Controlling Rh haemolytic disease of the newborn in India

Article Abstract:

Rh hemolytic disease of the newborn (Rh HDN) results from an attack on the red blood cells (RBCs) of the fetus by the mother's immune system; the condition is caused by an incompatibility between maternal RBCs that lack the Rh factor (and are called Rh-negative) and fetal RBCs that have the Rh factor (Rh-positive). The mother manufactures antibodies against the foreign protein (the Rh factor on the fetal RBCs); the antibodies then travel through the placenta to the fetus, destroying its RBCs. Rh HDN usually affects fetuses of Rh-negative mothers who have been exposed to RH-positive fetal RBCs during a previous pregnancy. Although Rh HDN is becoming less common in many countries, this is not the case in India, which has neither declining fertility nor effective programs to administer Rh Ig (immunoglobulin; RhoGAM) as a prophylactic (preventive) treatment for Rh-negative mothers after delivery of the first Rh-positive child. To compare the effectiveness of approaches that could be taken to control Rh HDN in India, decision analysis techniques were used to estimate disease incidence with and without Rh Ig prophylaxis, and costs of screening and preventive measures. The estimated cost per case of Rh HDN that would be prevented by prophylactic administration of Rh Ig after delivery is lower than the cost per case of treatment. The proportion of Rh-negative women in India is relatively low, a situation that puts Rh-negative women at increased risk of bearing an Rh-positive child (which can only occur if the father is Rh-positive), thus increasing the costs of screening and prevention. It is likely that immediate implementation of a preventive program would be difficult due to economic and bureaucratic problems. If the objectives of the Indian government with respect to population growth are reached, the incidence of Rh HDN should fall by 30 percent from 5.90 cases per 1,000 births in 1981 to 4.13 cases per 1,000 births by the year 2000; this trend should occur even if no preventive program is mounted. The possibility of reducing the rate of Rh HDN in this way provides an additional incentive for fertility control programs. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Prevention, India, Epidemiological research, Cross sectional studies, Erythroblastosis fetalis, Rho(D) immune globulin

---

Ehrlichiosis - a disease of animals and humans

Article Abstract:

Ehrlichiosis is a disease that infects white blood cells in animals and humans. Ehrlichia is the causative agent of ehrlichiosis, and is believed to be carried by ticks. There are several different species of ehrlichiae. They differ in the type of animal and in the type of white blood cell that they infect. Ehrlichia canis (E. canis) causes ehrlichiosis in dogs, E. risticii causes fever in horses, E. equi causes ehrlichiosis in horses, E. sennetsu causes fever in humans, and E. phagocytophila causes fever in sheep, cattle, bison and deer. Sennetsu fever was first identified in a Japanese patient thought to have mononucleosis. The patient had fever, anorexia (appetite loss) and abnormal white blood cell production. Sennetsu fever occurs mainly in Japan and can be treated with tetracycline. In the United Sates, ehrlichiosis is found mainly in the southern Atlantic and south central states. Symptoms of ehrlichiosis are similar to those of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and include fever, chills, headache, anorexia, nausea and vomiting. Ehrlichiosis is accompanied by thrombocytopenia (reduced number of blood platelets), leukopenia (reduced number of white blood cells), anemia (reduced number of red blood cells), and elevated levels of liver enzymes. The species of Ehrlichia causing ehrlichiosis in humans has not been identified, although it is believed to be similar to E. canis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological aspects, Development and progression, Demographic aspects, Drug therapy, Disease transmission, Ehrlichia

---

Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Massachusetts

Article Abstract:

A tick bite accompanied by symptoms similar to Lyme disease but with no apparent rash may indicate an infection with human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. Most reported cases of granulocytic ehrlichiosis have originated in the midwestern United States. Researchers tested the blood of a patient bitten by a tick in Massachusetts who exhibited no other symptoms than a fever and disoriented behavior. The blood sample tested positive for granulocytic ehrlichiosis infection. The ehrlichia DNA from the patient's blood sample was identical with that isolated from the granulocytic ehrlichiosis cases seen in the midwestern United States. The patient responded favorably with antibiotic treatment.

Health aspects, Cases, Massachusetts, Zoonoses, Tick-borne diseases

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Mortality and causes of death in a Swedish series of systemic sclerosis patients. Survival prognostic factors and markers of morbidity in Spanish patients with systemic sclerosis
• Abstracts: Funding a School-Based Health Center. Using the transtheoretical model in guiding smoking cessation. Cigarette smoking and inhaled drug use among Virginia high school students
• Abstracts: Parasitologic findings in percutaneous drainage of human hydatid liver cysts. Desirable attributes of the ambulance technician, paramedic and clinical supervisor: findings from a Delphi study
• Abstracts: Neuroendocrine design of the gut. Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury: A complication of central venous catheterization
• Abstracts: A controlled study of psychological and social change after surgical gender reassignment in selected male transsexuals. part 2

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.