E Squire | PubMed Health

PubMed1992

Vocal cord dysfunction during wartime.

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) often masquerades as asthma. The diagnosis is rarely suspected, but should be considered in cases of asthma that present atypically or that fail to respond to standard therapy. The frequency of VCD would be expected to increase during times of stress, including periods of war, since it is thought to be a conversion reaction. A high level of suspicion for VCD is essential to make the diagnosis so as to avoid unnecessary, potentially toxic medications and to direct the patient to prompt psychiatric care, which along with speech therapy, is the cornerstone of care.

Adult↗

PubMed1979

Diagnosis of neonatal bacterial infection: hematologic and pathologic findings in fatal and nonfatal cases.

Consecutive newborn autopsy cases were divided into infected and noninfected groups on the basis of pathologic findings and cultures, and were compared to a concomitant consecutive group of neonatal survivors with proven bacterial sepsis. Newborns dying with bacterial infection often demonstrated leukopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia, usually associated with normal bone marrow cell production. Those with nonfatal sepsis frequently had neutrophilia with an increase in absolute band counts. Of infected newborns 80% showed one or more hematologic abnormalities as did 43% of newborns dying without bacterial infection. Of newborns dying with bacterial infection 13% had no hematologic abnormality. Blood cultures were negative in 18% (seven) of the infants dying with bacterial infection. Abnormalities of the white blood cell, differential and platelet counts are not invariably specific for bacterial infection nor do normal values adequately exclude it. Blood cultures may be negative in newborns dying with significant foci of bacterial infection.

Bacterial Infections↗