Quality assessment of malaria microscopic diagnosis at the Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital of Dakar, Senegal, in 2020.

BACKGROUND: Following WHO guidelines, microscopy is the gold standard for malaria diagnosis in endemic countries. The Parasitology-Mycology laboratory (LPM) is the National Reference Laboratory and is currently undergoing ISO 15189 accreditation. In this context, we assessed the performance of the laboratory by confirming the reliability and the accuracy of results obtained in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 15189 standards. This study aimed to verify the method of microscopic diagnosis of malaria at the LPM, in the Aristide Le Dantec hospital (HALD) in Dakar, Senegal. METHODS: This is a validation/verification study conducted from June to August 2020. Twenty (20) microscopic slides of thick/thin blood smear with known parasite densities (PD) selected from the Cheick Anta Diop University malaria slide bank in Dakar were used for this assessment. Six (6) were used to assess microscopists' ability to determine PD and fourteen (14) slides were used for detection (positive vs negative) and identification of parasites. Four (4) LPM-HALD microscopists read and recorded their results on prepared sheets. Data analysis was done with Microsoft Excel 2010 software. RESULTS: A minimum threshold of 50% concordance was used for comparison. Of the twenty (20) slides read, 100% concordance was obtained on eight (8) detection (positive vs negative) slides. Four (4) out of the six (6) parasite density evaluation slides obtained a concordance of less than 50%. Thirteen (13) out of the fourteen (14) identification slides obtained a concordance greater than 50%. Only one (1) identification slide obtained zero agreement from the microscopists. For species identification a concordance greater than 80% was noted and the microscopists obtained scores between 0.20 and 0.4 on a scale of 0 to 1 for parasite density reading. The microscopists obtained 100% precision, sensitivity, specificity and both negative and positive predictive values. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrated that the microscopic method of malaria diagnosis used in the LPM/HALD is in accordance with the requirements of WHO and ISO 15189. Further training of microscopists may be needed to maintain competency.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Senegal: a series of 38 cases at the Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital in Dakar.

Our aims were to study the epidemiological, clinical, and parasitological aspects of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the dermatology department of the Aristide Le Dantec hospital. This retrospective study reviewed records of cases treated over a 4-year period (from April 2010 through April 2014) at the HALD Dermatology department. The study included all patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis during the study period. The diagnostic criteria were clinical, parasitological, and histological. The study included 38 patients, corresponding to 9.5 cases per year. Patients' average age was 25 years (4-65 years) and the sex ratio was 1.6. The mean time from symptom outset to consultation was 3.2 months. The disease was located in limbs in 23 cases (63.8%), the face in 6 cases (16.6%), and disseminated in 9 (19.6%). The clinical presentation was ulcerated and crusted in 17 patients (44.7%), sporotrichoid in 13 (28.9%), pseudo-lepromatous in 4 (10.5%), and lupoid in 3 cases (7.9 %). It included warts, mucosa, and tropical sores (Aleppo boils) in all cases. We observed 3 cases associated with HIV; one had a pseudo-lepromatous presentation and resulted from immune restoration syndrome, while two patients had clinical forms of associations: ulcerative and crusted lesions associated with mucosal leishmaniasis in a 55-year-old patient, and cutaneous ulcerative, lupoid, and crusted multifocal (cutaneous, medullary, and lymph nodes) lesions in a 4-year-old infected with Leishmania infantum. Crusted ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis is the predominant form of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Infection with HIV can be an important factor in clinical and parasitological atypia.

[Etiology of intertrigo in adults: A prospective study of 103 cases]. / Les étiologies des intertrigos chez l'adulte : étude prospective de 103 cas.

INTRODUCTION: The etiologies of intertrigo in adults are numerous and different. The objective of our work was to study the epidemiological, clinical and the risk factors of intertrigo in adults. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study for a period of seven months in two Dermatology Units in Dakar (Senegal). All adults patient with intertrigo seen during this period who gave consent were included. RESULTS: One hundred and three patients with intertrigo were diagnosed with a hospital prevalence of 2.54%. The sex -ratio was 0.63 and the average age was 41. The study of habits and lifestyles of the patients found a history of intensive skin lightening, sport, wearing synthetic clothes and smoking in 26, 22, 20 and 22 cases, respectively. Infectious complications mainly bacterial (3.88%) and viral (1.94%) were reported in nine cases (8.7%). A dry erythroderma was noted in 3 cases (2.9%). It was found that the intertigo was commonly caused by fungal infections with a prevalence of 48.5% followed by immuno-allergic reactions with a prevalence of 34.9%, suppurative hidradenitis and inverse psoriasis with the same prevalence of 2.9%. Fifty-eight percent of cases with tinea and 63% of cases with candidiasis were women. Thirty-five percent of tinea cases and 45% of candidiasis cases were found to have a history of intensive skin lightening. CONCLUSION: The cause of intertrigo in adults are mainly infectious, particularly fungi, infections and immuno-allergic diseases. There are predisposing factors and some professions are more at risk.

