Chronic leg ulcers in hospitalized patients in Lomé, Togo: 125 cases.

The aim of this study was to document the profile and causes of chronic leg ulcers (CLU) in patients hospitalized in Lomé, Togo. This retrospective study reviewed records from the dermatology departments (CHU Sylvanus Olympio and Campus, and the dermatology center of Gbossimé) from 2000 to 2017 and from the general surgery department of CHU Sylvanus Olympio from 2013 to 2017 to identify cases. In all, 125 cases of CLU were identified during the study period. The patients' mean age was 56.6 years and the sex ratio (M/F) was 0.89. The average time from CLU onset to consultation was 10.9 weeks (range : 7 weeks to 4 years). They were mainly associated with a history of diabetes (32 cases), arterial hypertension (16 cases), varicose veins (14 cases), and malnutrition (14 cases). The main causes were : ulcers of infectious origin in 49.6% of cases (including 38 with phagedenic ulcers), ulcers of vascular origin in 36% (including 21 cases with a venous ulcer) and diabetic ulcers in 8.8% of cases. The ulcer was unilateral in 122 patients (67 on the right and 55 on the left) and bilateral in 3 patients. The locations were the foot in 56 cases, the leg in 37 cases, and leg and foot in 32 cases. In addition to dressings, surgical debridement was performed in 23 patients, followed by skin autografts for 16. Amputation was performed for 31 patients. Sixteen (12.8%) of the 125 patients died. Our study observed a high rate of phagedenic ulcers among CLU in Togo. It also pointed to a problem explaining the very high mortality rate: delayed consultation by patients who arrive only after the onset of complications.

Stevens-Johnson and Lyell syndromes in children in a hospital setting in Lomé, Togo, from 2000 to 2015.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to document the profile of children with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN, also called Lyell syndrome) in hospital settings in Lomé, Togo. METHOD: This descriptive retrospective study examined the records of children aged 0 to 15, seen and/or hospitalized in the dermatology department of CHU-SO Lomé and diagnosed with SJS/TEN between 2000 and 2015. RESULTS: Records were identified for 14 children with these diagnoses during the study period. Their average age was 10.9 ± 3.9 years. The average time between taking the apparently causal medication and the onset of symptoms was 10.5 days (range: 4 to 21 days). SJS accounted for 64.3% of the cases. Six children with SJS and one with TEN had ocular involvement. Antibacterial sulfonamides were the main drug involved for 43% of children, followed by anticonvulsants for 14/3%. CONCLUSION: Our results show that SJS/TEN is rare but serious in children. The antibacterial sulfonamides used for the treatment of malaria and anticonvulsants are their most frequent cause.

[Factors associated with the severity of acute ocular involvement in Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in sub-Saharan Africa]. / Facteurs de risque associés à la sévérité de l'atteinte oculaire au stade aigu du syndrome de Stevens-Johnson et de la nécrolyse épidermique toxique en Afrique subsaharienne.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with the severity of acute ocular involvement in Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) in sub-Saharan Africa. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was carried out at the dermatology department in collaboration with the ophthalmology department for SJS/TEN patients between January 2000 and December 2016 in Lomé (Togo). The severity of acute ocular involvement was evaluated using the Power classification, and the drug eruption score was assessed using de Bastuji-Garin classification. RESULTS: A total of 107 cases of SJS/TEN (84 cases of SJS, 20 cases of TEN and 3 cases of overlap syndrome) were analyzed. There were 71 women and 36 men, with an average age of 32.3±12.5 years (range: 5 to 75 years). Sulfonamides (37.4%) were the most commonly used drugs followed by nevirapine (22.4%). HIV serology was positive in 46 (58.2%) of the 79 patients tested. A total of 54 (50.5%) patients had acute ocular involvement, which was mild in 29.9% of patients, moderate in 13.1% and severe in 7.5%. In multivariate analysis, exposure to sulfadoxine was the sole factor associated with moderate or severe acute ocular involvement in SJS/TEN (adjusted odds ratio=3.3; 95% CI=[1.1; 10.2]). CONCLUSION: Exposure to sulfadoxine was identified in our study as a risk factor associated with the severity of acute ocular involvement in SJS/TEN. Multicenter studies should be conducted in sub-Saharan Africa to confirm this associated risk factor.

[Feves and left upper-quadrant abdominal pain in a Tunisian child. Amebic abcess of the spleen]. / Douleur de l'hypocondre gauche et fièvre chez une enfant tunisienne. Amibiase splénique primitive.

Amebiasis is a rarely localized in the spleen, and its preoperative diagnosis is difficult. We report the case of an 11-year-old Tunisian girl who presented with fever and left upper-quadrant abdominal pain.

[Primary hydatid cyst of the adrenal gland in a patient with situs inversus. A one-case report]. / Kyste hydatique primitif de la glande surrénale chez une patiente porteuse de situs inversus. À propos d'une observation.

Primary hydatid cyst of the adrenal gland remains an exceptional localization. The adrenal gland is an uncommon site even in our country in which echinococcal disease is endemic. We report the case of a 38-year-old woman who consulted for left back pain. The CT scan showed a cystic mass in the left retroperitoneal area with a calcified wall. The patient underwent surgery which confirmed a diagnosis of hydatid cyst of the left adrenal gland. The surgical treatment consisted on a total resection of the cyst, without rupture of the cystic wall and preserving the gland. The diagnosis was confirmed on macroscopic and histological examination of the resected piece. The postoperative course was uneventful. No recurrence had occurred after 36 months of follow-up.

Prevesical hydatid cyst: an exceptional occurrence.

Echinococcal cysts usually involve the liver; extrahepatic localization is reported in 11% of all cases of abdominal hydatid disease. We report a case of a prevesical hydatid cyst. A 53-year-old man was admitted with a large suprapubic mass. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a cystic mass situated in front of the urinary bladder. There were no cysts in any other location. Serological tests were positive for Echinococcus. The patient was operated on and the cyst was completely excised. The pathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of Echinococcosis. Isolated hydatid cyst situated in front of the urinary bladder has never been described in the literature. Hydatid cyst should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominopelvic masses in endemic regions, before any procedure like puncture, biopsy or cystectomy, in order to avoid dissemination of the cystic contents or an anaphylactic shock.