No abstract available.
Communicable Diseases* ; Diagnosis* ; Genotype*

Three cases of chronic spinal epidural abscess following spinal epidural analgesia are presented. Spinal epidural abscess is a relatively rare infectious disease. It has recently increased in frequency due to the increased use of epidural steroid injections and epidural analgesia. It is very difficult to detect the spinal epidural abscess from its variable symptoms. So, it is important in making a diagnosis of epidural abscess to take into account the previous history of epidural analgesia.
Analgesia, Epidural* ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychological effects of an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a newly emerged infectious disease, on doctors. METHODS: After the MERS outbreak was over, we conducted an online survey of doctors who worked at the hospitals in which exposure to MERS cases had been confirmed or who were directly involved in MERS diagnosis and treatment. The Patient Health Questionnaires-9 (PHQ-9) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) assessment methods were used to assess the severity of depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms among the 64 doctors participating in the survey. RESULTS: The results of the survey indicate that 26.6% (n=17) of participants exhibited depressive symptoms and 7.8% (n=5) had post-traumatic stress symptoms. The doctors employed at hospitals with MERS cases had higher PHQ-9 and IES-R mean scores than those in doctors were not so employed. In contrast, there was no significant difference in those test scores between doctors who participated directly in MERS diagnosis and treatment and those doctors who did not. CONCLUSION: The survey demonstrated that 28.1% (n=18) of doctors involved in MERS care suffered from depressive or posttraumatic stress symptoms, even though the MERS infection was being controlled. Working at a hospital with MERS cases was the primary determinant of the adverse psychological outcomes among doctors ; however, direct participation in the diagnosis and care of MERS patients was not significantly related to such outcomes.
Communicable Diseases ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Depression ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Middle East*

Although tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease that can occur in any section of the body, oral tuberculosis is rare. Here, we report a case of oral tuberculosis in which the patient sought treatment for a painful oral lesion. A histopathologic examination revealed the characteristics of tuberculosis and pulmonary lesions were detected on subsequent examination. The patient was treated with antituberculosis therapy, and his symptoms improved. This case emphasizes the importance of including oral tuberculosis as part of the differential diagnosis for mucosal lesions.
Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Mouth ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Oral

Pediatric rhinosinusitis is a common complication of viral upper respiratory infection (URI). According to the previous clinical researches, it has been found that more than 5 percent of children who suffered from URI might be diagnosed with rhinosinusitis. Especially, it might be challenging to clinicians for managing the children with high risk such as, presenting with severe symptoms, younger than 2 years, attending daycare facilities, or who are suspected antimicrobial resistance. Recently, evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric rhinosinusitis were introduced by the international societies comprising experts of otorhinolaryngology, pediatrics, and infectious disease. In this review, the authors would like to focus on the diagnosis and management of pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis to update and summarize the consensus from these guidelines and recent researches.
Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Otolaryngology ; Pediatrics

Communicable Diseases ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

Since Taiwan is an endemic area for tuberculosis (TB), differential diagnosis between the intestinal TB and Crohn's disease is an important issue. The steering committee of Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (TSIBD) has arranged a seminar accordingly on May 24th, 2014 and the different point of views by gastroenterologist, radiologist, pathologist and infectious disease specialist were suggested to help the proper diagnosis and management of these two diseases.
Communicable Diseases ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Specialization ; Taiwan* ; Tuberculosis*

After the first diagnosis of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Korea on May 20th, 2015, significant fear and anxiety surrounding infectious diseases has emerged in the community. Using the recent MERS case in Korea as an example, we hope to identify problems in the governance of infectious diseases management and to suggest improvements. Korean Health authorities have demonstrated inadequacy in several areas in preparing for and responding to emerging infectious diseases threats. There is lack of monitoring or education regarding prevention, and there are no systems for monitoring people visiting or residing in infectious disease risk areas. Moreover, operating a continuous monitoring system by the Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (KCDC) is very difficult due to the lack of permanent support for a clear command and control system and specialists for responding to public health emergencies. The MERS situation has highlighted the importance of risk communication during public health crises. In order to advance the governance of infectious disease management, the KCDC should be improved as a priority. The Korean government should nurture the development of professional personnel who can respond to global health crises. Furthermore, the expansion of medical isolation facilities within hospital wards and emergency departments is needed. However, the cooperation of the public is a critical factor in this campaign. The public should be educated about appropriate action during disasters and public health crises, including strategies for practicing this action in everyday life.
Anxiety ; Communicable Disease Control ; Communicable Diseases* ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; Coronavirus Infections ; Diagnosis ; Disasters ; Education ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hope ; Korea ; Middle East* ; Public Health ; Specialization

