Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M D Pelly.
We report a patient presenting with pneumonia in whom temporary splenic dysfunction was diagnosed by counting pitted red blood cells. This under-recognised condition caused a transient immunosuppression which may have had serious implications for our patient's recovery.
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Six cases are presented in which tuberculosis (TB) was wrongly diagnosed. The patients were all Blacks from areas of high TB prevalence, and treatment for presumed TB was instituted without bacteriological confirmation. There were delays of up to 2 years before the correct diagnosis was made, involving much morbidity and unnecessary treatment. There was one potentially preventable death.