[Dynamic of respiratory pathology in a service of pneumology in black Africa in the context of HIV infection from 1998 to 2007]. / Dynamique de la pathologie respiratoire dans un service de pneumologie en Afrique noire dans le contexte de l'infection à VIH de 1998 à 2007.

INTRODUCTION: The pneumology in developing countries is practiced in a singular context: population mostly younger, endemic tuberculosis, high prevalence of HIV infection and growing pollution. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to present respiratory pathology evolution in hospitalization of pneumology department in black Africa. METHODOLOGY: Our study is retrospective and descriptive. We consulted the register of hospitalization activities from January 1998 to December 2007. RESULTS: The age group of 20-49 years represents 78.36% of all patients. Tuberculosis (TB) remains the first affection from 1998 to 2007 with a frequency varying between 38.2% and 45.2%. The cases of pneumonia are in regression since 2001, but cases of febrile alveolar interstitial pneumonia (FAIP) increase. The pathologies bound to tobacco addiction are rare. HIV infection is associated to TB (82.86%), to pneumonia (77.22%), to FAIP (92.23%). On 832 cases of death recorded, 46.15% of deaths are assigned to TB, 15.98% to pneumonia and 14.66% to FAIP. The global lethality of the TB and the pneumonia is respectively 20.1% and 17.6%. The one of FAIP is 32.5%. Mortality attributable to TB and pneumonia decreases progressively but the one attributable to FAIP remains important. CONCLUSION: Respiratory pathology is dominated by TB, pneumonia and FAIP. These pathologies associated to HIV infection cause a strong mortality.

[Non-tuberculous pleural infections versus tuberculous pleural infections]. / Atteintes pleurales non tuberculeuses versus atteintes pleurales tuberculeuses.

INTRODUCTION: In countries where tuberculosis is endemic, the main differential diagnosis for pleural infection by common bacteria is pleural tuberculosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to determine the differences between pleural infection by common bacteria and that caused by pleural tuberculosis. METHODOLOGY: Our study was a retrospective analysis and compared the characteristics of confirmed pleural infection by common bacteria (PIB) and that due to pleural tuberculosis (PT). RESULTS: For the PIB, the signs evolved for 2.4 ± 1.4 weeks versus 5.6 ± 2.2 weeks for the PT (P=0.01). In multivariate analysis, for PIB the onset of symptoms was more abrupt (OR=3.8 [1.5; 9.9]; P=0.01), asthenia was less frequent (OR=0.3 [0.1; 0.9]; P=0.03), pleural liquid was more purulent (OR=40.0 [15.0; 106.7]; P<0.01). The blood neutrophil count was more frequently raised in cases of PIB (OR=2.5 [1.2; 5.4]; P=0.02). Pneumothorax/hydropneumothorax was less frequent in PIB (OR=0.3 [0.1; 1.0]; P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Clinical differences exist between pleural effusions caused by tuberculosis (TB) and those due to other bacterial infections. However, they are not sufficiently sensitive and therefore the search for the tuberculous bacillus must be systematic while waiting for implementation of new diagnostic tests for the organism.