[Installation of a toxicology information center at the National University Hospital Center of Cotonou (Benin)]. / Installation d'un centre d'information toxicologique au Centre national hospitalier universitaire de Cotonou (Bénin).

The need for toxicology information centres in West Africa in order to improve the management of poisoning, diagnosis and prevention is now largely recognised. African Governments have been encouraged to support the establishment of such centres equipped with appropriate means for prevention and management. Burden of toxic morbidity and mortality in Benin incited the Public Health Ministry to pursue this policy. The project has been integrated as part of the process seeking to reinforce emergency services in Benin. It consists of providing the emergency services with the means of prevention and management of poisonings. The principal functions of such a centre will be providing information on toxicology as well as recommendations for poisoning management, toxicovigilance, research, education and training in prevention and treatment of poisoning. This project will involve health workers, national authorities and the entire population of Benin. The estimated cost cost is 572,000 euros over 3 years.

[In vivo amodiaquine sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum in the town of Cotonou and in the vicinity (Bénin)]. / Sensibilité in vivo du Plasmodium falciparum à l'amodiaquine dans la ville de Cotonou et ses environs (Bénin).

In the coastal area of Benin, where chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains occur, 152 children in the Guezo military camp (Cotonou) and 448 children in a fishermen village (Ekpe), on the southern bank of lake Nokoue, are examined. The falciparum malaria infected children (29 and 135 respectively) have received 35 mg/kg body weight of amodiaquine (Flavoquine) divided in three consecutive daily doses. Only one child among the 69 treated having a parasitemia higher than 1,000/mm3 failed to be cured. The amodiaquine tolerance is excellent for, respectively, 64% and 72% of the children. Minor side-effects are rapidly regressive. The frequency of conjonctival hyperhemia as an amodiaquine side-effect is nevertheless relatively high (14.7%) in the children regularly treated with this drug, e.g. those of the military camp, while it is rare (0.8%) in others, e.g. in the fishermen village children where amodiaquine is unusual as an antimalarial medicine.