[Cholera epidemic of 2004 in Dakar, Senegal: epidemiologic, clinical and therapeutic aspects]. / L'épidémie de choléra de 2004 à Dakar: aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques et thérapeutiques.

During the cholera epidemic that occurred in Dakar, Senegal in 2004, we treated a total of 593 confirmed or suspected cases in our department. The purpose of this report is to describe epidemiologic, clinical, bacteriologic and therapeutic aspects of these cases. Study was conducted at the infectious diseases clinic from October 11 to December 20, 2004. Mean patient age was 30 years and the sex ratio was 133. The likely source of contamination was food or water intake in 92% of cases. The duration of the epidemic was short (75 days). Onset was sudden in 98% of cases and the main clinical manifestations were watery diarrhoea (95%) and vomiting (78%). The mean delay between symptoms and hospitalization was 11 hours and the number of stools before admission to the hospital was greater than 10 in 23% of cases. At the time of admission 119 patients (20.1%) were severely dehydrated. A total of 250 coprocultures were performed. Results were positive in 145 cases (58%) including 112 (44%) for Vibrio cholerae 01. Antibiotic testing carried out on 36 strains demonstrated excellent sensitivity to doxycycine and pefloxacine but resistance to cotrimoxazole, amoxicilline and chloramphenicol. Oral rehydration therapy was used in most cases (61%). The mortality rate was 0.5%. Cholera is a medical emergency that can have a favourable prognosis with properly organized management.

[Efficacy and tolerance of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-2 infected patients in Dakar: preliminary study]. / Evaluation de l'efficacité et de la tolérance du traitement antirétroviral chez des patients infectés par le VIH-2 à Dakar: étude préliminaire.

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to evaluate the clinical and immunological response as well as the tolerance to antiretroviral therapy in HIV-2 infected patients. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was made from August 1998 to August 2004. RESULTS: 188 patients were on protease inhibitor based regimen. 153 (81.38%) were HIV-1 and 35 (18.62%) HIV-2 infected patients. The mean weight gain was significantly higher in the HIV-2 group at months 9 and 12 (P=0.02 et P=0.01 respectively), whereas CD4 cells count gain was higher in the HIV-1 group at month 6 (P=0.004). New AIDS defining criteria are less likely to occur in HIV-2 infected patients on HAART than in HIV-1 (P=0.004). Lipodystrophy syndrome was present only in HIV-1 infected patients. CONCLUSION: Antiretroviral therapy in HIV-2 infected patients shows similar clinical and immunological efficacy than in HIV-1 infected ones and is also well tolerated.

L'epidemie de cholera de 2004 a Dakar : aspects epidemiologiques; cliniques et therapeutiques

Ce travail decrit l'epidemie de cholera qui a touche Dakar en 2004; au cours de laquelle 593 cas confirmes ou probables ont ete pris en charge dans notre service. Il se fixe pour objectif de decrire les aspects epidemiologiques; cliniques; bacteriologiques et les strategies de prise en charge de cette epidemie. Pour atteindre cet objectif; nous avons mene une etude prospective a la clinique des maladies infectieuses du 11 octobre au 20 decembre 2004. L'age moyen des patients etait de 30 ans; et le sexe ratio de 1;33. La source probable de contamination a ete alimentaire et/ou hydrique dans 92des cas. La duree de l'epidemie a ete courte (75 jours). Le debut a ete brutal dans 98des cas; et la symptomatologie clinique dominee par la diarrhee aqueuse (95) et les vomissements (78). Le delai moyen d'hospitalisation etait de 11 heures et le nombre de selles emises avant l'admission superieur a 10 dans 23des cas. A l'admission; 119 malades (20;1) ont presente une deshydratation severe. Au total 250 coprocultures ont ete effectuees; dont 145 positives (58); mettant en evidence Vibrio cholerae O1 dans 112 cas (44). Les 36 souches testees aux antibiotiques ont montre une excellente sensibilite a la doxycycline et a la pefloxacine; mais aussi une resistance au cotrimoxazole; a l'amoxicilline et au chloramphenicol. La rehydratation par voie orale a ete la regle (61). La letalite a ete de 0;5. Le cholera est une urgence medicale dont le pronostic peut etre favorable a condition que l'organisation de la prise en charge soit bonne