The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseasesStitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Science
The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseases
Stitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Tropical medicine
=Other Clinical Types.=—(1) _The Malignant Form._—In such cases
instead of the insidious onset we have the characteristics of a
severe acute infection with high temperature from the beginning,
ranging from 103° to 105°F. Such cases may show vomiting and
early diarrhoea. This is followed by a typhoid state with cardiac
manifestations in the way of irregularity of the pulse. An ordinary
type of case may assume this malignant form and such cases may
develop a broncho-pneumonia.
(2) _The Intermittent Form of Hughes._—Here we have a type of case
similar to the typical one but less severe. It is a subacute form
which from time to time shows an intermitting fever. These cases
may fail to show evidence of serious illness and the patient may
continue his work although noting a progressive deterioration of
health. Some very mild cases which only rarely show slight fever of
a few days’ duration have been reported as _ambulatory_ cases.
(3) _The Disease in Infants._—Di Cristina and Maggiore have
described various forms of the disease as observed in infants in
Palermo. They note a hyperpyrexial type and an undulant type. A
type with anaemia and marked cachexia is very severe. Another form
shows cyanosis, irregular pulse and irregular respiration with
marked sweats. Again the symptoms may be those of a cerebro-spinal
meningitis.
=Sequelae and Complications.=—It should be borne in mind that
while not serious from a standpoint of mortality this disease is
to be dreaded by reason of the possibility of invalidism. The
neuralgic pains, insomnia and mental depression render patients
liable to the morphine habit. In pregnant women there is a tendency
to abortion. In rare cases we may have intestinal haemorrhages with
asthenic manifestations. Bassett-Smith has reported a case with
extensive purpura. The same author in paramelitensis cases has
noted the susceptibility to secondary streptococcal infections.
SYMPTOMS IN DETAIL
_Temperature Chart._—Except in the malignant form of the disease,
when the temperature may be rather continuous, the fever course is
a step-like ascent with daily remissions for about ten days and
then a similar descent. Following an evening rise of temperature
night sweats may be noted.
It is the wave-like succession of such courses of fever, separated
by afebrile intervals, that suggests the name undulant fever.
_Circulatory System._—The disease shows rather a toxic effect on
the heart as shown by palpitation and irregularity and rapidity of
pulse rate.
In the beginning of the fever, however, the pulse rate is not very
fast. Anaemia is a rather marked feature.
_Respiratory System._—A slight bronchitis with cough tends to
suggest phthisis in those cases which show rather marked night
sweats.
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