[Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major involving the bone marrow in an AIDS patient in Burkina Faso]. / Leishmaniose cutanée à Leishmania major avec atteinte de la moelle osseuse chez un malade infecté par le VIH au Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis covers three well-individualized clinical variants, each due to individual species found in different geographic areas. Herein we report the first case of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major involving bone marrow in an AIDS patient in Burkina Faso. CASE REPORT: A 38-year-old HIV-positive man presented with generalized, copper-coloured, painless, infiltrated, itching, papulonodular lesions present over the previous 10 months. Skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis. The bone-marrow smear showed numerous leishmania. The culture was positive and L. major was identified. The patient was being treated with antiretroviral medication and a pentavalent antimonial compound. The disease progression consisted of attacks and remissions separated by an average of three weeks. DISCUSSION: L. major is the Leishmania species identified in Burkina Faso. It is responsible for typical cutaneous leishmaniasis but particular clinical forms have been described in immunodeficient patients, especially with diffuse cutaneous involvement. The spread of L. major infection to bone marrow could represent a public health problem in our country, where the HIV epidemic is still not under control, and particular vigilance is thus called for.

[Epidermodysplasia verruciformis: clinicaland epidemiological features of 45 cases in the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital Center of Yalgado Ouedraogo, Ouagadougou]. / Epidermodysplasie verruciforme: aspects epidémiologiques et cliniques de 45 cas dans le service de Dermatologie du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Yalgado Ouédraogo, Ouagadougou.

INTRODUCTION: The epidermodysplasia verruciformis is a rare, autosomic, recessive, genodermatose characterized by a chronic, disseminated, cutaneous infection with human papillomavirus. The majority of these patients have a genetic or acquired immunodeficiency. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on the records of all patients who presented in our dermatology department with an epidermodysplasia verruciformis in a 13 years and 6 months period, from January 1st, 1992 to June 30th, 2005. RESULTS: We have collected 45 cases of epidermodysplasia verruciformis. They were aged from 3 to 57 years, with a mean of 24.6 years. The most concerned age bracket was that from zero to 9 years. They were 29 women (64.4%) and 16 men (35.6%). The eruption presented as papules of 2 to 3 mm size, associated with hypochromic, finely squamous macules with the same size. We noted three cases of itching. We found 37.7% of family cases. We observed 14 cases of HIV positive patients and one case of cancer. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that the epidermodysplasia verruciformis was rare. Genetic factors or immunodeficiency would support the appearance of the disease.

Epidermodysplasie verruciforme : aspects epidemiologiques et cliniques de 45 cas dans le service de dermatologie du centre universitaire Yalgado Ouedraogo; Ouagadougou

Introduction : L'epidermodysplasie verruciforme est une genodermatose rare; autosomique recessive caracterisee par une infection cutanee a papillomavirus humains; disseminee; d'evolution chronique. La plupart de ces malades ont un deficit immunitaire. Patients et Methodes : Il s'agissait d'une etude retrospective a partir des dossiers des malades ayant consulte pour une epidermodysplasie verruciforme dans le service; du 1er janvier 1992 au 30 juin 2005; soit une periode de 13 ans et six mois. Resultats : Nous avons collige 45 cas d'epidermodysplasie verruciforme. L'age moyen etait de 24;6 ans avec des extremes de 3 a 57 ans. La tranche d'age la plus touchee etait celle de zero a 9 ans. Il s'agissait de 29 femmes (64;4) et de 16 hommes (35;6). L'eruption etait faite de papules de 2 a 3 mm associee a des macules identiques; hypochromiques; rosees; finement squameuses. Nous avons note trois cas de prurit. Nous avons retrouve 37;7de cas familiaux. Dans le cadre du deficit immunitaire acquis; nous avons observe un cas de cancer du sein et quatorze patients etaient seropositifs pour le VIH. Conclusion : Cette etude a confirme la rarete de cette affection et a montre que l'immunodepression cellulaire genetique ou acquise favoriserait l'apparition de la maladie

[In Burkina Faso: general mobilization in favor of the "vaccination commando"]. / Au Burkina Faso: mobilisation générale en faveur de la "vaccination commando".

A vaccination nationwide campaign against measles, meningitis and yellow fever was organized in Burkina Faso (former Upper Volta) from November 25 to December 10, 1984. All children between 0 and 14 years, not yet vaccinated, were to be immunized. The campaign called "vaccination commando" was preceded by a study of the population's behaviour. This led to the creation of an interministerial committee to implement a multidisciplinary and a multi-sectoral approach. Village and district committees were set up to establish lists of children to be vaccinated, mobilize the community, and organize the vaccination sessions. A guide for health workers, schoolteachers and parents was also published. All available means of information were used to publicize the campaign. The most useful media was radio which covers the entire country. Round table discussions took place on television. Slides and short films were used in primary and secondary schools. Poems and songs were written for theatre shows. Posters were designed and displayed in towns and villages. More than 100,000 fliers were distributed. Once the campaign over, an evaluation showed that the vaccination rate was almost 100% and that it had become a routine activity for all health workers. Health education was an essential factor in the campaign's success.