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S Ladhani

Publications and source records attributed to S Ladhani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Changes in ascertainment of Hib and its influence on the estimation of disease incidence in the United Kingdom.

Enhanced surveillance for Hib infection, initially covering Wales and five English regions, began in 1990 and in 1995 was extended to the whole of England and Wales. To determine whether changes in the ascertainment of Haemophilus influenzae may have affected estimates of Hib disease incidence, data from January 1990 to December 2003 were analysed. A total of 8887 and 4020 (45%) cases of H. influenzae and Hib respectively were reported. The proportion of isolates that were serotyped increased over time, and therefore reported incidence may have underestimated the true incidence in the early years of the study. Adjusting for this under-ascertainment, the incidence in children aged <5 years declined from a peak of 28.3/100,000 in 1991 to 0.97/100,000 in 1998 and increased to 3.8/100,000 in 2003. Following the implementation of universal vaccination a dramatic decline in the true incidence of invasive Hib disease occurred. The observation of the subsequent resurgence was real but the highest incidence reached was 85% below the corrected incidence in the pre-vaccine era. Continued high-quality surveillance is needed in order to accurately monitor and detect changes in disease incidence.

Bacterial Capsules↗
PubMed2006

Trends in imported childhood malaria in the UK: 1999-2003.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of imported malaria in children in the UK. METHODS: Surveillance data on children with imported malaria, collected through an enhanced surveillance network set up by the Malaria Reference Laboratory (London, UK), diagnosed between January 1999 and December 2003 were analysed. RESULTS: Over the 5-year study period, 9238 cases were reported to the Malaria Reference Laboratory, and children accounted for 1456 (14.8%) cases. The number of imported paediatric malaria cases fell from 326 in 1999 to 241 in 2003. Malarial infection occurred in children of all ages and the number of patients increased gradually with age. Visiting family and relatives was the most common reason for travel (59.5%), with only 7.2% travelling to an area endemic to malaria on holiday. Most infections (88.4%) were acquired in Africa, and mainly in Nigeria (49.7%). Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for 81.7% of all cases, followed by P. vivax (11.1%). The number of both P. falciparum and P. vivax cases fell gradually from 262 and 45 cases in 1999 to 196 and 20 cases in 2003, respectively. Malaria prophylaxis was taken by 39% of 500 children with malaria who had travelled to a country endemic to malaria. The proportion of children with malaria who had taken malaria prophylaxis decreased steadily from 53% in 1999 to 29% in 2003. Two (0.14%) children died compared with 62 (0.76%) adults over the 5-year study period (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Although the incidence of malaria has started to decline, a considerable number of children are still diagnosed with malaria in the UK. In addition, the proportion of children with malaria who had taken malaria prophylaxis is falling. Although it is reassuring to note the low mortality, there is an urgent need to improve preventive measures among families travelling to high-risk countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Bacteraemia due to Staphylococcus aureus.

AIMS: To describe the clinical features and outcome of bacteraemia due to Staphylococcus aureus in children admitted to a rural Kenyan hospital. METHODS: Retrospective case review of all children with a positive blood culture for S aureus admitted to Kilifi District Hospital, Kenya, between January 1996 and December 2001. RESULTS: Ninety seven children (median age 17 months, range 1 day to 12 years; 46 male) with bacteraemia due to S aureus were identified, accounting for 5% of all positive blood cultures; 10 were considered to be nosocomially acquired. A focus that was clinically consistent with staphylococcal infection was identified in 52 cases; of these, 88% had multiple foci. Children with a focus were likely to be older, present later, and have a longer duration of hospital stay. Most children in this group (90%) received intravenous cloxacillin on admission in contrast to none of those without a focus. In the former group, mortality was only 6% compared to 47% among those without a focus; 10/13 neonates without an apparent staphylococcal focus died compared to none of the 11 with a focus. Eight of the 10 neonates in the former group died within 48 hours of admission, before empirical antibiotics could be changed to include cloxacillin. CONCLUSIONS: Children most at risk of death associated with bacteraemia due to S aureus are least likely to have clinical features traditionally associated with this infection.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2004

Presentation of vitamin D deficiency.

AIMS: To describe the various ways in which vitamin D deficiency presents in children in selected districts of London and to identify which factors, if any, determine the mode of presentation. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients presenting to Newham General, Royal London, Great Ormond Street, and King's College Hospitals between 1996 and 2001 with either hypocalcaemia or rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency. Children with plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels <25 nmol/l (10 ng/ml) were considered to have vitamin D deficiency. RESULTS: Sixty five children, mostly from Black or Asian ethnic minority groups, were identified, 29 of whom had hypocalcaemic symptoms. Seventeen of these had no radiological evidence of rickets. The remainder (48 children) had radiological evidence of rickets with or without clinical signs. Symptoms and signs reverted to normal in all cases with vitamin D supplementation. All children who presented with symptomatic hypocalcaemia were aged either <3 or >10 years. There was a strong correlation between age at presentation and population growth velocity reference data. CONCLUSIONS: Rickets remains a problem in the UK especially in "at risk" ethnic minority groups. Symptomatic hypocalcaemia is an important, but under-recognised presenting feature. Growth rate is likely to be an important factor in determining the mode of presentation. Unexplained hypocalcaemia should be attributed to vitamin D deficiency in "at risk" ethnic minority groups until proved otherwise.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Increasing antibiotic resistance among urinary tract isolates.

