Immuno-allergic dermatoses in children of 0-5 years old in Kinshasa hospital environment.

Introduction: The frequency of immuno-allergic dermatoses (IAD) is gradually overtaking that of infectious dermatoses in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to identify the epidemioclinical profile and the determinants of IAD in children of 0-5 years old at the University Clinics of Kinshasa (UCK). Methods: This was a documentary and descriptive study that focused on children from 0 to 5 years old with IAD, over an 11-year period from 2011 to 2021. Included were children from 0 to 5 years old received in consultation the first time for IAD. The parameters of interest were sociodemographic and clinical. Data was entered and analysed using Excel 2010 software. Ethical and deontological considerations were respected. The value of p < 0.05 was the significance threshold. Results: The frequency of IAD in children aged 0-5 years in the UCK was 17.8%, with a high peak between 2 and 3 years (41.9%) and a female predominance at 54.4%, which represents a sex ratio of 0.8. Prurigo strophulus (42.3%) and atopic dermatitis (22.8%) were the most common IAD. In multivariate analysis, the determinants were significantly the age group of 4-5 years, the rainy season and the child's environment. Conclusion: Prurigo strophulus and atopic dermatitis were the most frequent IAD in children aged 0-5 years. A holistic care (medical, ecological) of children and their parents may reduce morbidity related to IAD for this age.

Clinical side effects after oral administration of palm oil and Alchornea cordifolia decoction in a child.

Alchornea cordifolia is known to be a plant with a variety of medicinal properties and is quoted by many traditional healers to treat a variety of medicinal problems in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, very little is known about its potential toxicity. We report the case of a 9-year-old boy referred for assessment of suspected bronchial troubles without a history of atopic disease or drug allergy who developed dyspnea, dysphagia, asthenia and lingual ulcers within 30 minutes after nasal and oral administration of decoction of palm oil associated with A. cordifolia leaves in water. In the present report, adverse effects of A. cordifolia therapy may be related to the mixtures of active compounds that they contain and can cause the symptoms observed in our patient. These findings call for caution in the use of A. cordifolia especially in children.

Skinfold over toenail is pathognomonic for the popliteal pterygium syndrome in a Congolese family with large intrafamilial variability.

KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE: We report on three related Congolese popliteal pterygium syndrome (PPS) patients concordant only for the skinfold over the toenail. Mutation analysis revealed that the three affected individuals carried a heterozygous missense mutation in the Exon 4, NM_006147.2:c.250C>T; p.Arg84Cys. This is the first molecularly confirmed PPS family from central Africa.