We present the first case report of an endoscopic removal of a living worm, species Dirofilaria repens, from the orbital cavity. As of today, over 410 cases of Dirofilaria repens infections in man are recorded in world literature, six of which were localized in the orbital cavity. In Austria we know of four cases of an infection with this parasite, but none in the orbit. Dirofilaria repens is widespread only in the Old World, particularly in Southern and Eastern Europe, in Asia Minor, and in Central and Southern Asia. The highest prevalence of the disease is recorded in Italy (181 cases). In clinical practice, the infections have mostly been misdiagnosed as a neoplasia, usually benign but sometimes malignant. Under the assumption of an intraorbital tumor, the endoscopic transnasal revision of the orbital cavity was performed, as this approach promised to be least traumatic and best suited for the lesion, resulting in complete removal of the live worm. In unclear lesions in the head and neck, and infection with Dirofilaria repens should be considered as a differential diagnosis.

Austria↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Kinship help for the elderly. An exploratory study of patterns of help by female helpers].

The study is based on interviews made with women who care for an elderly relative. The activities which they perform can be classified to five basic forms of assistance: basic care and nursing, psycho-social care, obligatory attendance, house keeping, and supporting contacts to the social environment. The relationships between these women and the elderly contain a certain amount of reciprocity, which is reflected in material and emotional gratifications for the person rendering help. The burdens on the helper result from constant awareness of the decrepitude of a relative, from fear of the future, and from the necessity of constantly being in attendance of a dependent person. Women who feel burdened by their tasks perceive few rewards from the relationship, and have the impression that the person being cared for has no adequate idea of the efforts made. Because of the burdens on the relatives, the continuation of care of the elderly in their familiar social environment remains precarious. This finding is not an argument against care in familiar surroundings, but it does call attention to the importance of mobile social services for stabilizing primary assistance.

Adaptation, Psychological↗