Biomedical subjects

D F Wittenberg

Publications and source records attributed to D F Wittenberg.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1987

Cryptosporidium-associated diarrhoea in children.

Over a 3-month period during summer, 30 out of a group of 194 children admitted with a primary diagnosis of gastro-enteritis with dehydration were found to excrete cryptosporidium oocysts in their stools. On retrospective analysis, children with cryptosporidia in their stools had a significantly higher mortality than those without. They spent a longer time in hospital and were more likely to have intestinal salmonella infection. They also had a higher incidence of bronchopneumonia. They were not significantly different from the group of children without cryptosporidia in respect of age, mass for age, duration of symptoms prior to hospitalization, prior treatment, or severity of metabolic derangement on admission. Since cryptosporidiosis has a recognized association with immune deficiency, the presence of cryptosporidium oocysts in the stools of our children with diarrhoea may be a pointer to morbidity and mortality.

Cryptosporidiosis↗

PubMed1986

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus presenting with infantile hypotonia. A report of 2 cases.

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus usually presents with polyuria, polydipsia, fever, vomiting, dehydration and failure to thrive. However, in infancy polyuria may be absent because of dehydration and reduced glomerular filtration rate. In 2 cases the main presenting feature was hypotonia, with marked head lag. Family studies confirmed the X-linked mode of inheritance of the disease; in case 1 the disease appeared to have arisen as a new mutation in the mother, and in case 2 the carrier status was traced back to the great-grandmother. Pitfalls in the diagnosis and detection of the carriers are discussed. Treatment with thiazide diuretics and prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors is effective in reducing urine volumes and polydipsia. The early detection of the disease and adequate management may prevent such complications as megacystis, mega-ureter and hydronephrosis, with resulting renal failure. Mental and physical retardation may also be avoided.

Anorexia↗

PubMed1985

Antenatal detection of a fetal ovarian cyst by real-time ultrasound. A case report.

A large fetal intra-abdominal cyst was detected on routine ultrasound scanning performed during the third trimester of pregnancy. This was not clinically obvious on routine examination after birth. Ultrasound contributed to the diagnosis and rational management of this case; we believe it should be performed routinely in the third trimester of pregnancy for the detection of unsuspected fetal abnormalities.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Disseminated BCG infection in a child with chronic granulomatous disease. A case report.

A patient suffering from chronic granulomatous disease (then undiagnosed) developed progressive BCG infection from the age of 4 months. At about the age of 10 months his parents instituted legal action against the State on the grounds that their consent for BCG vaccination had been given when they were uninformed; approximately 4 months later the underlying immune defect was established. Complications of BCG vaccination are rare. The various factors that may be involved in their aetiology are outlined, and the association of chronic granulomatous disease and progressive BCG infection is briefly discussed.

BCG Vaccine↗

PubMed1983

Neonatal septicaemia due to a nutritionally deficient streptococcus. A case report.

A case of neonatal septicaemia due to a nutritionally deficient streptococcus is described. Unusual features were abdominal distension and excessive nasogastric aspirate with infrequent stools. Recovery followed treatment with intravenous penicillin and gentamicin. Attention is drawn to the possibility of missing such infections unless culture media are supplemented with vitamin B in cases in which staining of the blood culture reveals Gram-positive cocci which fail to grow on standard plates.

Female↗

PubMed1983

Non-immunological hydrops fetalis. a case report.

A case of hydrops fetalis which was not due to isoimmunization is presented. The condition was diagnosed antenatally by means of ultrasonography and the infant was delivered at 32 weeks' gestation. He required intensive care, but survived and is well at 18 months of age. The causation, diagnosis and management of this problem are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1981

Familial X-linked adrenocortical hypoplasia association with androgenic precocity.

Four male cousins showed clinical and biochemical features of X-linked recessive congenital adrenocortical hypoplasia. In addition, they showed varying degrees of androgenic precocity. One was virilised at birth. Another showed advanced growth and skeletal maturation. The remaining two had genital measurements greater than normal for age and showed raised testosterone levels, although pituitary gonadotrophins seemed normal and there was no response to luteinising hormone-releasing hormone testing. It is suggested that in X-linked adrenal hypoplasia, intrauterine adrenal androgen deficiency results in abnormal priming of the pituitary 'gonadostat', leading to an abnormal feedback with excess testosterone production and nonprogressive virilisation.

Adrenal Cortex↗