CDC Christie

Manuscripts that are Published Ahead of Print have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication by the Editorial Board of the West Indian Medical Journal. They may appear in their original format and may not be copy edited or formatted in the style guide of this Journal. While accepted manuscripts are not yet assigned a volume, issue or page numbers, they can be cited using the DOI and date of e-publication. See our Instructions for Authors on how to properly cite manuscripts at this stage. The contents of the manuscript may change before it is published in its final form. Manuscripts in this section will be removed once they have been issued to a volume and issue, but will still retain the DOI and date of e-publication.

Trends of Microcephaly and Severe Arthrogryposis in Three Urban Hospitals following the Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue Fever Epidemics of 2016 in Jamaica

Issue:

Vol 66, Issue 1: 2017

DOI:

10.7727/wimj.2017.124

Pages:

10–9

Synopsis:

Newborns with the characteristics of congenital syndrome associated with Zika virus (CSAZ) are being born in urban hospitals after the 2016 Zika virus epidemic in Jamaica. Phenotypic features include microcephaly, craniofacial disproportion, neuro-imaging and neuro-pathological findings and arthrogryposis. A trend towards babies being delivered with small head circumferences, but not yet in the range of microcephaly and others with normal head sizes who were born to women who were symptomatic in pregnancy is also being observed. While, most babies with probable CSAZ are being born to asymptomatic women who did not report any symptoms related to arbovirus illness in pregnancy. Diagnosis is challenged by serological cross-reactivity between circulating flaviviruses. Team management is multidisciplinary to maximize the neuro-developmental potential of this vulnerable patient population.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Jamaica experienced its maiden Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in 2016, while dengue (serotypes 3 and 4) and chikungunya were also circulating.

Aim: We describe initial trends in microcephaly and arthrogryposis observed by the clinicians from three urban birthing facilities during late 2016 to early 2017.

Received:

08 Jun, 2017

Accepted:

12 Jun, 2017

Published:

08 Mar, 2017

PDF Attachment:

wimjiss12017_10_19.pdf

Journal Sections:

Special Articles

Keywords:

Aedes aegypti mosquito

chikungunya fever

congenital syndrome associated with Zika virus

Journal Authors:

e-Published: 12 Jun, 2017

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Chikungunya in Jamaica – Public Health Effects and Clinical Features in Children

Issue:

Vol 65, Issue 3: 2016

DOI:

10.7727/wimj.2016.529

Pages:

431-37

Synopsis:

The Chikungunya Fever epidemic had significant public health and economic impact in Jamaica. In children, there were characteristic presentations in neonates and young infants and in children six months to six years. Neurologic involvement was common but other organ dysfunction was rare.

ABSTRACT

Background: Chikungunya virus entered the Caribbean for the first time in 2013 and Jamaica experienced its maiden epidemic with Chikungunya Fever in 2014. We aimed to describe the public health effects and describe the clinical features in children and adolescents in Jamaica.

Received:

24 Oct, 2016

Accepted:

26 Oct, 2016

PDF Attachment:

wimj_iss3_2016_431_437.pdf

Journal Sections:

Keywords:

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e-Published: 26 Oct, 2016

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Outcome of Dengue in Hospitalized Jamaican Children

Issue:

Vol 65, Issue 3: 2016

DOI:

10.7727/wimj.2016.525

Pages:

442-49

Synopsis:

Before the emergence of Zika in 2016 and Chikungunya in 2014, there have been numerous dengue outbreaks in the Caribbean. Despite this, there is a paucity of published studies on dengue in children from this region. The potential for exponential spread of the Aedes aegypti dengue vector and its deleterious outcomes in children underlines the importance of this paper.

ABSTRACT

Background: Dengue fever is hyper-endemic in Jamaica with exponential rates of infection in successive outbreaks. The absence of local data and the potential for massive outbreaks in a country where a third of the population are children formed the basis for this study.

