Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S K Chew

Publications and source records attributed to S K Chew.

72 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Diagnostic value of the Widal test for typhoid fever in Singapore.

A study was conducted to assess the diagnostic value of the Widal test in patients with bacteraemic typhoid fever. The Widal test was carried out on 25 bacteriologically proven cases of typhoid fever and 50 patients with non-typhoid fever. All the patients with non-typhoid fever had an O agglutinin titre of less than 1:40, while 82% had an H agglutinin titre of less than 1:40. In the patients with typhoid fever, 56% had an O agglutinin titre of greater than or equal to 1:40 and 72% had an H agglutinin titre of greater than or equal to 1:40. Typhoid patients with titres greater than or equal to 1:40 for O and H antigens of Salmonella typhi were significantly different (P less than 0.01) from those with non-typhoid fever. The O agglutinin was highly specific (100%) in the diagnosis of the disease. The study shows that a single Widal test is useful in the diagnosis of typhoid fever in Singapore.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in Singapore--containment strategies.

The worldwide occurrence of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) since its advent in the United States in 1981 has resulted in a global dilemma on how best to reduce transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). In Singapore, a national AIDS programme was established in 1985 to control the spread of the disease in the country. The programme included health care delivery, education of health care workers and the community, surveillance and counselling of individuals with high risk behaviours, as well as protection of the nation's blood supply. This paper examines the global response to the HIV pandemic and containment strategies appropriate to Singapore based on established epidemiological data.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1991

Schistosomiasis in Singapore--a case report.

Schistosomiasis although endemic in the Far East, has not been reported in Singapore. We describe an 83 year-old lady with Schistosoma japonicum infection presenting with bloody diarrhoea. We discuss its diagnosis and postulate the mode of transmission of this infection in urban Singapore.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

HIV infection and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia--bronchoscopic diagnosis in two patients.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is extremely common in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Diagnostic techniques vary between different institutions depending on availability of expertise. We have limited experience in the workup and evaluation of patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection because we have at present only 56 reported cases of HIV positive individuals. We report here two cases where Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was the index illness and the diagnosis was confirmed by bronchoscopy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Typhoid fever in Singapore: a review of 370 cases.

The medical records of 370 patients treated for typhoid fever between 1986 and 1988 at the Communicable Disease Centre, Singapore, were reviewed. The disease was generally mild. There was no mortality. Fever was found in 98.4% of patients on admission and diarrhoea in 21%. Cough was predominantly a symptom of children and occurred in 7.1% of patients aged below 15 years. Other symptoms were uncommon. Hepatomegaly was found in 71% and splenomegaly in 47%. Leucopenia was not a helpful diagnostic marker. Chloramphenicol was the drug of choice. The relapse rate was 5.4% and the convalescent and temporary carrier rates 11.6%. The risk of developing the carrier state was significantly higher among patients who were afebrile on admission compared with those who were febrile (P less than 0.001); it was also higher in patients treated with ampicillin as compared to those treated with chloramphenicol (P less than 0.001, chi 2 = 22.7, odds ratio = 5.25, 95% confidence limits: 2.46 and 11.29). The role of ampicillin as a first line treatment for acute typhoid fever may need further re-evaluation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in Singapore--the first 50 cases.

As at 31 May 1990, fifty Singaporeans with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection had been detected. Of these, nineteen had the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The majority of infected persons had been infected through sexual contact (homosexual 52%; bisexual 24%; heterosexual 20%) with men and women from countries where HIV infection was prevalent. The majority of infected patients (88%) were in the age range 20-39 years. There was one case of blood transfusion-associated AIDS. There were no infected paediatric or haemophiliac cases or intravenous drug use in any of the patients. A spectrum of AIDS-related opportunistic infections and cancers was observed, and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was the most frequent presentation. Thirteen patients with AIDS had died and the median survival time was about seven months.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Singapore--epidemiological perspectives.

The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by a retrovirus, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). As at 30 April 1988, there were 22 infected individuals in Singapore, of which 4 had AIDS. A comprehensive retrospective study was carried out to establish the clinico-epidemiological features of the disease and its transmission in Singapore. The infected patients have been related mainly to sexual transmission through sexual contact (homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual) with men and women from countries where HIV infection is more prevalent. The majority of the infected were homosexual males in the age range 20-39 years. There was one case of transfusion-associated AIDS and another was infected through heterosexual transmission. The local pattern is consistent with the Western pattern (Pattern 1), with the notable absence of intravenous drug abusers, paediatric cases or infected haemophiliacs.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome--a review of the global situation.

The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was first recognised in the United States in 1981. Since then, a pandemic had occurred worldwide. This article reviews the events leading to the discovery of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the clinicoepidemiological aspects of the disease, and international and national programmes to curb its spread. In Singapore, an AIDS Programme was set up in 1985 to control the spread of HIV infection in the Republic. The programme included health care delivery, education of health care workers and the community, surveillance and counselling of high-risk individuals, as well as screening of blood donors for HIV. As at 30 april 1988, 22 Singaporeans with HIV infection have been detected. Of these, four had AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Case report--the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and isospora belli infection.

A patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) presenting with isospora belli infection is reported. The difficulties encountered in the diagnosis and therapy of isosporiasis are discussed. The diarrhoea responded to treatment with intravenous fluid replacement and oral furazolidone.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Pyogenic hepatic abscess and diabetes mellitus--a probable association.

Four patients with pyogenic hepatic abscesses are reported. There were three females and one male with an age range of 36-75 years. In all the cases, diabetes mellitus was associated. Confirmation of the abscesses was obtained by liver scanning or ultrasonography, or both. In one patient, the clinical course was complicated by sympathetic pericardial effusion with right heart failure. Two patients had percutaneous transhepatic drainage of the abscesses under fluoroscopy. All four patients eventually required laparotomy and open drainage of the abscesses. Diabetic control was achieved with insulin therapy. The common causative organism in all instances was the Klebsiella species. Three patients recovered. The remaining one developed hypotension post-operatively and died of brain-stem infarction and the hepato-renal syndrome.

Adult↗