RESUMO
Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa. Children are mostly exposed to this disease; numerous studies have investigated the relationship between child malnutrition and either malaria morbidity or infection. Few studies demonstrated the interaction between child malnutrition and specific anti-Plasmodium falciparum immune responses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of nutritional status and iron on total anti-Plasmodium falciparum IgG levels in children living in the Gado-Badzéré refugee camp. We carried out a cross-sectional study during August-November 2017 in the Gado-Badzéré refugee camp in the East region of Cameroon. Children aged from 6 to 59 months with fever were recruited from the medical center. The data were recorded using a standardized data collection sheet and were analyzed using SPSS and WHO Anthro software. The total anti-Pf 3D7 total IgG level was determined using an ELISA technique while a colorimetric method was used to measure the total iron level. A total of 83 patients aged 6-59 months were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of malaria and malnutrition was 47% and 31%, respectively. Acute malnutrition was statistically less recurrent in noninfected children compared with that in the infected children. The infection tended to have significant influence on the level of anti-Plasmodium falciparum antibodies in children. In addition, nutritional status and serum iron levels had no significant influence on children's anti-Pf IgG T levels. Malaria and malnutrition remain real public health problems in the Gado-badzéré refugee camp. Knowledge of the nutritional profile of the population would be of great benefit in setting up an appropriate health program. We therefore suggest that more standardized studies be conducted to highlight the effect of nutrition and micronutrients on immunological status.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Although Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 71% of the people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) worldwide and Cameroon accounts for about 2% of them, the role of HIV-induced immunodeficiency and exposure to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in the occurrence of cancers in Cameroon has scarcely been examined. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of cancers in HIV patients and to determine the role of CD4+cell count in the onset of cancers. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out from medical records of people confirmed to be HIV-positive from 01 July 2003 to 30 April 2013. Potential risk factors were studied by Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 1768 patients were included in the analysis and 53 cases of cancer were diagnosed with an incidence rate of 7.4 per 1000 person-year of follow-up (95% CI; 5.4-9.4 per 1000 person-years of follow-up). Immunosuppression and exposure to ART were identified as factors associated with the occurrence of cancers in this population. Current CD4+cell count was the most important risk factor for cancer. Risk of cancer ranged from 15.51 (95% CI; 5.45-44.1; P<0.001) for a CD4+ cell count<50 cells/mm3 to 2.87 (95% CI; 1.14-7.2; P=0.025) for a CD4+ level between 350-499 cells/mm3. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the incidence rate of cancers is high among HIV patients in Cameroon. This incidence seems to correlate positively with the latest CD4+cell count and negatively with initiation of antiretroviral treatment.