Received:

24 Oct, 2016

Accepted:

26 Oct, 2016

PDF Attachment:

wimj_iss3_2016_442_449.pdf

Journal Sections:

Keywords:

Aedes agypti epidemic

non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS)

Journal Authors:

TD Davidson

I Vickers

CDC Christie

e-Published: 26 Oct, 2016

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Acute Paralysis and Neuro-inflammation in Jamaican Children during Zika virus and Dengue Epidemics of 2016

Issue:

Vol 65, Issue 3: 2016

DOI:

10.7727/wimj.2016.526

Pages:

425-30

Synopsis:

This case series suggests a unique clinical pattern of neuro-inflammation in Jamaican adolescents occurring during the ZIKV epidemic and questions the role of the three circulating arboviruses in the pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT

Received:

13 Oct, 2016

Accepted:

24 Oct, 2016

PDF Attachment:

wimj_iss3_2016_425_430.pdf

Journal Sections:

Keywords:

Journal Authors:

e-Published: 25 Oct, 2016

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Emergence of Zika Virus Epidemic and the National Response in Jamaica

Issue:

Vol 65, Issue 1: 2016

DOI:

10.7727/wimj.2016.488

Pages:

243–9

Synopsis:

The Zika virus epidemic in Jamaica is evolving and includes cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome and reports in pregnant women. Zika may become endemic in Jamaica, similar to dengue and chikungunya. Safe and effective dengue, chikungunya fever and ZIKV vaccines are needed to mitigate the devastating effects of these three diseases.

ABSTRACT

Background: Jamaica, along with the Americas, experienced major epidemics of arboviral diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito in recent years. These include dengue fever in 2012, chikungunya fever in 2014 and Zika virus infection (ZIKV) in 2016. We present the emergence of the ZIKV epidemic in Jamaica and outline the national response.

Received:

19 Aug, 2016

Accepted:

28 Sep, 2016

PDF Attachment:

wimj_iss1_2016_243-249.pdf

Journal Sections:

Special Article

Keywords:

Jamaica

pregnancy

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Journal Authors:

e-Published: 26 Sep, 2016

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Unravelling the Paediatric and Perinatal Zika Virus Epidemic through Population-based Research

Issue:

Vol 65, Issue 1: 2016

DOI:

10.7727/wimj.2016.454

Pages:

239–42

Synopsis:

Zika virus causes Guillain-Barre Syndrome and microcephaly. Clinical and laboratory diagnosis is complicated. Population-based research can elucidate ZIKV epidemiology, vertical transmission, fetal risks of maternal ZIKV infection and natural history of congenital and non-congenital ZIKV infection provided by the activities in “ZIKAction” research consortium, recently funded by the European Commission.

ABSTRACT

Received:

19 Aug, 2016

Accepted:

23 Aug, 2016

PDF Attachment:

wimj_iss1_2016_239_242.pdf

Journal Sections:

Keywords:

Guillain-Barre syndrome microcephaly

Journal Authors:

CDC Christie

C Giaquinto

e-Published: 19 Sep, 2016

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Professor Emeritus Richard Williams Olmsted

Issue:

Vol 63, Issue 4: Aug (2014)

Pages:

394–5

Professor Emeritus Richard Williams Olmsted

Department of Child Health, The UWI, Mona and Psychiatrist, Ministry of Health, Jamaica

June 27, 1920 – March 8, 2013

PDF Attachment:

obituary_richard_williams_olmsted.pdf

Journal Sections:

Obituary

Journal Authors:

CDC Christie

e-Published: 13 Jun, 2014

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Conjoined Twins: Bioethics, Medicine and the Law

Issue:

Vol 55, Issue 2 (2006)

Pages:

123–24

Synopsis:

Clinicians managing conjoined twins find themselves at a crossroad where bioethics, medicine and law converge.

INTRODUCTION

PDF Attachment:

duncan_conjoined_twins.pdf

Journal Sections:

Keywords:

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e-Published: 06 Feb, 2014

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Antibiotic Resistance among Pathogens Causing Disease in Jamaican Children with HIV/AIDS

Issue:

Vol 59, issue 4 (2010)

Pages:

386–92

Synopsis:

The prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of pathogens causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) and sepsis in a cohort of HIV positive Jamaican children was determined. Cotrimoxazole is a poor choice for empiric treatment of sepsis and UTIs in this cohort.

ABSTRACT

Objective: There are limited data regarding the antimicrobial resistance patterns of pathogens in children with HIV/AIDS from developing countries. We aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial pathogens causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) and sepsis in a cohort of 219 HIV-infected Jamaican children.

PDF Attachment:

Journal Sections:

Keywords:

Urinary tract infection

Antibiotic resistance

bacterial pathogens

paediatric HIV/AIDS

Journal Authors: