Surreptitious ipecac administration simulating intestinal pseudo-obstruction

Article Abstract:

Ipecac is an over-the-counter drug that is used to induce vomiting after ingestion of certain poisons and drug overdoses. A 15-year-old mildly retarded male was diagnosed with pseudo-obstruction of the intestines, after vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence developed. At 17 years of age, a feeding tube was placed through a small opening in his abdomen to his stomach, but this offered little benefit. He remained on tube feedings until he was evaluated further for continued nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and inability to eat or urinate on his own. While hospitalized, the patient's mother administered all medications and remained at his side attending all his needs, including periodic catheterization to remove urine. Extensive X-ray evaluation did not reveal any blockage, swelling or defect of the intestines or their ability to function. Emetine, one component of ipecac, was detected during urine analysis. Although the mother denied giving her son ipecac, a court order was obtained to limit maternal visitation to one hour a day. As long as he remained separated from his mother, the boy was able to walk, urinate, and eat on his own. He remains healthy and lives in a foster care home. The surreptitious administration of ipecac produced symptoms similar to pseudo-obstruction without the typical X-ray findings. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Intestines, Vomiting, Intestinal obstruction, Ipecac (Drug)

---

Doxycycline prophylaxis for shigellosis

Article Abstract:

Shigellosis is a bacterial infection of the bowel causing diarrhea, pain and fever. It is a major cause of diarrhea among residents of developing countries, military personnel and travelers. Symptoms range from watery diarrhea to severe dysentery, which can be potentially life-threatening. Doxycycline (100 mg per day given for 14 days), a tetracycline-like antibiotic, was offered to 50 patients to prevent shigellosis. Coincidentally, an outbreak of shigellosis developed three days into the study and six patients tested positive for the bacteria. Over the eight-week period, eight patients (16 percent) in the group receiving doxycycline developed diarrhea, compared with 37 (74 percent) in the untreated group. Although the symptoms did not differ in both groups, the length of time the symptoms were present was shorter for the treated patients. Doxycycline appears to prevent the diarrheal disease shigellosis. The long-term protection provided by doxycycline is unknown. Since the risk of doxycycline as a preventative treatment is low, it may be useful to give the drug to people travelling to areas with a high prevalence of the disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Prevention, Drug therapy, Dysentery, Doxycycline, Shigellosis, Bacillary dysentery

---

Understanding intestinal spore-forming protozoa: cryptosporidia, microsporidia, Isospora, and Cyclospora

Article Abstract:

Four single-celled organisms, Cyclospora, Cryptosporidium, Isospora, and microsporidia, share many common characteristics and may be responsible for many cases of prolonged diarrhea in otherwise healthy persons as well as those with immune system diseases. Otherwise healthy patients infected with any of these organisms except microsporidia typically have diarrhea symptoms for 3 to 25 days sometimes accompanied by nausea, fever, or abdominal pain. These infections are common in patients with immune system diseases and may cause extended or even life-threatening symptoms. Transmission of these organisms mostly occurs through water contaminated with infected fecal matter. Otherwise healthy patients typically do not require treatment to eliminate the infection. However, recommended treatments for patients with immune diseases include paromomycin for Cryptosporidium infections and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for Isospora infections. Prevalence of these infections varies by geographical location.

Physiological aspects, Pathogenic microorganisms, Protozoans, Protozoa, Pathogenic

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Progestogen administration in pregnancy may prevent preterm delivery. Midwifery in the Netherlands. The Wormerveer study; Selection, mode of delivery, perinatal mortality and infant morbidity
• Abstracts: Concurrent human and canine histoplasmosis from cutting decayed wood. Sarcoidlike manifestations of histoplasmosis
• Abstracts: Treatment of nonseptic olecranon bursitis. Usefulness of physical examination in detecting the presence or absence of anemia
• Abstracts: Forensic dentistry. Careers in dentistry
• Abstracts: Serum ferritin and stomach cancer risk among a Japanese population. Evaluation of serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in patients with chronic lymphoproliferative disorders of T-lymphocytes

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