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Introduction: An outbreak of echovirus meningitis occurred in the north west of England in 2001. This paper reviewed the clinical features and the role of different diagnostic methods. Methods: This was a prospective study of adults admitted to a regional infectious disease unit with a probable diagnosis of meningitis, March to August 2001. Results: Half the 40 cases were male; median age was 28 (range 16–51) years. Fifteen of 38 (39.5%) were smokers, and 20 of 24 (83.3%) had close contact with children. Median (range) duration of symptoms was 1.1(0.25–7) days. Symptoms included headache (100%), photophobia (87.5%), and nausea (67.5%), and severity ranged from minimal signs to those consistent with a meningoencephalitis. The diagnosis was confirmed virologically in 29 of 40 (72%); echovirus 30 was isolated from six. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) enterovirus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive in 26 of 32 (81 %), and CSF virus culture in 3 of 16 (19%). Thirty one per cent of CSF samples had a neutrophil predominance, and 3 of 29 (10%) virologically confirmed cases had normal CSF microscopy and biochemistry. Conclusion: CSF microscopy may be normal or suggest bacterial meningitis in a substantial minority of cases of echovirus meningitis. CSF PCR for enterovirus seems to be more sensitive than virus culture of CSF, although PCR does not yield information on circulating virus type. Early and accurate diagnosis could reduce both use of parenteral antibiotics and length of hospital stay with both morbidity and cost implications. Close contact with children may be a risk factor, particularly if good hygiene measures are not practised. and severity ranged from minimal signs to those consistent with a meningoencephalitis. The diagnosis was confirmed virologically in 29 of 40 (72%); echovirus 30 was isolated from six. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) enterovirus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive in 26 of 32 (81 %), and CSF virus culture in 3 of 16 (19%). Thirty one per cent of CSF samples had a neutrophil predominance, and 3 of 29 (10%) virologically confirmed cases had normal CSF microscopy and biochemistry. Conclusion: CSF microscopy may be normal or suggest bacterial meningitis in a substantial minority of cases of echovirus meningitis. CSF PCR for enterovirus seems to be more sensitive than virus culture of CSF, although PCR does not yield information on circulating virus type. Early and accurate diagnosis could reduce both use of parenteral antibiotics and length of hospital stay with both morbidity and cost implications. Close contact with children may be a risk factor, particularly if good hygiene measures are not practised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of co-trimoxazole in 56 patients with typhoid and paratyphoid infections is reported. Forty-five of the 48 patients with enteric fever responded to treatment. There were three convalescent excretors of but only one became a carrier. Eight carriers were treated with co-trimoxazole. Six of these have been followed-up and only one continues to excrete the infecting organism in stools. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article focuses on the employment status of mothers and marital conflict, permanence, and happiness. Present data support the idea that employment of mothers typically increases conflict in marital relationships. This is consistent with role theory. It likewise seems clear that satisfaction and happiness in marriage are not significantly different by employment categories. This probably means that the more prevalent conflict in families where the mother is employed is counterbalanced by increased life satisfactions for the mother. Some evidence supporting the latter idea is found in another part of the study which finds that employed mothers are better satisfied with their communities and their daily work. Clearly more employed mothers have lived apart from husbands following quarrels and more have considered divorce. It is extremely probable, however, that many women enter employment as a result of the break. Logically, employment of mothers might be expected to precipitate some divorces. If conflict related to the employee role is added to family interaction already characterized by conflict and dissatisfaction, divorce or other dissolution might result in some families which otherwise might continue a precarious existence.

A few studies of crime treat criminality as a continuous variable to the extent of recognizing differences in offenses for which people have been officially adjudged criminal. Studies of juvenile delinquency by reported behavior, whether by the children themselves or by agencies concerned with the problem, have attracted much attention. Certain theoretical and immediately practical advantages to this type of study are apparent. In the study of juvenile delinquency, for example, the extent and nature of various types of delinquent conduct and its variability can be investigated. This, in contrast to the usual procedure of assuming that a group of non-institutionalized children are "delinquent," and comparing them with a group of non-institutionalized children who are defined as non-delinquent. Further, such investigation can be made in all segments of the population, rather than in the socio-economically biased institutionalized or officially apprehended group. On the other hand, a comparison of the incidence of delinquent behavior of boys and girls confirms findings based upon official data, which shows that boys commit more offenses in virtually every category, and girls are highest in such offenses as ungovernability, running away, and sex offenses.

This paper first reviews the evaluations of family research made in 1947-8 by Professors Burgess, Cottrell, and Nimkoff. Second, it describes family research in the period 1947-61 in terms of changes in statistical techniques, samples, hypotheses, orientation to prior research, data gathering technique, and the variables studied. Finally, three general problems are posed with respect to current research: failure to employ individual research competence to the maximum, inadequate communication between researchers, and too little attention to methodo-logical research, per se. Special attention is given to the use of theory, measurement techniques, and the control and manipulation of variables. It is concluded that the principal need in family research is not a larger volume or attention to particular substantive areas but to the improvement of methodology broadly conceived to include the entire process from conception of the problem to the implication of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper tests the relationship of maternal employment to marital success by introducing a number of contingent conditions and test variables. These include socioeconomic status, number and age of children, length of employment, attitude of husband and wife toward her employment, and original or remarriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five hundred and ninety-four patients were consecutively admitted to an infectious disease unit over a 2-year period with a referral diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis or food poisoning. In 175 (29%) patients, gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with a condition other than gastrointestinal infection. Non-infective gastrointestinal disease was present in 90 patients, systemic infection in 50 and systemic disease in 35. Four illustrative case histories are presented to emphasize the need for a high index of suspicion if diseases such as malaria, septicaemia or appendicitis are not to be missed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The case of a 44 year old woman with infective endocarditis due to Bartonella quintana, an organism long recognised to cause a condition known as trench fever, is reported. This case illustrates the lengthy differential diagnosis of "culture negative" endocarditis. In addition the presence of serological cross reactivity of Bartonella spp and Chlamydia spp demonstrates the potential for misdiagnosis in these circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]