PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Strangert

Publications and source records attributed to K Strangert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Incidence and prognosis of meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis in Sweden.

The incidence, concomitant conditions and case fatality rate of Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) and pneumococcal meningitis and of invasive meningococcal infections were studied retrospectively in Sweden (population 8.4 million) for the years 1987-89, the period before vaccination against Hi type b started. A total of 1,019 cases with culture-verified infection were found. The incidence rates per 100,000 per year were 1.8 for Hi meningitis, 1.2 for pneumococcal meningitis and 1.0 for invasive meningococcal infections. The age-specific incidence was highest in the 3-23 months age group for the 3 bacterial species. Pneumococcal meningitis was common in individuals > or = 60 years and meningococcal infections in the age-group 10-24 years. A serious concomitant condition was known in 57% of all patients with pneumococcal meningitis while this was uncommon for the other organisms. The case fatality rate was 2% for Hi meningitis, 24% for pneumococcal meningitis and 10% for meningococcal infections. All 81 pneumococcal isolates which had been serotyped belonged to serotypes in the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine. Of the meningococcal isolates, 65% belonged to serogroup B. In conclusion, the high incidence of Hib meningitis justifies general Hib vaccination. Development of a vaccine against N. meningitidis group B should have high priority. Furthermore, improved pneumococcal vaccines are needed for patients with predisposing conditions. The currently available pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine seems to be underused.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Acute epiglottitis in children and adults in Sweden 1981-3.

In a retrospective study of the incidence of acute epiglottitis in Sweden, 485 children and 356 adults fulfilled the following criteria: (a) red and swollen epiglottis visualised at laryngoscopy; (b) stridor or difficulties in swallowing own saliva or water; and (c) temperature greater than or equal to 38 degrees C. The age specific incidence in children (0-14 years) was 10 and in adults (greater than or equal to 15 years) 1.8/100,000/year. These incidence rates were higher than the incidence of Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in the same population. Blood cultures were obtained from 290 children (60%) and 185 adults (52%). H influenzae was isolated from 267 blood cultures (92%) from children and 98 blood cultures from adults (53%). Other organisms were isolated from six adults (3%). An artificial airway was established in 352 children (73%) and in 68 adults (19%); the remainder were treated conservatively. Six children and two adults died. Sweden has a high incidence of acute epiglottitis in children and the disease also occurs in adults. The importance of H influenzae in the aetiology of epiglottitis in all age groups is confirmed, but in adults many cases occur without septicaemia. The mortality is currently very low.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in Sweden 1981-1983.

Four hundred and seventy cases of meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenza in children and 30 cases in adults were identified in Sweden between 1981 and 1983. The age specific incidence in the most susceptible age group (0-4 years) was 31/100,000/year (440 cases), which is higher than previously reported from Europe. A further 30 cases were seen in children aged 5-14. The risk of developing H influenzae meningitis before the age of 15 was 1 in 669. There were 11 deaths (2%) and five cases of serious neurological sequelae among the children. Only 18 children (4%) had predisposing diseases. All but one of the 294 strains of H influenzae from children that had been serotyped were type b. Infections in adults differed from infections in children. Five of the adults died (17%), 12 had important predisposing diseases, and at least six of the infections were caused by non-typable strains. It is concluded that research into the prevention of invasive H influenzae infections in children should have high priority.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Congenital rubella after maternal reinfection.

This report concerns a boy with congenital rubella virus infection. The diagnosis was confirmed by virus isolation, demonstration of rubella-specific serum IgM and by persistence of serum antibody at the age of 9 months. In 2 sera from the mother sampled 2 weeks apart 20 months before the birth of the boy, low titers of rubella antibody were demonstrated by hemagglutination-inhibition, hemolysis-in-gel and complement fixation tests, but not by neutralization. Significant rises in titer were demonstrable by all serologic reactions--including neutralization--at the time of birth of the infected child. The mother was not aware of any rubella-like illness or exposure to such disease during pregnancy. The case is discussed against findings of neutralizing activity in sera from natural immunes and rubella vaccinees.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Otitis media in young children in different types of day-care.

The occurrence of otitis media was studied in 108 Sweden children attending 14 day-care centers and compared with that in 57 children cared for in their own homes (usually with one or no sibling) and with that in 42 children in family day-care homes (where a woman cared for both her own and 1 to 4 other children in her home during the day). The children were 6 months to 2 years old. In the day-care centers 37% of the children had otitis media at least once during 8 months with an average of 2.2 episodes each. Otitis media was more common in 6- to 17-months-old children in the day-care centers than in children of the same age cared for in their own homes. The occurrences of otitis media in the day-care centers and in the family day-care homes were approximately equal. Children attending centers where those with signs of infection were excluded had otitis in about the same frequency as those attending centers where children with infections were accepted.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1976

Infections in preschool children in group day care.

Viral and bacterial infections in 20 children under 3 years of age were studied in a day centre for 12 weeks. Febrile illnesses were found on one occasion in each of 11 children but no serious infection occurred. Pneumococci types 6, 9, or 19 were isolated from all children but more often from those with rhinitis or cough. The individual child had an average of 2 viral infections. Adenovirus types 1, 2, 5, coxsackievirus type B5, herpes simplex virus or respiratory syncytial virus was isolated from 12% of the oropharynx swabs and 40% of the fecal specimens. When a virus was first isolated from the oropharynx, the children were asymptomatic or had only rhinitis in 73% of the cases which might indicate that the dismissing of symptomatic children is of limited value in controlling the spread of infections in a day care centre. Cytomegalovirus was recovered from 22% of the urine specimens. Carrier frequency of cytomegalovirus was 23% in 40 other children attending one of 13 different day care centers. Because asymptomatic cytomegalovirus infections apparently occur frequently among small children in Sweden, it seems reasonable not to take pronounced measures of isolating the children in the relatively few recognized cases of cytomegalovirus infections.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1976

Respiratory illness in preschool children with different forms of day care.

The incidence of respiratory tract disease was investigated in three groups of Swedish children: those in 14 day-care centers with 18 to 68 children each; those in home care (usually no siblings); and those in family day-care homes (average, four children). In family day-care homes a mother cared for her own and one to four other children during the day. A preliminary nine month study of 41 preschool children attending a day-care center and 41 comparable children in home care showed that children under 2 years of age in the center had more days with respiratory symptoms and more febrile illnesses (four per child) than those in home care (one per child). In a subsequent eight-month study of children under 2 years of age, children in day-care centers and home care were compared with children in family day-care homes. The 108 children in centers had more febrile illness (five per child) than the 57 children in home care (two per child), but the 42 children in family day-care homes had as many illnesses as those in day-care centers. The data suggest that increasing the number of contacts of an infant in day care beyond four to six children does not increase remarkably the incidence of respiratory tract disease.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1975

Occurrence of Diplococcus pneumoniae in the upper respiratory tract of children.

The patterns of colonization of D. pneumoniae were studied over a 46-month period in a group of young children in a day-care center. Forty-four percent of nasal cultures yielded D. pneumoniae. The most frequently isolated serotypes--6, 19, and 23--accounted for 49% of the isolates; the nine most common serotypes included 80% of the isolates. Individual serotypes frequently were carried for several months. Reacquisition of a serotype previously carried occurred frequently. There was limited spread of serotypes among the children despite prolonged contact.

Age Factors↗