By Linda on Dec 8, 2009 in Infections | comments(0)
Background.
Standard 2‐tiered immunoglobulin G (IgG) testing has performed well in late Lyme disease (LD), but IgM testing early in the illness has been problematic. IgG VlsE antibody testing, by itself, improves early sensitivity, but may lower specificity. We studied whether elements of the 2 approaches could be combined to produce a second‐tier IgG blot that performs well throughout the infection. Continued
By Bryan Rosner on Nov 29, 2009 in Infections | comments(0)
Clinical practice guidelines are increasing in number. Unfortunately,
when scientific evidence is uncertain, limited, or evolving, as is often
the case, conflict often arises between guideline committees and
practicing physicians, who bear the direct responsibility for the care of
individual patients. The 2006 Infectious Diseases Society of America
guidelines for Lyme disease, which have limited scientific support,
could, if implemented, limit the clinical discretion of treating physicians
and the treatment options available to patients
Introduction
Clinical practice guidelines are now ubiquitous throughout the
United States. The National Guidelines Clearing House, under the
category “diseases,” currently lists 2,126 separate guidelines on its
web site. Clinical guidelines are intended to assist physicians in
patient care by clearly communicating the results of the guideline
committees’ evaluation of available therapeutic options. However,
the processes by which individual guidelines are constructed may be
less clear, leading to disagreements between the issuing committee
and the physicians who treat patients-physicians who may well be
as experienced and knowledgeable as the guideline committee. Continued
By Linda on Nov 16, 2009 in General News, Infections | comments(0)
Journal European Journal of Pediatrics
Patrick Michael Meyer1 Contact Information, Hanspeter Zimmermann2 and Philippe Goetschel1
Received: 9 August 2009 Accepted: 12 October 2009 Published online: 4
November 2009
Abstract
Introduction Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) presents without neurologic
symptoms in 19% in children less than 16 years in Switzerland
(2000–2008). In these cases, fever can be the only leading manifestation.
Case series We report on four hospitalised children who had TBE and
presented as fever without localising signs (FWLS) between 2000 and 2008
in an endemic area in Switzerland. Continued
