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Biomedical subjects

D Gillis

Publications and source records attributed to D Gillis.

57 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Sociodemographic factors associated with Pediculosis capitis and pubis among young adults in the Israel Defense Forces.

While socioeconomic factors have been found to be important in the incidence of head lice (Pediculosis capitis) infestation, most reports pertain to children. Furthermore, it is not clear whether similar factors are correlated with infestation with pubic lice (Phthirus pubis). We examined the association of two measures of socioeconomic status with each condition in a random sample of 500 notifications of each condition in the Israel Defense Forces. Since head lice were predominantly reported in females, and pubic lice predominantly in males, the analyses for head lice were restricted to females (474 cases) and those for pubic lice to males (481 cases). A significant negative association was found between both the number of years of formal education and a measure of socioeconomic status with infestation with both head and pubic lice. These findings suggest that among adults, both types of infestation are more common in the lower socioeconomic groups, and this should be taken into account when designing public health campaigns to control these problems.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rebound fever in bacterial meningitis: role of dexamethasone dosage.

Since introducing dexamethasone as adjuvant therapy to antibiotics for bacterial meningitis, we have noticed an increase in the number of cases with secondary fever. Therefore, we performed a retrospective analysis of the 19 consecutive cases occurring during the last 5 years. Six patients received dexamethasone for 4 days, 5 received a 2-day course of dexamethasone and 8 received antibiotics only. The etiologic agents included: Haemophilus influenzae (in 11 patients), Streptococcus pneumoniae (in 6) and Neisseria meningitidis (in 2). Among the 11 patients receiving dexamethasone, the fever remitted within 1-5 days (average 1.7 +/- 1.2) while among the 8 patients not receiving dexamethasone the initial fever lasted 1-17 days (average 5.3 +/- 1.7) (P = 0.009). There was secondary fever without a definable clinical or bacteriological source in 9 of 11 patients receiving dexamethasone and in none of those who were treated without steroids (P < 0.001). The secondary fever among those who received dexamethasone for 2 days was low grade (37.5 degrees-38 degrees C) and lasted for 1 day only, while among those who received dexamethasone for 4 days it was > 38 degrees C and more prolonged (7 +/- 2.3 days) (P < 0.03). Total days of fever were 2.2 +/- 0.2 days when dexamethasone was administered for 2 days only vs. 7.8 +/- 1.7 for the patients in each of the two other groups (P < 0.03). The relatively benign course with the 2-day regimen of dexamethasone makes us consider whether a 2-day course of dexamethasone might save costly evaluations of secondary fever and much concern. Further studies are needed in order to document the efficacy of this regimen in reducing neurological sequelae.

Adolescent↗