ABSTRACT
Background: The WHO targeted to eliminate leprosy from the world as a public health problem by reducing the prevalence to less than 1 case per 10000 population based on the use of multi-drug therapy (MDT). Despite the success of MDT; endemic pools still exist in some countries that have attained the national elimination threshold. Objective: Assess the burden of childhood leprosy and control efforts in Essimbiland of Cameroon. Methods: The records of children patients were reviewed in two main primary health care institutions and 4 primary schools in Essimbiland having 459 pupils were surveyed for leprosy. A purposive sampling of all available registers and pupils was used. Results: A total of 1129 case files were reviewed covering the periods before MDT (1961-1967) implementation in 1982 and post MDT (1982-1999); no records were available from 1968-1991.From chart review; 42 (23.3) new leprosy cases from 1961-1967 and 35 (12.2) from 1982-1998 were from the Mbingo leprosarium. 31(39.7) of 78 childhood leprosy cases from chart review [1961-1967 and 1982-1999] were from Essimbiland. Of the 35 incident childhood leprosy cases from 1982-1998; 24(68.6) were from Essimbiland compared to other divisions. Poor record - keeping on leprosy was common in the study area. Among 459 pupils surveyed in 4 primary schools; 6(1.3) new leprosy cases were identified giving a prevalence of 131 per 10;000 pupils. The common skin lesion was on the back but one pupil had both hands clawed. 16(3.5) pupils were placed on observation. All the new leprosy cases from the school survey were indigenes of Essimbiland. Conclusion: Childhood leprosy is a public health problem in the Essimbiland requiring school surveys and a house-tohouse search for new cases
Subject(s)
Chart , Child , Data Collection , Leprosy/prevention & control , SchoolsABSTRACT
Objective: To determine markers of HBV infection and detect the presence of its occult infection in serum of a cohort of adult Nigerians. Methodology: The study involved 28 adult Nigerians with viral hepatitis (Group 1) and 28 apparently healthy adult Nigerians as controls (Group 2). Their sera were assayed for HBsAg; HBeAg; anti-HBe; anti-HBc; anti-HBs; and anti-HCV; while HBV DNA was determined in 15 patients with chronic hepatitis. Significance of differences between the patients and control subjects was assessed using Chi-square test at a 95confidence level. Results: Sero-detection of HBsAg; HBeAg; anti-HBe and anti-HBc was higher among the patients compared to the controls. HBV infection was diagnosed by HBsAg (89) and a duo of HBsAg and anti-HBc (100) among the patients. Similarly; eleven and four types of different patterns of HBV markers were observed among the respective groups. Anti-HBe (9.5); anti-HBc (14.3); and anti-HBs (9.5) were detected among all the subjects who were sero-negative for HBsAg. HBV DNA was also detected in 86.7of the 15 patients with chronic hepatitis; while occult HBV infection was observed in 7.2of the patients and none (0) of the controls; p 0.05. Furthermore; HCV infection occurred among subjects with all the different patterns of HBV markers; except those with occult HBV infection and natural immunity to HBV. Conclusion: This study shows that occult HBV infection is present among Nigerian adults and determination of HBsAg; anti-HBc; anti-HBe; and HBV DNA will assist in its detection