Tropical DoctorPub Date : 2025-08-20DOI: 10.1177/00494755251367115
Nguyen Dang Duc, Lam Nguyen Hong Anh
{"title":"Necrotising soft tissue infection following folk leech therapy in a gout patient: A rare case report from Vietnam.","authors":"Nguyen Dang Duc, Lam Nguyen Hong Anh","doi":"10.1177/00494755251367115","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00494755251367115","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49415,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Doctor","volume":" ","pages":"494755251367115"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical DoctorPub Date : 2025-08-20DOI: 10.1177/00494755251348523
Ashok Kumar Pannu
{"title":"Standard operating protocol for acute pyelonephritis.","authors":"Ashok Kumar Pannu","doi":"10.1177/00494755251348523","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00494755251348523","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute pyelonephritis ranges from uncomplicated infection to life-threatening emphysematous pyelonephritis, a fulminant necrotizing infection of the renal parenchyma and perinephric tissues. Most cases are caused by Gram-negative bacilli, predominantly <i>Escherichia coli</i>, with rising drug resistance. A structured, stepwise approach is essential for early recognition, risk stratification, and timely imaging-based intervention, particularly in acute care settings. Judicious empirical antimicrobial therapy, guided by illness severity, host factors, and local resistance patterns, is critical.</p>","PeriodicalId":49415,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Doctor","volume":" ","pages":"494755251348523"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical DoctorPub Date : 2025-08-19DOI: 10.1177/00494755251364302
Ashok Kumar Pannu
{"title":"Clinical guidelines for meningitis in low- and middle-income countries.","authors":"Ashok Kumar Pannu","doi":"10.1177/00494755251364302","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00494755251364302","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Meningitis remains a significant public health concern. Patients typically present with fever and neurological symptoms such as headache, altered sensorium, or seizures. However, older adults and immunocompromised individuals often have atypical presentations, including absence of fever, warranting a low threshold for cerebrospinal fluid analysis and neuroimaging. While bacterial meningitis is the most common cause worldwide, tuberculous meningitis is the leading aetiology in endemic regions and frequently presents acutely. Early recognition and prompt empirical therapy, including antimicrobials and dexamethasone, are critical for improving outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":49415,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Doctor","volume":" ","pages":"494755251364302"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical DoctorPub Date : 2025-08-13DOI: 10.1177/00494755251367099
Idalmis Aguilera-Matos, Enrique Galbán-García, Daime Guilarte-Falcon, Elsa F García-Bacallao, Isabel Pérez-Rodríguez, Angel A Escobedo
{"title":"<i>Helicobacter pylori</i> in children: Risk factors and diagnosis of infection in the family members.","authors":"Idalmis Aguilera-Matos, Enrique Galbán-García, Daime Guilarte-Falcon, Elsa F García-Bacallao, Isabel Pérez-Rodríguez, Angel A Escobedo","doi":"10.1177/00494755251367099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00494755251367099","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)</i> infection is more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. This research aimed to identify the main risk factors and the role of the family in its transmission. A cross-sectional institutional study was conducted in 165 children under 19 years of age and 502 cohabitants, who were tested for <i>H. pylori</i>. All candidate variables were entered into a multivariate logistic regression. 43.6% of children under 19 years of age and 27.4% of cohabitants were infected. The main risk factors identified were living in a rural area and having an infected cohabitant; among these, infected siblings and grandparents were the most frequent. In this selected group of patients, the family environment and living in a rural area seem to be the main risk factors for transmission<i>.</i></p>","PeriodicalId":49415,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Doctor","volume":" ","pages":"494755251367099"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144838387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical DoctorPub Date : 2025-08-13DOI: 10.1177/00494755251366342
Ashok Kumar Pannu
{"title":"Clinical guidelines for acute poisonings in low- and middle-income countries.","authors":"Ashok Kumar Pannu","doi":"10.1177/00494755251366342","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00494755251366342","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute poisonings are a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, and require prompt, structured management. We present an updated standard operating protocol to support rapid clinical-decision-making in emergency settings. The protocol emphasises five core principles of toxicology: stabilisation, identification, decontamination, elimination, and antidote use. It covers common pesticide poisonings, including organophosphate and aluminium phosphide, corrosive ingestions, and emerging threats such as paraquat, opioids, and sedative-hypnotics.</p>","PeriodicalId":49415,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Doctor","volume":" ","pages":"494755251366342"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144838388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical DoctorPub Date : 2025-08-12DOI: 10.1177/00494755251362930
Ashok Kumar Pannu
