988, pre- and post-tests were administered 10-14 days before and after each scheduled presentation. Multivariate linear regression on the 847 pre- and 574 post-tests that were returned shows a statistically significant pre-test/post-test difference, controlling for test type, age, and gender, in both overall score (t = 9.00, p less than 0.0001) and in total number of questions answered rather than left blank (t = 6.27, p less than 0.0001). In logistic analyses controlling for test type, age, and gender, the greatest post-test improvements were in questions about differences between AIDS and HIV-related disorders (then called ARC) (adjusted odds ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence limits, 1.65, 2.10); AIDS and drug use (1.73; 1.40, 2.14); sexual practices and AIDS (1.64; 1.40, 1.91); and the definition of AIDS (1.52; 1.29, 1.81). There was also significant post-test improvement on questions dealing with risks in social proximity to persons with AIDS, virus transmission by persons with AIDS, and differences between AIDS and HIV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Prevention of meningitis in a day-care center: management of an outbreak of Haemophilus influenzae type b.

The care of infants and toddlers in nursery school and day-care centers in increasingly large numbers over the past decade poses special problems with respect to communicable disease control. This age group is particularly susceptible to those infectious agents (bacterial, viral, and parasitic) spread by close personal contact. This study describes an outbreak of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis in a large nursery school in Westchester County, New York. Organized efforts to control the outbreak through recommendation of rifampin prophylaxis were undertaken and evaluated. Compliance following the first case of meningitis was unacceptably low (45% of children and 33% of staff). Following the second case, however, compliance rose to 90% among child attendees and 79% among staff. Recommended procedures for implementation of control measures are described.

Child↗
PubMed1986

Lyme disease: epidemiologic characteristics of an outbreak in Westchester County, NY.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 210 cases of Lyme disease in Westchester County, New York, reported during 1982 and 1983 are described. Most cases occurred during summer months in individuals under age 40 (male: female ratio 1:2 to 1). Symptoms included skin rash (75 per cent), joint pain or swelling (50 per cent), Bell's palsy (11 per cent), and aseptic meningitis (3 per cent). With greater public and medical awareness of this tick-borne disease, Lyme disease is being recognized with increasing frequency characteristic of an emerging epidemic in Westchester County.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Relation of pediatric blood lead levels to lead in gasoline.

Analysis of a large data set of pediatric blood lead levels collected in New York City (1970-1976) shows a highly significant association between geometric mean blood lead levels and the amount of lead present in gasoline sold during the same period. This association was observed for all age and ethnic groups studied, and it suggests that possible exposure pathways other than ambient air should be considered. Even without detailed knowledge of the exact exposure pathways, sufficient information now exists for policy analysis and decisions relevant to controls and standards related to lead in gasoline and its effect on subsets of the population.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1979

Analysis of pediatric blood lead levels in New York City for 1970-1976.

A study was completed of more than 170,000 records of pediatric venous blood levels and supporting demographic information collected in New York City during 1970-1976. The geometric mean (GM) blood lead level shows a consistent cyclical variation superimposed on an overall decreasing trend with time for all ages and ethnic groups studied. The GM blood lead levels for blacks are significantly greater than those for either Hispanics or whites. Regression analysis indicates a significant statistical association between GM blood lead level and ambient air lead level, after appropriate adjustments are made for age and ethnic group. These highly significant statistical relationships provide extremely strong incentives and directions for research into casual factors related to blood lead levels in children.

Black or African American↗