Médecine tropicale : revue du Corps de santé colonial
-
Epidemiological information on marine envenomation is generally less extensive in Europe than in tropical regions where these injuries are more severe and the need for medical advice is more frequent. For these reasons use of regional Poison Control Centers in the area where the injury occurs must be encouraged. The purpose of this review is to describe envenomation by bony fish (lion fish, stone fish, and catfish), cartilaginous fish (stingrays and poisonous sharks), or other venomous aquatic vertebrates (moray-eels and marine snakes). Understanding of these envenomation syndromes is important not only in tropical areas but also in Europe where importation of dangerous species has increased in recent years.
-
Noma causes tissue degeneration of the face resulting in impaired mouth opening with secondary malnutrition and metabolic disorders. Reconstructive plastic surgery for noma can be lifesaving but requires special airway and ventilation techniques because of limited mouth opening. In addition, the African context imposes logistic and budgetary constraints. The purpose of this article is to describe an upper airway management strategy that takes into account disease factors and available resources.
-
French Guiana is a French Overseas Department in South America. Ninety-five percent of the territory is a tropical rainforest. Its rich fauna includes seven families of snakes but only 3 are potentially venomous. ⋯ Crotalus durissus, a rattlesnake living in coastal savannah, or Micrurus sp cause neuromuscular poisoning. Coral snakes are encountered throughout French Guiana, but envenomation is very rare. Antivenom therapy must be administered by the intravenous route in association with symptomatic treatment and, if necessary, resuscitation in a specialized care unit.
-
Epidemiological information about marine envenomation is generally less extensive in Europe than in tropical countries where this type of injury is more severe and the need for medical attention is more frequent. For this reason use of the regional poison control centers in the areas where envenomation occurs must be encouraged. The purpose of this review is to describe envenomation by poisonous marine invertebrates (cephalopods, sea urchins, cone shells, jellyfish, anemones, star-fish, corals, and worms). Understanding of these envenomation syndromes is important not only in tropical areas but also in Europe where importation of dangerous species has increased in recent years.
-
Soldiers on duty in tropical areas are at high risk of malaria and need chemoprophylactic regimens which may ensure the best efficacy, tolerability and compliance. Current Italian Army guidelines are based on recent military experiences in tropical areas, where mefloquine prophylaxis was as well tolerated as combination treatment with chloroquine and proguanil but more effective and easier to comply with, at least among soldiers. ⋯ Doxycycline is the first choice regimen for mefloquine-resistant areas and an alternative to mefloquine when this medication is contraindicated or not tolerated. The combination chloroquine-proguanil represents the alternative chemoprophylactic regimen when mefloquine and doxycycline are contraindicated or not tolerated.