Knowledge and management of fever among Moroccan parents

Parents often have misperceptions about childhood fever, and little information is available about the home management of feverish children in Morocco. In this study of the perceptions, knowledge and practices of families regarding children's fever, the parents of 264 febrile children aged 0-16 years were interviewed in a paediatric emergency department in Rabat in 2011. Only 3.5% of parents knew the correct temperature definition for fever, 54.4% determined their children's fever using a thermometer, and the preferred site was rectal. Most of them [96.8%] considered that fever was a very serious condition, which could lead to side-effects such as brain damage [28.9%], seizures [18.8%] paralysis [19.5%], dyspnoea [14.8%] and coma [14.8%]. Paracetamol was used by 85.9% and traditional treatments by 45.1%. Knowledge about the correct definition of fever was significantly associated with parents' profession, educational level and receipt of previous information and advice from health professionals

[Favus tinea]

Favus tinea is becoming increasingly rare in North Africa, including Morocco. Negligance of these scalp lesions by some patients, especially the poor cases, lead to a risk of contagion in the environment and maintenance of transmission. We report the case of a 13 years old male patient, from a poor family, who presented after school eviction, with a favus. This scalp lesion has evolved over several years with notion of contamination to his mother and sister. This patient was treated with terbinafine [Lamisil registered] orally at a dose of 125mg/jour once daily for four weeks, combined econazole cream 1% [Pevaryl registered] in two applications per day. This treatment was effective. However, there was persistence of large scars and alopecia. This case illustrates the persistence of favus tinea in Morocco. The active case detection, treatment and improving hygienic conditions can accelerate the eradication of this type of mycosis

[Approach of diagnosis and treatment of female urinary stress incontinence]

This work concerns twenty eight cases of urinary stress incontinence treated between 1977 and 1987. The high incidence of previous perineal operations and multiparity is noted. The diagnosis has been established clinically in all cases.Different types of surgery for urinary stress incontinence have been used: endoscopic bladder neck suspension in 17 cases, and retropubic colpopexy in 9 cases. The results are good in respectively 88% and 78%. Correct diagnosis and operative indication are the main elements of treatment of urinary stress incontinence. Each procedure permiting reposition of the bladder neck and proximal urethra in abdominal manometric enclosure amends the urinary stress incontinence. This endoscopic bladder neck suspension procedure is indicated. Otherwise, this procedure is quick, simple, allowing an easy access eventhough for multi-operated and fat patients. The failure's factors are analysed