A capture enzyme immunoassay specific for Norwalk IgM class antibody was developed. The assay was moderately sensitive, identifying 33/53 (62%) of patients with naturally acquired Norwalk virus infection and 17/18 (94%) of experimentally infected volunteers. The assay was also specific for IgM class antibody and acute Norwalk virus infection and results were generally reproducible. A specific IgM response correlated with seroconversion by total antibody blocking assay and occurred independently of clinical symptoms. Among 81 symptomatic cases composing seven Norwalk outbreaks, specific IgM was absent from acute phase sera collected less than or equal to three days post onset, and was uncommon in sera collected within one week and after five weeks, with an optimal collection time at about two to three weeks. The Norwalk IgM capture immunoassay may be used to augment paired sera assays in the identification of Norwalk-associated outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Erythema infectiosum (fifth disease).

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical patterns and seasonal trends in respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations in São Paulo, Brazil.

The respiratory viruses are recognized as the most frequent lower respiratory tract pathogens for infants and young children in developed countries but less is known for developing populations. The authors conducted a prospective study to evaluate the occurrence, clinical patterns, and seasonal trends of viral infections among hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract disease (Group A). The presence of respiratory viruses in children's nasopharyngeal was assessed at admission in a pediatric ward. Cell cultures and immunofluorescence assays were used for viral identification. Complementary tests included blood and pleural cultures conducted for bacterial investigation. Clinical data and radiological exams were recorded at admission and throughout the hospitalization period. To better evaluate the results, a non- respiratory group of patients (Group B) was also constituted for comparison. Starting in February 1995, during a period of 18 months, 414 children were included- 239 in Group A and 175 in Group B. In Group A, 111 children (46.4%) had 114 viruses detected while only 5 children (2.9%) presented viruses in Group B. Respiratory Syncytial Virus was detected in 100 children from Group A (41.8%), Adenovirus in 11 (4.6%), Influenza A virus in 2 (0.8%), and Parainfluenza virus in one child (0.4%). In Group A, aerobic bacteria were found in 14 cases (5.8%). Respiratory Syncytial Virus was associated to other viruses and/or bacteria in six cases. There were two seasonal trends for Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases, which peaked in May and June. All children affected by the virus were younger than 3 years of age, mostly less than one year old. Episodic diffuse bronchial commitment and/or focal alveolar condensation were the clinical patterns more often associated to Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases. All children from Group A survived. In conclusion, it was observed that Respiratory Syncytial Virus was the most frequent pathogen found in hospitalized children admitted for severe respiratory diseases. Affected children were predominantly infants and boys presenting bronchiolitis and focal pneumonias. Similarly to what occurs in other subtropical regions, the virus outbreaks peak in the fall and their occurrence extends to the winter, which parallels an increase in hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pathologic studies of fatal cases in outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease, Taiwan.

In 1998, an outbreak of enterovirus 71-associated hand, foot, and mouth disease occurred in Taiwan. Pathologic studies of two fatal cases with similar clinical features revealed two different causative agents, emphasizing the need for postmortem examinations and modern pathologic techniques in an outbreak investigation.

Disease Outbreaks↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An orientation program for high-technology home care nursing.

A cost-effective competency-based program focusing on technical, critical thinking, and interpersonal communication skills has been developed for the orientation of home care nurses working with technology-dependent children.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical experience with a human diploid cell rabies vaccine.

Between January 1975 and December 1977 the Center for Disease Control treated 255 persons with the human diploid cell strain rabies vaccine who did not have development of an antibody titer to duck embryo vaccine (DEV) or who were at risk for having a serious reaction to DEV. Two hundred eighteen persons were treated postexposure, and 37 persons were treated preexposure. The antibody response to the vaccine was excellent, and the reaction rates were low. No person treated has had development of rabies. This study corroborates other studies that suggest that the human diploid cell strain rabies vaccines are safe and induce excellent antibody titers to rabies.

Adult↗