{"title":"A practical approach to managing agitated toxidromes.","authors":"Ashok Kumar Pannu","doi":"10.1177/00494755251362930","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00494755251362930","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Agitated patients may present with life-threatening emergency. Differential diagnoses span a wide range, conveniently remembered by the acronym <i>VITAMINS</i> (<i>V</i>ascular, <i>I</i>nfections, <i>T</i>oxins/<i>T</i>rauma, <i>A</i>uto-immune/-inflammatory, <i>M</i>etabolic, <i>I</i>atrogenic, <i>N</i>eoplastic, and p<i>S</i>ychiatric aetiology). Common toxidromes include anticholinergic syndrome, serotonin toxicity, sympathomimetic toxicity, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and withdrawal from alcohol or sedative-hypnotics. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on exposure history and characteristic signs. A focused physical examination is often sufficient when history is unclear. Unlike routine medical evaluations that begin with a full history and examination, management starts with rapid behavioural control and stabilization of vital signs, followed by focused examination and targeted investigations. Specific antidote therapy is seldom required in the initial management.</p>","PeriodicalId":49415,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Doctor","volume":" ","pages":"494755251362930"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144823039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical DoctorPub Date : 2025-08-12DOI: 10.1177/00494755251362068
Ashok Kumar Pannu
{"title":"Standard operating protocol for dengue diagnosis and management.","authors":"Ashok Kumar Pannu","doi":"10.1177/00494755251362068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00494755251362068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dengue outbreaks in low- and middle-income countries contribute to significant hospital burden and preventable deaths. Early diagnosis and severity assessment are crucial to reduce unnecessary hospitalisation and prevent dengue-related complications. This standard operating protocol outlines a practical approach to diagnosis, triage, and fluid management based on current evidence and expert consensus. Hospitalisation and intravenous fluids are recommended for patients with warning signs, plasma leakage, or severe dengue. Judicious fluid administration is essential to avoid complications from both under- and over-resuscitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":49415,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Doctor","volume":" ","pages":"494755251362068"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144823041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical DoctorPub Date : 2025-08-12DOI: 10.1177/00494755251363074
Ashok Kumar Pannu
{"title":"Standard operating protocol for malaria management.","authors":"Ashok Kumar Pannu","doi":"10.1177/00494755251363074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00494755251363074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite a decline in malaria-related deaths over the past two decades, the global malaria burden remains high, particularly in endemic low- and middle-income countries. This standard operating protocol outlines a simplified, evidence-based approach to rapid clinical decision-making for malaria, primarily based on WHO recommendations. Early diagnosis and severity assessment are essential for timely and appropriate treatment. All suspected cases should undergo parasitological confirmation with a peripheral smear or rapid diagnostic test before treatment initiation (except in suspected severe cases where testing is not immediately feasible). Artemisinin-based treatment remains the mainstay: oral artemisinin-based combination therapy for uncomplicated malaria and intravenous artesunate for severe cases, including pregnant women (all trimesters) and children. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase testing is not required for single-dose gametocytocidal primaquine, but is essential prior to radical cure with primaquine or tafenoquine.</p>","PeriodicalId":49415,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Doctor","volume":" ","pages":"494755251363074"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144823042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tropical DoctorPub Date : 2025-08-12DOI: 10.1177/00494755251335990
Ashok Kumar Pannu
{"title":"Diagnostic approach to acute severe dyspnea in low-middle-income countries.","authors":"Ashok Kumar Pannu","doi":"10.1177/00494755251335990","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00494755251335990","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute severe dyspnoea is a critical medical emergency frequently encountered in low- and middle-income countries, where resource limitations significantly challenge timely diagnosis and management. Our institutional protocol (PGIMER, Chandigarh) offers a practical approach tailored to these constraints. It emphasises a structured clinical assessment and prioritises readily available basic investigations, including chest radiography, arterial blood gas analysis, and electrocardiogram, to differentiate common aetiologies such as pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, cardiac tamponade, and acute heart failure. The diagnostic approach is structured across seven clinical domains-<i>R</i>isk factors, <i>H</i>istory, <i>E</i>xamination findings, <i>L</i>aboratory results, <i>I</i>maging features, <i>T</i>reatment (empirical) response, and <i>A</i>lternate diagnosis exclusion (mnemonic <i>RHELITA</i>). A simplified diagnostic algorithm for pulmonary embolism is included to optimize use of advanced imaging.</p>","PeriodicalId":49415,"journal":{"name":"Tropical Doctor","volume":" ","pages":"494755251335990"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144823040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}