Ismail Haffejee

Publications (37) View all

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  Available from: Ismail Haffejee

  Article: Immunogenicity and safety of a live attenuated varicella vaccine in healthy Indian children aged 9-24 months.

  A Ramkissoon, H M Coovadia, P Jugnundan, I E Haffejee, F Meurice, D Vandevoorde
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  ABSTRACT: To investigate the safety of live attenuated varicella vaccine (Oka strain) and the optimal virus titre/dose required for immunogenicity in healthy South African children. Double-blind randomised clinical study using two different lots of varicella vaccine, each at two different titres. Subjects were randomly allocated to groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 to receive vaccine containing a mean virus titre of 10(4,5), 10(3,1), 10(3,9) and 10(2,7) PFUs per dose respectively. Clinical signs and symptoms were followed up for 42 days post-vaccination. Specific varicella antibodies were measured by an indirect immunofluorescence method in sera obtained on day 0 and day 42. City Health Clinic, Chatsworth, Durban. A total of 200 healthy 9-24-month-old children were vaccinated, of whom 189 (44,5%) completed the study. Pre- and post-vaccination varicella antibody levels. Adverse events following varicella vaccination. The vaccine was safe and well tolerated. No local symptoms were reported. Skin reactions were specifically solicited in this study: 21 reactions were reported in 8.5% (17/200) of children. Vesicles were reported in 2 vaccines (< or = 10 vesicles in both cases). One serious adverse event was reported: hospitalisation for bronchopneumonia on day 16 post-vaccination which resolved without sequelae. Around day 42 post-vaccination (range 35-63 days) all the 176 initially seronegative subjects had seroconverted for varicella antibodies. Post-vaccination geometric mean titres (GMTs) were 104.1, 66.2, 69.5 and 77.0 for groups 1-4 respectively. Six subjects who were initially seropositive maintained or increased their titres post-vaccination; 3 of the 6 showed a booster response (a > or = 4-fold increase from the pre-vaccination titre). Varicella vaccine was found to be safe, immunogenic and well tolerated. No difference in seroconversion rates or GMTs, either between groups receiving the two vaccine lots or between groups receiving the different titres of each lot, was shown.
  South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde 01/1996; 85(12):1295-8. · 2.04 Impact Factor
• Article: The epidemiology of rotavirus infections: a global perspective.

  I E Haffejee
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  ABSTRACT: Rotavirus, which is the most common cause of infantile diarrhea worldwide, mainly affects infants between the ages of 6 and 24 months. Most infections in human newborns are mild or asymptomatic, due to the inherently attenuated nature of the "nursery" rotavirus strains. Adults are also sometimes affected, especially those in families with an infected child; the disease also occurs in closed adult communities. HIV-infected persons, travelers, or as a result of water-borne epidemics. Nosocomially acquired hospital infections add to morbidity and to the cost of hospitalization. A winter predominance of rotavirus diarrhea has been noted in temperate climates but not in tropical areas. Group A rotavirus infections are generally more common, but human infections with groups B and C have also been documented. The prevalence of serum antibodies is high during the neonatal period, but it declines sharply between the ages of 3 and 6 months, then rises steeply, peaking at approximately 2 years and remaining high into adulthood. Vaccines against rotavirus are currently under evaluation.
  Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 05/1995; 20(3):275-86. · 2.30 Impact Factor
• Article: Rheumatic fever.

  I E Haffejee
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  ABSTRACT: The incidence of RF and RHD in the tropics remains high, with a high proportion of children suffering from carditis with the first attack. Severe, incapacitating haemodynamic disturbances occur early. Many patients are seen with established RHD at their first visit, and the default rate is high. Poverty, overcrowding, poor transport facilities, understaffed and overburdened clinics, and poor follow-up add to the problem. A genetic predisposition to develop RHD appears to be important in certain countries like India, Egypt and Turkey, but no work to show this has been done in black Africa. Secondary prophylaxis remains the most practical means of controlling the disease in the tropics. Compliance with long-term prophylaxis depends on organized and concerted efforts of physicians, other health personnel, parents, teachers, and the community.
  Baillière s Clinical Rheumatology 03/1995; 9(1):111-20.
• Article: Child health in South Africa -- past, present and future.

  I E Haffejee
  Global child health news & review 02/1995; 3(1):18.
• Article: Nuyritional management during acute infantile diarrhoea

  Haffejee I E
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  ABSTRACT: During an acute diarrhoeal episode, the infant should continue to be fed his or her normal feeds i. e. breast or cow's milk formula. If, however, diarrhoea persists, the stools should be tested first for reducing substances: a positive test is indicative of lactose intolerance in which case a lactose free formula can be substituted. The common practice of introducing soya-based lactose-free formula ab initio in all babies who have acute dirrhoeal disease without confirming the presence of lactose intolerance has no scietific basis and is to be deprecated
  Postgraduate Doctor (Africa). 01/1993; 15:8-10.