Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H E Williams.
Sweet's syndrome is an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis. A wide variety of systemic signs and symptoms have been associated with it, but pulmonary involvement has been noted in only one previous report. Additionally, although Sweet's syndrome has been frequently associated with various malignancies, there is only one previous case reported with attendant chronic myelogenous leukemia.
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Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism following ingestion of ethanol have been well studied. This article focuses on alcohol-induced hypoglycemia and alcoholic ketoacidosis and the appropriate treatment of these disorders.
In a longitudinal epidemiological study of 272 infants in a poor socio-economic, multi-ethnic municipality, the physical growth of infants was found to be within a normal range. Two percent of infants had major, and 2% minor developmental delays due mainly to congenital defects or psychosocial disturbance or neglect in the home. Although there was a high prevalence of episodic, continuing and recurrent illness, this caused little serious morbidity. The most significant finding was that approximately one third of mothers perceived their infants to have moderate or severe behavioural disturbances which were significantly associated with their own psychological ill-health. The findings from this urban population contrasted with previous studies. Serious infective illnesses, associated with poor physical and psychosocial environments, were no longer major health problems. These organic diseases in infants were largely replaced by behavioural and developmental disturbances, also associated with psychosocial problems in families.
The prevalence and patterns of illness and behavioural disturbances in a birth cohort of 273 infants followed longitudinally are reported. Four percent of infants showed serious morbidity, due to congenital abnormality, chronic illness or gross psychosocial disturbance in the family. Episodic and continuing or recurrent illness was common, but caused little serious morbidity and did not impair growth. Behavioural disturbances manifested by feeding, crying and sleeping difficulties were also common, 22% of all infants being moderately affected and 13% severely affected. Mothers were more concerned by these disturbances than by organic illness. The findings of illness in infants in this study were similar to those of a recent New Zealand study but differ from older overseas studies in which serious infective illness with high mortality was much more common. It is probable that these differences are largely explained by improvement in living conditions.
In a longitudinal epidemiological study of 304 consecutively born infants in a poor socio-economic multi-ethnic municipality (Brunswick) nutrition was suboptimal in approximately 50%. This was mainly due to a high failure rate in establishing effective lactation in the 82% of mothers who commenced breast feeding, but also to the early and frequent feeding of solids, usually refined carbohydrates, and minimal use of fresh fruit and vegetables. The low rate of breast feeding to 6 months in Brunswick (16% compared with the State of Victoria average of 27%) was associated with demographic changes due to immigration. Of the 304 mothers, 62% were born overseas, most had limited schooling, no working skills, and 50% were unable to speak English. Successful breast feeding was positively correlated with better education and working skills while early introduction of solids and canned food was negatively correlated. Professional advice and influence in infant feeding was very limited as most mothers decided their feeding methods on their own preferences or their experience with other children, or on advice from their own mothers or relatives. These findings indicate that it will be a slow and complex task to change attitudes and teach poorly educated mothers, especially immigrants with limited English, the importance of optimum nutrition.
Use of preventive and curative health services for a birth cohort of infants is described and related to morbidity patterns and family characteristics. The maternal and child health service provided continuing contact and effective preventive care for the majority of families. However, a small group of families, predominantly recent immigrants with poorer education and inability to speak English, did not use these services effectively. By contrast, medical care for most families was carried out by a number of different doctors in general practices or hospitals. Continuity of care was lacking, with only 30% of families having continued contact with either one practitioner or group practice, and 15% not using any medical services for their infants.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.