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Biomedical subjects

I E Haffejee

Publications and source records attributed to I E Haffejee.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Asymptomatic rotavirus infections among normal Indian children in Chatsworth, Durban.

During a 27-month survey in Chatsworth, Durban, serum from 1,041 normal Indian children, ranging in age from birth up to 13 years, was tested for the presence of anti-rotavirus antibodies by means of a complement fixation test. It was found that from an initial high positivity rate of 47.7% in the newborn, there was a sharp drop to 23.8% in the 1-2-month age group (P = 0.0009). This low positivity rate was maintained up to the age of 9-11 months, after which it rose to 46.4% in the 12-17-month age group (P = 0.0006). There was a further significant rise between the 2-3-year and 4-5-year age groups, probably reflecting rotavirus infections in nursery school and/or in the home, the latter being nosocomially acquired from younger siblings. Stool samples were obtained from 829 of the above subjects: overall, 16.2% were positive for rotavirus antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the highest rate (29.5%) of asymptomatic rotavirus infection was in the 12-14-month age group. The data indicate that asymptomatic infection with rotavirus is not uncommon in this community and that older children continue to be exposed to and become infected with rotavirus.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Cefotaxime versus penicillin-chloramphenicol in purulent meningitis: a controlled single-blind clinical trial.

In a prospective, controlled, randomized single-blind clinical trial, treatment with cefotaxime (CTX) was compared with that with standard therapy (ST), which consisted of a penicillin-chloramphenicol combination with or without sulphadiazine, in 31 patients (excluding neonates) with proven bacterial meningitis. The two groups of patients were comparable in age, sex, clinical presentation and causative pathogens. The case fatality rate was 12.5% for the CTX group and 20% for the ST group, but this difference was not significant. The times taken for the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to become sterile and the temperature to normalize, the mean duration of treatment, complications and adverse effects were similar for the two regimens. Neurological or developmental abnormalities on follow-up were not significantly different for the two groups. It is concluded that CTX is a suitable alternative for treatment of bacterial meningitis in infants and children.

Cefotaxime↗
PubMed1988

Effect of supine posture on peak expiratory flow rates in asthma.

In order to determine the effect of supine posture alone on the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in children with asthma, 22 children with asthma of varying severity had PEFR readings taken in the standing position and subsequently at 30 minute intervals in the supine position for a period of up to four hours. In order to minimise any stress factors no other procedures--for example, taking of blood specimens--were performed during the duration of the tests, which were carried out in a relatively dust free room with no curtains and minimal furniture. Fifteen non-asthmatic children acted as controls. The results showed a significant drop in the PEFR readings in the supine position in asthmatic children compared with the controls; this reverted back to baseline levels on assuming an upright posture at the end of the test without any medication. It is concluded that airflow obstruction can be induced by supine posture per se in asthmatic children; this may be a major factor contributing to nocturnal wheeze or cough.

Asthma↗
PubMed1985

Non-accidental injuries among Indian children in Durban.

This first prospective study of child abuse among Indian children in the RSA reports 44 cases seen at the R.K. Khan Hospital in Chatsworth, Durban, over a 3 1/2-year period. Over a third of the patients were under 6 years of age. Most of the injuries were minor bruises involving the face, head and lumbar region, while there were 8 cases of sexual abuse. The victim's father was the abuser in 36,3% of cases, followed by the mother in 20,5%. The main environmental risk factors were marital discord, divorce, extramarital affairs, wife-battering, unemployment, receipt of disability or other grants, poor living conditions, and drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Honey in the treatment of infantile gastroenteritis.

A clinical study was undertaken using honey in oral rehydration solution in infants and children with gastroenteritis. The aim was to evaluate the influence of honey on the duration of acute diarrhoea and its value as a glucose substitute in oral rehydration. The results showed that honey shortens the duration of bacterial diarrhoea, does not prolong the duration of non-bacterial diarrhoea, and may safely be used as a substitute for glucose in an oral rehydration solution containing electrolytes. The correct dilution of honey, as well as the presence of electrolytes in the oral rehydration solution, however, must be maintained.

Child↗
PubMed1985

The antibacterial action of honey. An in vitro study.

The reported antibacterial effect of pure honey was evaluated by an in vitro study testing the growth of various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in media containing varying concentrations of honey. It was found that most pathogenic bacteria failed to grow in honey at a concentration of 40% and above. The possible mechanisms of this effect are briefly outlined.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1984

Juvenile chronic arthritis in black and Indian South African children.

