scholarly journals Individual and familial characteristics of patients with podoconiosis attending a clinic in Musanze District, Rwanda: A retrospective study

2020 ◽  
Vol 114 (12) ◽  
pp. 947-953
Author(s):  
Jean Paul Bikorimana ◽  
Ursin Bayisenge ◽  
Tonya Huston ◽  
Eugene Ruberanziza ◽  
Jean Bosco Mbonigaba ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Podoconiosis is a progressive swelling of the legs affecting genetically susceptible people who live in areas with irritant red clay soils and walk barefoot. The disease is a public health concern in many countries, including Rwanda. Methods This retrospective study described individual and familial characteristics of patients with podoconiosis attending the Heart and Sole Africa (HASA) clinics in Rwanda. Data on patient characteristics and family history were retrieved from electronic medical records (January 2013 – August 2019). A multiple regression analysis was used to explore factors influencing age of onset of podoconiosis. Results Among 467 patients with podoconiosis, the mean (standard deviation) age of onset was 34.4 (19.6) years, 139 (29.8%) patients developed podoconiosis at <20 years of age, 417 (89%) came from Musanze or neighboring Burera Districts, and 238 (51.0%) had a family history of podoconiosis. Increasing patient age was associated with older age at onset of disease (p<0.001), while an increased number of relatives with podoconiosis (p<0.002) was significantly associated with earlier disease onset. Conclusion Most patients with podoconiosis were women, and more than half had a family history of podoconiosis. An increased number of relatives with podoconiosis was associated with a significantly younger age at disease onset.

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcia H. Ratner ◽  
David H. Farb ◽  
Josef Ozer ◽  
Robert G. Feldman ◽  
Raymon Durso

ABSTRACT An earlier age at onset of Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been reported to be associated with occupational exposures to manganese and hydrocarbon solvents suggesting that exposure to neurotoxic chemicals may hasten the progression of idiopathic PD. In this study the role of occupational exposure to metals and pesticides in the progression of idiopathic PD was assessed by looking at age at disease onset. The effects of heritable genetic risk factors, which may also influence age at onset, was minimized by including only sporadic cases of PD with no family history of the disease (n=58). Independent samples Student t-test revealed that subjects with occupational exposure to metals and/or pesticides (n=36) were significantly (p=0.013) younger than unexposed controls (n=22). These subjects were then divided into three groups [high (n=18), low (n=18), and unexposed (n=22)] to ascertain if duration of exposure further influenced age at onset of PD. One-way ANOVA revealed that subjects in the high exposure group were significantly (p=0.0121) younger (mean age: 50.33 years) than unexposed subjects (mean age: 60.45 years). Subjects were also stratified by exposure type (metals vs. pesticides). These results suggest that chronic exposure to metals and pesticides is associated with a younger age at onset of PD among patients with no family history of the disease and that duration of exposure is a factor in the magnitude of this effect.


2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 560-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
HN Piperidou ◽  
IN Heliopoulos ◽  
ES Maltezos ◽  
GA Stathopoulos ◽  
IA Milonas

A retrospective questionnaire to determine the prevalence of febrile seizures was given to adolescents (16- and 17-year-olds) in the final 2 years of secondary school at the five schools in Alexandroupolis, Greece. Parents were interviewed, and clinical and electroencephalographic examinations were performed in all adolescents with a history of febrile seizures. Of 1708 adolescents, 56 (3.3%) had experienced at least one febrile seizure. Of these, 44 (78.6%) were simple and 12 (21.4%) were complex febrile seizures. Recurrent seizures occurred in 22 cases (39.3%), and the mean age at onset was 25.1 months. There was a positive first-degree family history in eight cases (14.3%) and this increased to 27.3% in cases with recurrent seizures. Two of the adolescents (3.6%) had had one unprovoked seizure before the age of 3 years, and another two children developed epilepsy. Epileptiform electroencephalogram discharges were observed in only one case (1.8%) with generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy.


Author(s):  
Sasitorn Siritho ◽  
Naraporn Prayoonwiwat

Objective:To determine the demographic and clinical data of Thai multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.Methods:A retrospective study of 72 patients attending the MS clinic at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand between January 1997 and June 2004.Results:Fifty-eight patients (81%) were classified as clinically definite MS, 5 (7%) as Devic's syndrome, and 9 (13%) as possible MS. There were 62 females (86%) and 10 males (14%). Age at onset was 33 ± 12 years with a mean relapse rate of 1.2 ± 1.0 attacks per annum. None had a family history of MS. Visual impairment (53%) was the most common manifestation. Only 16% had classic (western) form of MS. Positive oligoclonal bands were found in 21%, visual evoked potentials with a typical delayed latency in 28%. MRI brain lesions compatible with McDonald's criteria were seen in only 24%, and spinal MRI brain longer than 2 vertebral bodies in 62%. The mean Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was 3.0.Conclusion:Thai MS patients had much more female occurrence, no family history, common optico-spinal form, long spinal MRI lesions and low positive CSF oligoclonal bands.


2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 641-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Tozzi ◽  
I. Prokopenko ◽  
J. D. Perry ◽  
J. L. Kennedy ◽  
A. D. McCarthy ◽  
...  