BACKGROUNDS: Sexually transmitted disease is class 3 major communicable disease group in Korea, and nationwide surveillance is required to control it. It is necessary to investigate the trends and current characteristics of STDs for effective control. METHODS: We analysed the laboratory data of those who visited a health center in Seoul for venereal disease examination and had abnormal results from Jan 1, 1991 to Dec 31, 1994. Venereal disease examination was composed of serum VDRL(quantitative), Gram staining and culture of urine or urethral discharge. RESULTS: There were 1196 male cases(97.6%) among the total 1226 cases. Mean age was 31.1+/-8.4, and the most common age group was 25-34 yr-old(60.8%). Diagnosis was as follows : syphilis 48 cases(3.9%), gonorrhea 388 cases(31.6%), Nongonoccocal urethritis 773 cases(63.1%), others 10 cases(0.8%), mixed infection of syphilis and gonorrhea 2 cases(0.2 %), mixed infection of syphilis and NGU 5 cases(0.4%). The proportion of PPNG among gonorrhea was as follows : 1991 48.1%, 1992 38.0%, 1993 32.9%, 1994 58.8%. The fraction of NGU among whole urethritis patients increased year by year, 1991 68.0%, 1992 69.4%, 1993 73.3%, 1994 55.3%. There were more WBCs on Gram staining of gonorrhea cases than NGU cases(p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The STD patients among beneficiaries of a health center were mainly young male. Common diagnosis was as follows, NGU, gonorrhea, syphilis. The proportion of PPNG among gonorrhea decreased initially, then increased in 1994, and the fraction of NGU among whole urethritis cases increased initially, then increased in 1994.
Coinfection ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Gonorrhea ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Seoul* ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases* ; Syphilis ; Urethritis

BACKGROUNDS: Sexually transmitted disease is class 3 major communicable disease group in Korea, and nationwide surveillance is required to control it. It is necessary to investigate the trends and current characteristics of STDs for effective control. METHODS: We analysed the laboratory data of those who visited a health center in Seoul for venereal disease examination and had abnormal results from Jan 1, 1991 to Dec 31, 1994. Venereal disease examination was composed of serum VDRL(quantitative), Gram staining and culture of urine or urethral discharge. RESULTS: There were 1196 male cases(97.6%) among the total 1226 cases. Mean age was 31.1+/-8.4, and the most common age group was 25-34 yr-old(60.8%). Diagnosis was as follows : syphilis 48 cases(3.9%), gonorrhea 388 cases(31.6%), Nongonoccocal urethritis 773 cases(63.1%), others 10 cases(0.8%), mixed infection of syphilis and gonorrhea 2 cases(0.2 %), mixed infection of syphilis and NGU 5 cases(0.4%). The proportion of PPNG among gonorrhea was as follows : 1991 48.1%, 1992 38.0%, 1993 32.9%, 1994 58.8%. The fraction of NGU among whole urethritis patients increased year by year, 1991 68.0%, 1992 69.4%, 1993 73.3%, 1994 55.3%. There were more WBCs on Gram staining of gonorrhea cases than NGU cases(p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The STD patients among beneficiaries of a health center were mainly young male. Common diagnosis was as follows, NGU, gonorrhea, syphilis. The proportion of PPNG among gonorrhea decreased initially, then increased in 1994, and the fraction of NGU among whole urethritis cases increased initially, then increased in 1994.
Coinfection ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Gonorrhea ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Seoul* ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases* ; Syphilis ; Urethritis