Mortalité pédiatrique au Centre Hospitalier Régional de Saint-Louis (Sénégal)

Introduction : La mortalité infantile notamment la mortalité infanto-juvénile demeure encore élevée en Afrique sub-saharienne malgré une baisse considérable. Les objectifs de notre étude étaient d'évaluer la mortalité hospitalière globale et spécifique en fonction des tranches d'âge (nouveau-né, enfants de moins de 5 ans et enfants âgés de 5 ans et plus) et d'identifier les principaux facteurs de mortalité dans ces différents âges. Matériel et méthodes : Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective, descriptive et analytique allant du 1er janvier 2015 au 31 décembre 2015. Elle portait sur l'exploitation des registres de consultation, d'hospitalisation et sur l'analyse des dossiers des enfants décédés âgés de 0 à 15 ans Résultats : Durant l'année 2015, le service avait enregistré 6487 consultations et le nombre d'hospitalisations s'élevait à 2458 enfants. Le nombre de décès enregistré était de 212, mais seuls 193 dossiers d'enfants décédés ont été colligés, le reste des dossiers n'a pas été retrouvés. La mortalité hospitalière globale était de 8,6% et la mortalité spécifique en fonction des tranches d'âge montrait une surmortalité néonatale de 13,9%, une mortalité infanto-juvénile de 8,6% et une mortalité chez les enfants de plus de 5 ans de 3,5%. Les facteurs de mortalité chez les nouveau-nés étaient dominés par la prématurité 32,5%, suivie par la Souffrance Néonatale (SNN) 27,1% et les infections néonatales (INN) 22,4%. Chez les enfants d'un mois à 5 ans, les facteurs de mortalité prédominants étaient la Malnutrition Aiguë Sévère (MAS) compliquée 30%, les Infections Respiratoires Aiguës (IRA) 30% et les méningites purulentes 14%. Conclusion : La réduction de la mortalité néonatale et infanto-juvénile dans notre contexte doit passer par le recrutement en personnels qualifiés (pédiatres, obstétriciens, sages-femmes…), la création d'unité de néonatologie au niveau des EPS de niveau 1, le relèvement du plateau technique des structures hospitalières et la lutte contre la pauvreté et l'amélioration du niveau de vie des populations

[Leg ulcers in sickle cell disease: A retrospective study of 40 cases]. / Ulcères de jambe au cours de la drépanocytose: étude rétrospective de 40 cas.

BACKGROUND: In Africa, studies primarily devoted to chronic leg ulcer due to sickle cell disease are rare. The objectives of the study were to determine the epidemiology, diagnosis and progression of chronic leg ulcers in sickle cell disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 5-year multicentre, retrospective study was conducted in three university hospitals in Dakar. We included all patients with chronic leg ulcers occurring in a setting of sickle cell disease. RESULTS: We identified 40 cases of chronic leg ulcers associated with sickle cell disease, representing 3.4% of the current population of sickle cell patients in our institutions. The average patient age was 25.9 years and the sex ratio was 2.33. Chronic leg ulcer was the presenting feature enabling diagnosis of sickle cell disease in one third of the cases. The average time to consultation from onset was 5.4 years. Pain was reported in 22 cases (48%). Ulcers were isolated in 76% and multiple in 24% of cases. The most common site was the medial malleolus (39%). A CBC allowed identification of anaemia in 35 cases. Haemoglobin electrophoresis was performed and homozygous sickle cell SS disease was identified in 39 cases and heterozygous SC disease in 1 case. Local treatments included physiologic serum, topical antibiotics and skin grafting. Systemic treatment included supplementation with folic acid in all patients, blood transfusion in 16 cases, vasodilators in 11 cases and antibiotics in 25 cases. The outcome was favourable in 61.8% of cases. DISCUSSION: In Dakar, sickle cell disease is a common cause of chronic leg ulcer and is frequently revealed by chronic leg ulcer.

