Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis in a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria

In Trinidad and Tobago, babies born between September and December are lightheartedly considered "Carnival Babies" with the assumption that they were conceived during the Christmas/Carnival season (December - March). In order to verify or refute this concept of "Carnival Babies", the monthly births, and admissions for spontaneous abortions at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and the Mount Hope Women's Hospital were analysed for the 10-year period 1981 to 1990. There was a rise in the mean admissions for spontaneous abortions (16.8 percent) and deliveries (19.6 percent) in the anticipated peak months September - December. This increase was statistically significant and both hospitals demonstrated similar trends. Other West Indian islands either embarking on Carnival or which are currently celebrating the festival should take heed of this observation, whilst Carnival planners and population control personnel in Trinidad must heighten their activities to rectify the situation (AU)