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Biomedical subjects

T S Jones

Publications and source records attributed to T S Jones.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Home treatment of febrile children with antimalarial drugs in Togo.

In Togo, the principal strategy for preventing death from malaria in children is prompt treatment of fever with antimalarial drugs. A household survey was conducted in a rural area of south-central Togo in which information was collected from mothers on the treatment received by 507 children under 5 years of age who, according to their mothers, had recently had fever. Altogether, 20% of the children (95% confidence interval (Cl): 15-25%) were seen at a health centre during their illness, while 83% (95% Cl: 76-90%) were treated at home with an antimalarial drug. Of the children in the latter group, 97% received the drug on the first day of fever. In contrast, only 17% of children who attended a health centre were seen on the first day of their fever. Chloroquine, usually obtained from a street or market vendor, was used for 94% of the treatments given at home. Based on children's weights and treatment histories provided by their mothers, the median total dosage of chloroquine given at home was 12.8 mg per kg body weight--more than that recommended and known to be fully effective in Togo at the time of the survey (10 mg per kg) and less than the total dosage recommended at present (25 mg per kg). The dosage administered was considered to be inadequate for 70% of home treatments, because less than 10 mg per kg was given during the first 24 hours of treatment. In the study area, parents were the main providers of antimalarial drug treatment to children with fever and need guidance on the correct dosage of chloroquine.

Child↗
PubMed1988

The epidemiology of measles in a partially vaccinated population in an African city: implications for immunization programs.

A large outbreak of measles was reported in Pointe-Noire, Congo, between October 1984 and March 1985. An investigation was conducted to determine the epidemiology of measles in this community in which, in 1985, 54% of the children 12-23 months of age had documented evidence of vaccination against measles. The investigation included hospital and clinic record reviews and a community survey. Measles has been continuously transmitted in Pointe-Noire since at least 1979, with seasonal epidemics. In early 1984, the expected epidemic did not occur, and at least 1,000 measles hospital admissions and 100 measles deaths were prevented. Between October 1984 and March 1985, 1,942 measles cases were hospitalized, of which 306 (15.8%) died. During the epidemic, the proportion of nonpreventable cases (cases occurring before nine months of age) was 17%, reflecting the change in age distribution of measles cases in childhood since the immunization program started in Pointe-Noire in 1982. From the community survey, it was estimated that 13% of all children under age five years acquired measles in Pointe-Noire in 1985. Vaccine efficacy was calculated from community and hospital samples to be between 78% and 87%. Our findings suggest that increasing vaccination coverage levels to well above 50% is necessary to substantially reduce measles morbidity and mortality in African cities.

Child↗
PubMed1988

Cultural and sex differences in touch avoidance.

250 male and female respondents from American, Mediterranean, Near Eastern, and Far Eastern cultures completed a self-report measure of touch-avoidance. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated factors for opposite-sex and same-sex touch-avoidance. These factors were used as dependent variables in a 4 x 2 (culture by sex) multivariate analysis of variance which yielded a significant interaction of culture by sex on opposite-sex touch-avoidance and a main effect of the respondents' sex on same-sex touch-avoidance.

Asia, Western↗
PubMed1988

Mortality from neonatal tetanus in rural Côte d'Ivoire.

A 30-cluster survey was carried out in order to estimate the incidence of neonatal tetanus in rural Côte d'Ivoire. Births in the 19 months preceding the survey were enumerated by interviewers in house-to-house visits. If a child born in that period had died, the interviewer asked a series of questions to establish a presumptive diagnosis of neonatal tetanus. A total of 41 deaths from neonatal tetanus was found in the study area among 2324 live births that occurred from 1 January 1981 to 31 July 1982. This gives a neonatal tetanus mortality rate of about 2%. Most deliveries and almost all deaths occurred at home, and only about 2% of neonatal tetanus cases were reported through the routine health information system. Birth in a clinic and antiseptic care of the umbilical cord protected infants from neonatal tetanus. Tetanus immunization of all women of child-bearing age is recommended as a preventive measure.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Campylobacter enteritis at a university: transmission from eating chicken and from cats.

