ABSTRACT
A review of nutritional anaemia in Africa is presented above. It has been noted that nutritional anaemia, including iron-deficiency anaemia, megaloblastic anaemia due to folate deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency, or both, and protein deficiency-anaemia, is widespread throughout Africa. It is particularly common in growing children, women of child-bearing age, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The anaemia is also especially common during the second half of the dry season and the first half of the wet season, when food supplies are limited. In all cases the anaemia is caused either by limited dietary intake, excessive loss of nutrients or excessive utilization. The anaemia is associated with a number of sequelae including both structural changes, like mitochondrial swelling and mucosal atrophy, and functional abnormalities, such as cardiac failure, decreased work output, increased pregnancy risks and increased susceptibility to infections. The evidence in favour of increased susceptibility to infections in megaloblastic anaemia and protein-deficiency anaemia is overwhelming, but in iron-deficiency anaemia the available information argues in favour of reduced susceptibility to infections, except after initiation of iron therapy. The treatment of nutritional anaemia includes replacement of the deficient nutrients (and blood transfusion in severe cases), prevention of further nutrient losses and treatment of associated complications.
Subject(s)
Anemia/etiology , Deficiency Diseases/complications , Adult , Africa , Anemia/epidemiology , Anemia, Hypochromic/epidemiology , Anemia, Hypochromic/immunology , Anemia, Hypochromic/metabolism , Anemia, Hypochromic/therapy , Anemia, Megaloblastic/epidemiology , Anemia, Megaloblastic/etiology , Anemia, Megaloblastic/immunology , Anemia, Megaloblastic/metabolism , Anemia, Megaloblastic/therapy , Child , Female , Folic Acid/metabolism , Folic Acid Deficiency/complications , Humans , Iron/metabolism , Male , Pregnancy , Protein Deficiency/complications , Tropical Climate , Vitamin B 12/metabolism , Vitamin B 12 Deficiency/complicationsSubject(s)
Dermatology/trends , National Health Programs/organization & administration , Adolescent , Adult , Africa , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Delivery of Health Care , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Tanzania , Tropical ClimateABSTRACT
636 normal male blood donors were studied for haemoglobin genotype and G-6-PD deficiency. The results show that of 543 subjects with AA haemoglobin, 106 (19.5%) were G-6-PD deficient and of 93 individuals with AS haemoglobin 13 (14.0%). This difference is not significant.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell/blood , Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency/blood , Hemoglobin A , Hemoglobin, Sickle , Hemoglobins , Sickle Cell Trait/blood , Humans , MaleSubject(s)
Dermatology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Dermatology/education , Education, Medical , Female , Health Facilities , Health Occupations/education , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Skin Diseases/epidemiology , Skin Diseases/prevention & control , Statistics as Topic , Tanzania , WorkforceABSTRACT
In coastal Tanzania, 1,855 preschool and school children were studied for pyoderma (superficial bacterial infections of the skin exclusive of secondarily infected scabies) and for scabies. The predisposing personal, socleoeconomic, and hygienic variables for both conditions were studied also. Pyoderma lesions and some secondarily infected scabies were cultured aerobically for bacterial isolates and the predisposing factors were determined by interviews, home visits, and physical examinations. Pyoderma was present in 6.9% and scabies in 16.6% of the children; both combined totalled 23.5% of the children. Both conditions were more common in rural than in urban environments, but scabies was most common in populations with poor socioeconomic and hygienic conditions. The predisposing factors included trauma, insect bites, hot and damp coastal weather, and poor socioeconomic and hygienic conditions.
Subject(s)
Pyoderma/epidemiology , Scabies/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Corynebacterium diphtheriae/isolation & purification , Diet , Female , Housing , Humans , Hygiene , Insecta , Male , Pyoderma/microbiology , Rural Population , Sanitation , Scabies/microbiology , Socioeconomic Factors , Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification , Streptococcus pyogenes/isolation & purification , Tanzania , Urban Population , Water SupplyABSTRACT
A survey of skin diseases was carried out in pre-school children in five Ujamaa villages in Rufiji district and 532 children (5.3% of the total population) were screened. The results showed that scabies was the commonest skin problem affecting 31% of the children. Primary pyoderma and fungal infections were relatively less common and accounted for 7.0 and 2.4% respectively. Staphylococcus aureus, Group A beta haemolytic streptococci and Corynebacterium diphteriae were the commonest pathogeneic bacteria isolated from both infected scabies and primary pyoderma. Tinea capitis was similarly the commonest fungal infection and Microsporium audouinii was the main pathogen. The high prevalence of scabies was attributed to poor hygiene, overcrowding with intimate personal contact. The low prevalence of pyoderma was due to the fact that we did not include secondarily infected scabies and eczema amongst the cases of pyoderma.
