RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence and pattern of major congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract among the newborns in Barbados. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study includes all newborns with major congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract in Barbados from 1993 to 2012. The birth register and the neonatal admission register at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where over 90% of all deliveries in this country take place, were the main source of data. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of major congenital malformations of the digestive system in newborns was 7.28 per 10,000 live births. There were 15 (32.6%) cases of congenital absence, atresia, and stenosis of the small intestine giving a prevalence rate of 2.37 / 10,000 live births and 13 cases (28.3%) of esophageal atresia giving a prevalence rate of 2.06 / 10,000 live births. The overall prevalence of major congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract increased from 4.46 / 10,000 live births during 1993 1997 to 10.50 / 10,000 live births during 2008 2012. The prevalence of the absence, atresia or stenosis of the small intestine increased from 0.64 / 10,000 live births during 1993 1997 to 5.25 / 10,000 live births during 2008 2012. Overall, 1.1% of all neonatal deaths were attributed to major malformations of the digestive system. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital absence, atresia and stenosis of the small intestine were the most common malformations, with increasing prevalence over the study period. Tracheoesophageal fistula was the second most prevalent malformation and it had a high case fatality rate.
Asunto(s)
Anomalías Congénitas , Recién Nacido , Tracto Gastrointestinal , Prevalencia , BarbadosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To describe the seroprevalence of dengue antibodies in febrile suspected persons and investigated for dengue in this country. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective population based study of all febrile children and adults with probable dengue from 2006 to 2013. Persons with probable dengue were investigated for dengue IgM and IgG antibodies in the blood sample drawn between days 3 to 5 of their illness. RESULTS: Among the 8296 cases that were tested for IgM antibodies, 2605 (36.6%) cases tested positive. Of the 7227 suspected cases who were tested for IgG, 5473 (75.7%) were positive. During the study years, between 80% and 90% of persons older than 20 years had a positive IgG antibody. Among the persons younger than five years (excluding the first year), between 10% and 20% had a positive IgM titre and a negative IgG titre, between 5 and10% had a positive IgM and IgG titre, 5% had a positive IgG titre and a negative IgM titre and between 45% and 65% had a negative IgM and a negative IgG titre. Between 37% and 59% had a serological evidence of past dengue in absence of any current dengue. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of IgG antibodies seen in this study was comparable to those seen in the countries known to be hyperendemic for dengue. Based on the pattern of antibodies, the age of infection was likely to shift down to younger age groups with the likelihood of more severe forms of dengue in the future.