ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical features of children with hemoglobin sickle cell disease (HbSC) and compare them to children with sickle cell anemia (HbSS). POPULATION AND METHODS: This was a descriptive and retrospective study. New patients with sickle cell disease who consulted at the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital's Pediatric Center in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, between May 2005 and June 2006, were included. They were free of any major disease unrelated to sickle cell disease. Clinical and laboratory results reported for these children were based on their health book and medical records. RESULTS: Sixty-one children were included in the study, 38 and 23 children were positive for HbSC and HbSS, respectively; there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of sex ratio or mean age at inclusion. Mean age at diagnosis was 5 years and 2 years for HbSC and HbSS children, respectively. The first clinical event appeared at a significantly later age for HbSC than HbSS children (4 years versus 2 years). Painful episodes were equivalent in mean number per year and mean length per episode between the 2 groups; the median hemoglobin (Hb) level at inclusion was significantly higher for HbSC than for HbSS children, i.e., 95 g/l versus 70 g/l. CONCLUSION: At the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital Pediatric Center, children with HbSC disease presented clinical and biological features very similar to those with HbSS.
Subject(s)
Hemoglobin C Disease/epidemiology , Hemoglobin SC Disease/epidemiology , Adolescent , Burkina Faso/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Hemoglobins/analysis , Hospitals, University , Humans , Infant , Male , Retrospective Studies , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
AIMS: To report our experience of neonatal screening for sickle cell disease in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and to discuss the feasibility of neonatal screening in this country. METHODS: Between the years 2000 and 2004, there were about 2,341 births in five maternity services in Ouagadougou. These babies were screened for sickle cell disease in a universal screening pilot programme. In 2006, 53 babies born to selected couples were screened. The specimens were collected either by cord blood sampling or from a dried blood spot on filter paper. The screening was performed using an isoelectric focusing technique. RESULTS: In the first stage (2000-4), the incidence of sickle cell disease was 1:57. In the second stage, six of 53 babies of selected couples were found to have major haemoglobinopathies: one was homozygous for haemoglobin S and five were compound heterozygotes for haemoglobins S and C. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a national screening programme should be implemented in Burkina Faso with effective newborn and subsequent follow-up, but a methodology needs to be developed.
Subject(s)
Hemoglobinopathies/diagnosis , Neonatal Screening/methods , Burkina Faso/epidemiology , Developing Countries , Feasibility Studies , Hemoglobinopathies/epidemiology , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Isoelectric Focusing , Outcome Assessment, Health CareABSTRACT
The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the experience of physicians in Burkina Faso with haemoglobinopathy (particularly sickle cell disease). Survey findings showed that these pathologies were encountered in daily medical practice but that resources necessary to insure proper prevention, follow-up and treatment were insufficient. Practitioners expressed the need for better continuous medical education and for information campaigns to familiarize the public.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell/epidemiology , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data , Anemia, Sickle Cell/diagnosis , Anemia, Sickle Cell/therapy , Attitude of Health Personnel , Burkina Faso/epidemiology , Humans , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Cette etude evalue l'experience medicale vis-a-vis des hemoglobinopathies et en particulier des syndromes drepanocytaires au Burkina Faso. Un questionnaire a reponses a choix multiple et a reponses libres a ete utilise. L'etude montre que ces pathologies sont rencontrees dans la pratique quotidienne; mais que les moyens mis a disposition des medecins pour la prevention; le suivi et le traitement de celles-ci sont limites. Une amelioration dans la formation medicale continue et dans l'information du public ont ete souhaitees par les medecins interroges
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell , Medical Staff , Professional Competence , Signs and SymptomsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and tuberculosis (TB) in a West African country. DESIGN: A cohort study in TB patients at the TB centre of Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. RESULTS: HIV seroprevalence rose from 12.5% in 1987 to 24.7% in 1990. Analysis of clinical findings showed that extra-pulmonary TB was not more frequent in HIV-positive patients (18.5%) than in HIV negative patients (17.3%). Four symptoms were independently associated with HIV infection: diarrhoea, lymphadenopathy, weight loss and oral candidiasis. At the end of six months of chemotherapy for TB (2SHRZ/4HR), the mortality rate among HIV-positive TB patients was 27%, versus 10% among HIV-negative TB patients (P < 0.001). There was no difference between treatment failure rates among HIV-positive patients (3.8%) and HIV-negative patients (3.9%). At the final evaluation, 18 months after the start of chemotherapy, the relapse rate was 8% in HIV-positive patients versus 5.6% in HIV-negative patients (NS). Global mortality rate during the whole study period was significantly higher in HIV-1 (40.3%) and HIV-1 + 2 (20%) patients than in HIV-2 (11.1%) and HIV-negative (12.9%) patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that, according to previous African studies, despite a higher mortality rate due generally to HIV disease itself, short-course chemotherapy of 6 months is as effective in HIV-positive patients as in HIV-negative patients, and must be continued.