A five year retrospective study was performed to identify organisms isolated from the urinary tract of 2815 children in the community and 1314 children with underlying renal problems and their antimicrobial susceptibilities. Isolates from children in the latter group were generally more resistant to commonly used antibiotics. In particular, up to a third of E coli isolates from children in the community and almost two thirds of E coli isolates from children with underlying renal disease may be resistant to trimethoprim.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Septicaemia due to glucose non-fermenting, gram-negative bacilli other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa in children.

UNLABELLED: Bloodstream infections due to non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NF-GNB) are uncommon in children but their incidence is reported to be increasing. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of such infections in children in a London teaching hospital. All paediatric patients with positive NF-GNB blood cultures and clinical evidence of sepsis between July 1995 and June 2000 were included in the study. A total of 10278 blood cultures was performed, of which 356 (3.5%) represented clinically significant episodes of bacteraemia. Of these, 12 (0.1%) were due to NF-GNB. Nine of the 12 (75%) patients were receiving haemodialysis for end-stage renal failure (ESRF). Only one patient was receiving immunosuppressive therapy and none was neutropenic or had any malignancy. An intravascular catheter was identified as the focus of infection in all 12 cases. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was the most common organism isolated (67%). Six patients were successfully treated with antibiotics alone. Four others received antibiotics, but also required line removal, and two patients responded to line removal without the need for antibiotics. CONCLUSION: An association was found between ESRF and NF-GNB infections, possibly related to the requirement for long-term catheters for dialysis. Antibiotic treatment alone was only successful in half the cases of catheter-related NF-GNB septicaemia, while removal of the infected catheter ensured complete cure in the cases where antibiotic treatment alone did not suffice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Low back pain at presentation in a newly diagnosed diabetic.

Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus predisposes to a range of different and unusual infections, including epidural and psoas abscesses. However, they occur mainly in adults with longstanding diabetes. We report the case of a 12 year old boy who presented with diabetic ketoacidosis and low back pain, and was subsequently diagnosed with both a left psoas abscess and an extensive thoracolumbar spinal epidural abscess measuring 20 cm in length. This case report highlights the need to maintain a high index of suspicion for epidural abscesses in children presenting with fever and localised back pain. Early diagnosis with appropriate imaging and aggressive management can prevent development of permanent neurological damage as was the case in our patient.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Takayasu disease masquarading as interruption of the aortic arch in a 2-year-old child.

Takayasu disease is a chronic, progressive inflammatory vasculitis of large and medium-sized vessels, which commonly presents in adulthood. This case report describes a 2 year old girl who presented with acute heart failure and complete occlusion of the aortic arch and was subsequently diagnosed with Takayasu disease. As far as we can determine, this is the first report of such an acute and atypical presentation of Takayasu disease at such a young age.

Cardiac Output, Low↗
PubMed2001

Recent developments in staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome describes a spectrum of superficial blistering skin disorders caused by the exfoliative toxins of Staphylococcus aureus. In its severe form, the exfoliation can spread to cover the entire body surface area. Two S. aureus exfoliative toxin serotypes affecting humans have been identified, but their purpose and mechanism of action have remained elusive. Based on their interaction with human and mouse epidermis, their three-dimensional structure and site-directed mutagenesis studies, it is speculated that they act as atypical serine proteases, and desmoglein-1 has now been identified as the specific epidermal substrate. Recent studies also suggest that the toxins may have a unique superantigenic activity. Clinically, new rapid diagnostic tests have been developed, including one that is able to detect the toxins directly from serum. With early diagnosis and appropriate management, mortality in children remains low and long-term complications are rare because the lesions are superficial and heal rapidly without scarring. In adults, however, the condition carries a mortality of almost 60% despite aggressive treatment, usually because of serious underlying illness. The recent developments in our understanding of the exfoliative toxins should lead to new and improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, including the use of specific antixoxins to prevent exfoliation.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2001

Pulmonary echinococcosis with chest wall involvement in a patient with no apparent risk factors.