Maladie de Caroli à révélation précoce. A propos d'un cas au service de néonatologie du Centre Hospitalier Abass Ndao de Dakar

Introduction : La maladie de Caroli est une maladie hépato-biliaire d'origine génétique rarement diagnostiquée en pédiatrie. Nous en rapportons un cas observé au service de néonatologie du centre hospitalier Abass Ndao de Dakar. Observation : Il s'agissait d'un nourrisson de 6 mois, de sexe féminin, hospitalisé pour une cholestase évoluant depuis la période néonatale. Une notion de consanguinité était notée chez les parents. L'échographie abdominale et l'IRM ont permis de confirmer le diagnostic de maladie de Caroli en montrant une dilatation kystique des voies biliaires intra-hépatiques. L'évolution a été défavorable chez notre patiente qui est décédée à domicile dans un tableau de sepsis sévère et d'hémorragie.Conclusion : La maladie de Caroli est une des affections à ne pas méconnaître devant une cholestase du nourrisson

Drépanocytose chez l'enfant. Profils clinique et évolutif à propos de 138 cas suivis au Service de Pédiatrie de l'Hôpital Abass Ndao de Dakar

Introduction : La drépanocytose est une maladie héréditaire autosomique récessive de l'hémoglobine. C'est l'hémoglobinopathie la plus répandue dans le monde. Elle touche particulièrement l'Afrique subsaharienne. Sa révélation est souvent précoce chez le jeune nourrisson et son évolution chronique est émaillée de complications altérant la qualité de vie.Objectif : Caractériser le profil clinique et évolutif des enfants suivis pour syndrome drépanocytaire majeur, afin d'améliorer leur qualité de vie et de prolonger leur survie.Patients et méthodes : Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective, descriptive ayant concerné tous les patients suivis dans notre service pour une drépanocytose du 1er janvier 2010 au 31 avril 2015.Résultats : Cent trente-huit patients étaient suivis avec un sex-ratio (H/F) de 1,42, un âge moyen de 8,26 ans (DS = 4,06). La majorité provenait de Dakar (65,1%) suivie de la région de Diourbel, puis de Matam avec respectivement 10,3% et 8,7% des cas. Les aînés étaient plus représentés avec 35,8% des cas et la fratrie moyenne était de 3,4 enfants par famille (DS 2,09). Une consanguinité parentale était retrouvée dans 50% et concernait le premier degré dans 46,7% des cas. L'âge moyen au diagnostic était de 52,61 mois (DS 39,8). Les circonstances de découverte étaient dominées par les douleurs ostéo-articulaires (34,8%), le syndrome pieds-mains (14,5%) et l'anémie (10,2%). A l'admission, 62,9% des patients avaient un index de masse corporelle insuffisant par rapport à l'âge. Trois types de profil d'hémoglobine ont été retrouvés : SS (94,7%), SC (4,5%) et un cas de S bêta thalassémie. Le traitement était essentiellement une supplémentation en acide folique (98,6%) et en fer (20,4%) et seulement deux patients étaient sous hydroxyurée.Une antibioprophylaxie par la pénicilline V orale était administrée dans 74,1% des cas. Pendant les phases de crises, la prise en charge était basée sur les antalgiques (81,9%), l'hydratation avec des solutés glucosés 5% (71%), des antibiotiques surtout les bêtalactamines et les quinolones (60,9%), la transfusion (30,4%) et la chirurgie (1,7%). Les complications étaient la crise vaso-occlusive (83,3%), les infections (54,3%) et la déglobulisation aiguë (26,1%). Un décès était noté. Les perdus de vue concernaient 41,7% des cas.Conclusion : Les complications de la drépanocytose chez l'enfant restent dominées par les crises vaso-occlusives et les infections. Il est alors capital de mettre l'accent sur la prévention primaire et secondaire afin d'améliorer la qualité de vie de ces patients

Negative cutaneous effects of medicinal plants in Senegal.

Use of medicinal plants is common and widespread throughout Africa, including in Senegal. Because efficacy has been demonstrated, public policies have been instituted that have allowed plant-based therapies to have an important role in general primary care. However, little is known about the cutaneous safety of many plant-based therapies. In this 6-month prospective study all cases of dermatitis induced or aggravated by exclusive use of medicinal plants were evaluated via skin allergy testing. The results were classified and compared with the available literature. Forty-three cases of plant-therapy-associated cutaneous reactions were identified, including worsening of existing conditions (56%), recurrence of a previously resolved condition (16%) and new dermatitis arising spontaneously (28%). In the cases where the condition was new, generalized exfoliative dermatitis occurred in 42% of cases with an average time of onset of 9 days. Specific plants were identified in 65% of cases and included 18 varieties. The frequency and severity of plant-induced cutaneous reactions should be the basis for the creation of a phytovigilance programme and re-evaluation of how traditional medicine is used in the general population. When irritation occurs, identification of the responsible plant and allergy testing should be the first steps towards relieving symptoms.

