Rift Valley Fever in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) Region
AbstractPurpose of ReviewRift valley fever (RVF) is a debilitating disease leading to economic loss in livestock, severe clinical forms, and fatal cases in humans. The re-emergence of RVF in some countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has caused global public concern. The aim of this review is to highlight the different outbreaks in the MENA region and the threat generated by the extension of geographical distribution of the disease, drawing special attention to different determinant factors, and to discuss different strategies to overcome and control the trans-boundary extension of RVF.Recent Findings...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - August 25, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Infectious Diseases in the Aftermath of Hurricanes in the United States
AbstractPurpose of Review:We aim to highlight the common infectious pathogens that affect evacuees, non-evacuees, and medical responders following hurricanes in the USA, in order to help clinicians quickly diagnose and treat patients and increase medical preparedness in hurricane affected areas.Recent Findings:Hurricanes facilitate the spread of infectious pathogens through population displacement, flooding, and trauma. Hurricane shelters create conditions that lead to the spread of infectious pathogens due to overcrowding, resource limitation, and reduced hygiene. The pathogens that tend to spread during hurricanes are of...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - August 16, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Cutaneous Manifestations of Mycobacterium kansasii Infection
AbstractPurpose of ReviewMycobacterium kansasii is a slow-growing member of the nontuberculous mycobacterial species that manifests clinically with pulmonary, cutaneous, or disseminated forms. Most cases ofM. kansasii infection occur in immunocompromised hosts including HIV/AIDS, solid-organ transplantation, anti-interferon- γ antibody disorder, or among those with pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cystic fibrosis. In this review, we aim to discuss relevant literature regarding the clinical manifestations of this infection with a particular emphasis on the clinical spectrum and treatm en...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - August 6, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Overview of Cutaneous Mycobacterial Infections
AbstractPurpose of ReviewMycobacterial infections may affect any human organ and produce disseminated disease in immunocompromised individuals. Their most common clinical presentations include pulmonary, cutaneous (skin and soft tissues), and disseminated forms. The skin and soft tissues are frequent targets of affection by mycobacterial pathogens manifesting as localized or diffuse disease.Recent FindingsOverall, infections due toMycobacterium leprae,Mycobacterium ulcerans, andMycobacterium tuberculosis are the most frequently recognized mycobacterial pathogens involving the skin and soft tissues. Additionally, all mycoba...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - August 3, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Manifestations of Mycobacterium marinum in the Immunocompromised Host
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAtypicalMycobacterium infections are occasionally encountered in clinical practice. As a result of immune function modulation in some particular populations (i.e., transplant, immunotherapies for chronic rheumatological diseases, chronic steroid therapy), there has been an increase in the number of diagnosed cases with atypicalMycobacterium, in particularM. marinum, associated with a history of exposure to natural or artificial water systems. The aim of this study is to review recent clinical presentations, risk factors, and management ofM. marinum infections in immunocompromised individuals.Recent...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - August 2, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Cutaneous Mycobacterium haemophilum
AbstractPurpose of ReviewMycobacterium haemophilum is increasingly being recognized as a human pathogen and has been described as an important, albeit uncommon cause of cutaneous mycobacterial disease. We sought to review disease manifestations and recent reports of successful treatment outcomes.Recent FindingsM. haemophilum has been reported to cause cutaneous disease in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. Diagnosis can be difficult due to its specific growth requirements of incubation at 32 °C on chocolate agar. In immunocompetent individuals, it has been associated with tattooing. In immunocompromised i...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - August 1, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Nutritional Approach in Tropical Sprue Patients
The objective of the present review is to determine whether if there is new evidence for a specific nutritional approach for TS, since the management remains the same from several years ago and the treatment can also be confounded by other conditions such as celiac disease, tropical enteropathy, and parasitic infections.Recent FindingsTropical sprue accounts for a large proportion of cases of malabsorption in South Asia. Since tropical sprue requires a specific test for its diagnosis, it could have been mistaken with other conditions. However, epidemics of tropical sprue have not been reported.SummaryTS has been thought to...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - July 13, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Alterations of Glucose Metabolism in HIV-Infected Patients
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe life expectancy of patients living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has dramatically improved with newer antiretroviral therapy (ART), but these agents are associated with significant increase in metabolic and other non-communicable diseases. The potential for alteration in glucose metabolism should be kept in mind to optimize diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this review is to assess the pathophysiologic mechanisms by which patients living with HIV may have their glucose metabolism altered and mention the available evidence to improve prompt screening, diagnosis, and treatment.Rec...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - July 10, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
Advantages of Breastfeeding During Acute Infections: What The Evidence Says
AbstractPurpose of ReviewBreastfeeding has been studied for its multiple benefits to both, the infant and the mother. This review aims to expose the benefits of breastfeeding during acute infections, the main cause of morbidity in infants.Recent FindingsBreastfeeding has the ability to modify the infant ’s microbiome, and consequently its immune system. It also protects against viral infections mainly due to oligosaccharides. The longer the duration of breastfeeding, the greater the benefits (benefits have been observed up to 4 years after).SummaryIt has been shown that breastfeeding provides greater benefits when recei...
Source: Current Tropical Medicine Reports - July 7, 2018 Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research
