An obscure epidemic disease associated with jaundice, observed in Nigeria, West Africa
- 1 November 1930
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Vol. 24 (4) , 429-451
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s0035-9203(30)80005-1
Abstract
Summary 1. An epidemic of an obscure disease associated with jaundice and accompanied by a mortality of 5·7 per cent, was encountered in the Kukuruku Division of Nigeria, West Africa. 2. The affection is liable to be confused with yellow fever as it resembles the latter, and some cases cannot be differentiated clinically, though the symptomatology is generally less marked, and the albuminuria is relatively mild. Sera from convalescents fail to afford protection against the virus of yellow fever. 3. The etiology is unknown, and the epidemiology obscure. No causative organism was isolated, and susceptibility of the usual laboratory animals was not demonstrated. Though certain epidemiological features suggest an insect vector, droplet contamination from close personal contact and infection from fomites were not definitely ruled out. Pfeiffer tests with L. icterohæmorrhagiæ and agglutination tests with B. typhosus and paratyphosus A and B, as well as with B. abortus and M. melitensis, were negative. 4. The resemblance of this disease to infectious epidemic jaundice other than Weil's disease, or its possible identity with infectious epidemic jaundice, should be borne in mind.° 5. The pathology studied in three cases apparently differs from that of any disease associated with jaundice previously described.Keywords
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