[Dehydration and malnutrition as two independent risk factors of death in a Senegalese pediatric hospital]. / Déshydratation et malnutrition : deux facteurs de risque de décès indépendants chez l'enfant sénégalais hospitalisé

UNLABELLED: Inpatient mortality is an indicator of the quality of care. We analyzed the mortality of under 5-year-old hospitalized children in the pediatric ward of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital for updating our data 10 years after our first study. METHODS: We analyzed the data of the children hospitalized between 1 January and 31 December 2012. For each child, we collected anthropometric measurements converted to a z-score related to World Health Organization growth data. Logistic regression-generating models built separately with different anthropometric parameters were used to assess the risk of mortality according to children's characteristics. RESULTS: Data from 393 children were included. The overall mortality rate was 10% (39/393). Using logistic regression, the risk factors associated with death were severe wasting (odds ratio [OR]=8.27; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]) [3.79-18], male gender (OR=2.98; 95% CI [1.25-7.1]), dehydration (OR=5.4; 95% CI [2.54-13.43]) in the model using the weight-for-height z-score; male gender (OR=2.5; 95% CI [1.11-5.63]), dehydration (OR=8.43; 95% CI [3.83-18.5]) in the model using the height-for-age z-score; male gender (OR=2.7; 95% CI [1.19-6.24]), dehydration (OR=7.5; 95% CI [3.39-16.76]), severe deficit in the weight-for-age z-score (OR=2.4; 95% CI [1.11-5.63]) in the model using the weight-for-age z-score; and male gender (OR=2.5; 95% CI [1.11-5.63]) and dehydration (OR=8.43; 94% CI [3.83-18.5]) in the last model with mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Dehydration and malnutrition were two independent risk factors of death. The protocols addressing dehydration and malnutrition management should be audited and performed systematically for each child's anthropometric measurements at admission.

Improving quality: one step at a time.

PIP: The notion that health care workers have the power to improve the quality of their services is a key to AVSC's efforts worldwide. The COPE process, AVSC's low-cost intervention for improving quality at service sites, brings together supervisors and staff at all levels to identify barriers to quality services and helps them find solutions they can implement with their own resources. For example, a hospital in Tanzania had tried unsuccessfully to obtain the funds to repair or replace broken equipment. Using the COPE process, the hospital used available funds to send a technician for training in maintenance and repair. Now everything from blood pressure equipment to bedsprings is repaired promptly, and quality has improved. Another hospital in Tanzania coped with the problem of broken bedsprings (patients were putting mattresses on the floor) by using readily available wire mesh to make repairs. In Kenya, the lack of running water forced staff to collect water from a cistern, taking time from their other responsibilities. During a COPE meeting to resolve the problem the staff bemoaned the fact that they did not have the funds to replace the water system. Then the gardener told the group that all they needed to do was fix a broken pipe. The repair was made at minimal cost, and the water supply was restored. The COPE process reveals that health care staff not only can identify obstacles to quality, they often know the cause of the problem and can offer the best solutions.^ieng

Japanese pill approval is bittersweet.

PIP: This article reports the controversy over the approval of a birth control pill in Japan. The birth control pill underwent a 9-year deliberation before it was approved in June as compared with the male impotence drug Viagra, which gained a quick approval from the government. Such quick approval made women's groups feel that this was characteristic of a societal bias. For years, the health ministers delayed the approval because supposedly more research was needed to determine the pill's safety and because of other reasons cited. What bothered these women's groups was the fact that the government kept citing the reason of safety as the cause of the delay, while, on the other hand, Viagra has claimed two lives since its approval. In this sense, many believe that culture still matters in Japan and such actions can be considered a gender issue.^ieng

Exploring the impact of domestic violence on reproductive health.

PIP: Domestic abuse of women is widespread and not linked to race, class, or educational status. Recognizing the impact of domestic violence on reproductive health, AVSC and the Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa have been developing a men's reproductive health program since 1997. At baseline, almost half of the men surveyed indicated that women suffer rape because they dress provocatively, and 58% asserted that marital rape is impossible. Thus, violence against women was prioritized in the program, which is training community health workers in ways to educate men. Trained workers are now educating men in seven provinces. Challenges faced by the program include a lack of social and legal support for violence elimination, the difficulty of intervening in a violent relationship, social definitions of male power that are based on the subjugation of women, and the financial dependence of women and children on men. Health care providers can help survivors of domestic violence by questioning patients about violence in a nonjudgmental way, helping clients increase their awareness that abuse is not to be tolerated, documenting the signs of abuse in medical records, and referring clients to local resources or helping create such resources.^ieng