Although juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) has been studied extensively in Whites in Western countries, very few data exist on JCA in children in developing countries and particularly in Africa. Accordingly, a retrospective study of 60 Black and Indian children with JCA was undertaken. The main findings were predominance of JCA of polyarticular onset with a relatively low occurrence of JCA of pauci-articular onset, a high prevalence of positive rheumatoid factor tests and a very low number of patients positive for antinuclear factor, and an equal overall sex ratio (however, there was a preponderance of males in the subgroup with JCA involving only 2 - 4 joints). Moreover, the vast majority of patients initially had a low haemoglobin concentration, a normal white cell count, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a positive antistreptolysin O titre. The main differences between Black and Indian South African children with JCA and White children with the disease in Europe and North American appear to be the high prevalences of polyarticular onset and seropositivity, the equal sex ratio and the absence of a specific subgroup with pauci-articular onset and a positive antinuclear factor test.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Mycotic intracavernous carotid artery aneurysm in childhood.

A mycotic aneurysm of the intracavernous carotid artery which presented in an apparently classical manner during childhood, and was treated by surgery is described. The outcome was satisfactory. The literature relating to this rare condition is reviewed.

Aneurysm, Infected↗
PubMed1984

A therapeutic trial of cefotaxime versus penicillin-gentamicin for severe infections in children.

A single-blind therapeutic trial, using randomly either cefotaxime or a benzyl-penicillin-gentamicin combination, was carried out in 68 hospitalised paediatric patients with 72 episodes of severe infection, which were, in the main, septicaemia, pneumonia, neonatal meningitis and a few other miscellaneous infections. The cefotaxime group showed a cure rate of 94.4% compared with 72.2% in the other group. One patient with bacterial meningitis treated initially with cefotaxime died a month later; however, penicillin and chloramphenicol had been added due to clinical deterioration. In the penicillin-gentamicin group there were five deaths, all from suspected neonatal septicaemia, and three cases required a change in antibiotic regimen before a cure could be effected. The results indicate that cefotaxime should be considered a drug of choice in many neonates with life-threatening sepsis.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1984

Serum MB-creatine kinase is not elevated in active rheumatic carditis.

Total serum creatine kinase (CK) and the MB fraction of CK (CK-MB) activities were measured in 36 patients with active rheumatic carditis and on 33 controls. There were no significant differences in either the total CK or the CK-MB between the two groups. However, eight out of the 36 carditis patients had received intramuscular injections (IMI) prior to the assay: this sub-group showed a significant elevation of the total CK but not the CK-MB. Ten carditis patients (without prior IMI) had repeat assays done after their rheumatic activity had subsided: the mean total CK, but not the CK-MB, fell to levels below control values although these were not statistically significant. The results show that CK-MB is not of value in assessing activity in rheumatic carditis. Further, in assessing the significance of elevated total CK in any clinical situation, the influence of IMI and of bed rest should be taken into account.

Child↗
PubMed1982

HLA antigens in black South African children with rheumatic heart disease.

The high incidence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in black South African children has been attributed mainly to poor socio-economic status and over-crowding. In order to elucidate whether other factors, in particular genetic, were responsible, the HLA-status of 61 black children with rheumatic heart disease was compared with that of 1165 normal controls. Overall, no differences were found, except a higher incidence of HLA-B25 and BW51 in the group with rheumatic heart disease, when the difference was not of statistical significance. Moreover, when the patients were considered in two groups, viz. (a) a "surgical" group which required cardiac surgery and (b) a "non-surgical" group in which cardiac failure was absent or could be easily controlled by medical therapy, the difference between the two groups was also not of statistical significance, though there was a higher incidence of HLA-A10 (which includes HLA-A25 and A26) in the "non-surgical" group. These data appear to agree with the results of other studies which found no significant association between HLA-status and RHD.

Black People↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neonatal rotavirus infections.

Rotavirus (RV) infections in newborns differ from those in older infants; the majority of RV infections that occur in neonates are mild or asymptomatic. Generally, fewer than one-third of RV-infected neonates have diarrhea, although rates have reached 77% in some hospital nursery populations. Cases with severe diarrhea, necrotizing enterocolitis, bowel perforation, and death have been reported, but such cases are very rare. Infection usually occurs during the first week of life and generally invokes a mucosal antibody response without a concomitant serologic antibody response. Neonatal RV infections appear to incite an immune response that affords significant protection against severe RV-associated diarrhea, although not necessarily against a symptomatic RV infection later in life. Strains that cause neonatal infections differ from those that infect older infants; the outer-capsid protein VP4 is highly conserved in "nursery" RV strains, a property that probably plays a key role in their attenuated virulence. Immaturity of proteolytic enzymes in the neonatal gut and presence of secretory anti-RV IgA and trypsin inhibitors in breast milk are other factors that could account for the asymptomatic nature of RV infections in newborns. Natural "nursery" strains of RV are currently being evaluated as vaccine candidates.

Antibodies, Viral↗