Pulmonary hydatid disease is rare in the U.K., and chest wall involvement has to our knowledge not previously been described in this country. We report the case of a 72-year-old man who was found to have a left upper lobe opacity on his chest radiograph. He declined further investigation at the time, but 2 years later developed a palpable mass over his left lateral chest wall. Fine-needle aspiration-biopsy of this mass revealed the diagnosis of pulmonary hydatid disease. Despite thorough questioning, no risk factor could be identified for the development of the disease. Hydatid disease should be remembered as a rare cause of mass lesions identified on chest radiographs even in non-endemic regions. Spread to the chest wall may mimic malignancy.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Female genital mutilation: analysis of the first twelve months of a Southeast London specialist clinic.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the sources and reasons for referral of women who have undergone genital mutilation to a recently established specialist clinic, and to determine the consequences of the genital mutilation procedure. DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive case series. SETTING: The maternity units of Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospital, London. POPULATION: One hundred and sixteen women attending the clinic over a one-year period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) sources and reasons for referral to the specialist clinic; (2) characteristics of the women attending the clinic; (3) acute and chronic complications of the genital mutilation procedure; (4) attitudes towards female genital mutilation. RESULTS: Complete case records were available for 108 women. Of the 86 women who could remember the procedure, 78% were performed by a medically unqualified person, usually at home (71%), at a median age of seven years. Acute and chronic complications were each present in 86% of women with Type III genital mutilation. Most women (82%) were referred by their midwife because they were pregnant, of whom 48% were primigravid. Eighteen non-pregnant women also attended the clinic to request either defibulation or for advice. None of the 89 pregnant women requested re-infibulation after delivery, but almost 6% were seriously considering having their daughter undergo genital mutilation outside the United Kingdom. In addition, fewer than 10% of the women refused to continue the tradition of female genital mutilation. CONCLUSIONS: During its first year, the recently established African Well Woman Clinic has provided specialist care for 116 women with genital mutilation. Such women may attend with a variety of common medical or psychiatric conditions and often do not volunteer that they have undergone the procedure. Doctors and midwives in particular, should enquire specifically about genital mutilation when caring for women from high risk countries, and offer the services of specialist clinics for female genital mutilation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Development and evaluation of detection systems for staphylococcal exfoliative toxin A responsible for scalded-skin syndrome.

Staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome is usually diagnosed clinically by its characteristic exfoliating rash. Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from the patient further supports the diagnosis. Several detection systems have been developed to determine whether the isolated strain produces exfoliative toxin, but none are routinely available in hospital laboratories. In a novel approach, we used computer models to predict the structure of the exfoliative toxins based on other serine proteases and to identify surface epitopes for the production of antibodies that specifically bound the exfoliative toxin A (ETA) serotype. Several rapid immunologically based diagnostic tests for ETA were developed with these antibodies and compared with existing systems. Our results showed that Western blot analysis using these antibodies was in complete correlation with PCR, which has been validated against the "gold standard" mouse model. On the other hand, the double-antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Ouchterlony immunodiffusion assay gave unacceptably high false-positive results due to interference by staphylococcal protein A. This problem was successfully overcome by the development of a F(ab')(2) fragment ELISA, which was rapid and reproducible and was as sensitive and specific as PCR and Western blot analysis. The F(ab')(2) fragment ELISA is superior to existing diagnostic systems because it is quantitative, which may be related to the severity of the condition, and can detect amounts of exfoliative toxin in the picogram range directly from serum. This is the first detection system with the potential to confirm the diagnosis of staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome from a routine blood test within 3 h of presentation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Measuring plasma paracetamol concentrations in all patients with drug overdose or altered consciousness: does it change outcome?

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether measuring plasma paracetamol concentrations in all patients with drug overdose or collapse (altered consciousness) changes outcome. METHOD: A retrospective survey was performed of all patients attending the Accident and Emergency Department at Guy's Hospital, London over a 12 month period who had plasma paracetamol concentrations measured (it is hospital policy that patients presenting after any drug overdose, or with a collapse/altered consciousness have a plasma paracetamol concentration). RESULTS: A total of 440 patients were identified who had plasma paracetamol concentrations measured, of whom 411 were eligible for the study. Altogether 115 patients presented after a collapse and paracetamol was detected in four of these. A total of 296 patients presented after a drug overdose-136 denied overdose with a paracetamol containing product and paracetamol was not detected in any of these 136 cases. Of the remaining 160 patients who gave a positive history for overdose with paracetamol, 122 presented within 24 hours and 94 had detectable paracetamol values with 16 cases above the treatment line, 12 presented more than 24 hours after ingestion, and 26 presented with a staggered overdose. One patient died as a result of paracetamol overdose. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in the United Kingdom to evaluate the clinical value of routine paracetamol levels in patients presenting to the emergency department after any overdose or a collapse. Taking blood samples for plasma paracetamol estimation in patients who deny taking paracetamol is of little clinical value. However, there is the potential for missing significant paracetamol poisoning in patients presenting with collapse and so screening with a plasma paracetamol concentration is clinically justified in these patients. Such an approach can only be justified in a country in which paracetamol poisoning is prevalent, such as the United Kingdom.

Acetaminophen↗