Campylobacter jejuni is the most common enteric pathogen isolated from university and college students in the United States. During the fall and winter quarters of the 1983-1984 academic year, the authors conducted a case-control study at the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, to identify risk factors for C. jejuni enteritis. Students with diarrhea whose cultures yielded C. jejuni were compared with controls matched by age, sex, and residence. A total of 45 case-control pairs were interviewed about exposures during the week before the case's onset of illness. The infections occurred sporadically and were caused by a wide variety of C. jejuni serotypes. Three risk factors were identified: eating fully cooked chicken, eating chicken reported to be raw or undercooked, and contact with a cat or kitten. No case reported drinking raw milk. No significant association was found between illness and the places where chicken meals were prepared or the specific manner in which chicken was cooked. Chicken may be the principal vehicle of transmission for sporadic Campylobacter enteritis among college students.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Fatal heat-related illness in naval cadets in Ecuador.

On 13 April 1982, after a 6 to 7 km training run on an extremely hot and humid day, 20 of 216 cadets at the Ecuadorian Naval Academy in Guayaquil became ill with symptoms of heat-related illness. Four of them suffered heat stroke, and three died. Illness was most highly associated with the amount of exercise performed that day but was significantly more common in first-year cadets than in older cadets. There were no differences in the anthropometric measurements of ill and well subjects. We conclude that heat-related illness can affect conditioned military personnel during routine training in severe weather and make recommendations for prevention.

Ecuador↗
PubMed1982

Morbidity and mortality associated with the July 1980 heat wave in St Louis and Kansas City, Mo.

The morbidity and mortality associated with the 1980 heat wave in St Louis and Kansas City, Mo, were assessed retrospectively. Heat-related illness and deaths were identified by review of death certificates and hospital, emergency room, and medical examiners' records in the two cities. Data from the July 1980 heat wave were compared with data from July 1978 and 1979, when there were no heat waves. Deaths from all causes in July 1980 increased by 57% and 64% in St Louis and Kansas City, respectively, but only 10% in the predominantly rural areas of Missouri. About one of every 1,000 residents of the two cities was hospitalized for or died of heat-related illness. Incidence rates (per 100,000) of heatstroke, defined as severe heat illness with documented hyperthermia, were 26.5 and 17.6 for St Louis and Kansas City, respectively. No heatstroke cases occurred in July 1979. Heatstroke rates were ten to 12 times higher for persons aged 65 years or older than for those younger than 65 years. The ratios of age-adjusted heatstroke rates were approximately 3:1 for nonwhite v white persons and about 6:1 for low v high socioeconomic status. Public health preventive measures in future heat waves should be directed toward the urban poor, the elderly, and persons of other-than-white races.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Risk factors for heatstroke. A case-control study.

To identify risk factors associated with heatstroke, a case-control study in St Louis and Kansas City, Mo, was conducted during July and August 1980. Questionnaire data were gathered for 156 persons with heatstroke (severe heat illness with documented hyperthermia) and 462 control subjects matched by age, sex, and neighborhood of residence. A stepwise linear logistic regression procedure was used to identify factors significantly associated with heatstroke. Alcoholism, living on the higher floors of multistory buildings, and using major tranquilizers (phenothiazines, butyrophenones, or thioxanthenes) were factors associated with increased risk. Factors associated with decreased risk were using home air conditioning, spending more time in air-conditioned places, and living in a residence well shaded by trees and shrubs. Being able to care for oneself, characteristically undertaking vigorous physical activity, but reducing such activity during the heat, and taking extra liquid were also associated with decreased risk. Our findings also suggest effective preventive measures. During a heat wave, the greatest attention should be directed toward high-risk groups, and relief efforts should include measures shown to be associated with reduced risk.

Air Conditioning↗