BackgroundGenetic epidemiology data suggest that younger age of onset is associated with family history (FH) of depression. The present study tested whether the presence of FH for depression or anxiety in first-degree relatives determines younger age of onset for depression.MethodA sample of 1022 cases with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) was recruited at the Max Planck Institute and at two affiliated hospitals. Patients were assessed using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and questionnaires including demographics, medical history, questions on the use of alcohol and tobacco, personality traits and life events. Survival analysis and the Cox proportional hazard model were used to determine whether FH of depression signals earlier age of onset of depression.ResultsPatients who reported positive FH had a significantly earlier age of onset than patients who did not report FH of depression (log-rank=48, df=1, p<0.0001). The magnitude of association of FH varies by age of onset, with the largest estimate for MDD onset before age 20 years (hazard ratio=2.2, p=0.0009), whereas FH is not associated with MDD for onset after age 50 years (hazard ratio=0.89, p=0.5). The presence of feelings of guilt, anxiety symptoms and functional impairment due to depressive symptoms appear to characterize individuals with positive FH of depression.ConclusionsFH of depression contributes to the onset of depression at a younger age and may affect the clinical features of the illness.


1989 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kit Stone

A retrospective study of 92 patients admitted with mania, aged over 65 years of age, found that 26% had no prior history of affective illness; 30% had previously only experienced depression, and half of these had at least three episodes of depression before the first manic illness. Patients with a family history of affective disorders had a significantly earlier age of onset of illness. There was evidence of cerebral organic impairment in 24% of the patients, and this group had a significantly later age of onset of illness. Prognosis was good, with only 8% still in hospital at six months. Half of the patients were started on lithium prophylaxis, but this did not significantly alter the number of readmissions. A quarter of those started on lithium developed evidence of lithium toxicity.


2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
pp. 1143-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert R. McWilliams ◽  
William R. Bamlet ◽  
Kari G. Rabe ◽  
Janet E. Olson ◽  
Mariza de Andrade ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1130
Author(s):  
Gobinaath . ◽  
Arun Daniel J.

Background: Febrile seizures occur commonly in the under 5 age group and is associated with few risk factors causing its recurrence like very high fever, family history of seizures, low sodium levels and younger age of onset which are subject to seasonal and wide geographical variations. This study aimed at detecting the major risk factors associated with recurrent febrile seizures in an Indian population.Methods: A retrospective hospital-based study was conducted among a total of 300 cases aged 6 months to 5 years attending to the paediatric OPD with history of fever followed by febrile seizures. Information regarding socio-demographic and clinical variables associated with febrile seizure was collected and analyzed.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 25.6±2.2 months and majority (60%) were males. Family history of seizures was present in 25.3% (n=76) of the children with febrile seizures. Respiratory infections (73.3%) and gastroenteritis (17%) were the major infective reasons associated with the occurrence of febrile seizures followed by pneumonia (6.3%) and urinary tract infections (5%). Recurrence of FS was significantly higher among the children with family history of FS (p=0.009), age at onset lesser (p<0.001) and simple FS seizures.Conclusions: Younger age at onset and positive family history of seizures were important socio-demographic risk factors associated with recurrent febrile seizures.


Author(s):  
Nicolaas J. Van der Merwe ◽  
Maria Karayiorgou ◽  
René Ehlers ◽  
Johannes L. Roos

Background: Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder with strong genetic vulnerability. Family history of schizophrenia has been considered in genetic studies under several models. De novo genetic events seem to play a larger role in sporadic cases.Aim: This study used the familial–sporadic distinction with the aim of identifying a more homogeneous phenotype to delineate the genetic and clinical complexity of schizophrenia.Setting: The study was conducted at Weskoppies Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa.Methods: The study included 384 participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder from the Afrikaner founder population in South Africa who are considered comparable to Caucasian patients from the United States. A comprehensive data capturing sheet was completed.Results: When schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder diagnoses were considered jointly, we found no significant differences between the sporadic and the familial groups for age at disease onset, season of birth, comorbid diagnoses, clinical symptomatology, history of suicide or marital status. When the diagnoses were examined separately, however, the sporadic schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, was found to have a significantly lower age at onset (mean 20.6 vs. 25.3 years).Conclusion: The sporadic schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, forms a more homogeneous subgroup for genetic studies.


2021 ◽  
pp. 8-12
Author(s):  
O. D. Aleksandruk

Objective: to analyze Atopic dermatitis (AD) diagnostics criteria routinely used for diagnosis as well as common findings and history in adult patients with different age of onset of the disease. Materials and methods. 123 adult patients aged between 18 and 58 years with AD relapse were examined. The diagnosis was confirmed according to Ukrainian guidelines on AD. The patients were randomized in 2 groups depending on AD age of onset: 67 patients had AD start in early childhood and puberty, 56 patients – in adulthood. Precise medical history of the patients, clinical symptoms were collected. The disease severity was evaluated with SCORAD index and itch severity scale. Results were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric statistical tools. Results. Depending on age of AD onset patients demonstrated some differences in diagnostic criteria positivity, past and actual clinical features of the disease, cooperation with health system specialists. Among major AD diagnostic criteria personal or family history of atopy and flexural lichenification in adults were detected as variable signs of the disease depending on age of onset. Family history of atopy stayed hidden information for part of the patients and could not be verified. The most often minor criteria detected positive and used for AD diagnosis in adults were xerosis, itching when sweating, facial pallor or erythema and white dermographism, with their different frequency among groups. 17,9% of cases in childhood and 25% of cases in adults were not initially recognized as AD and managed as another skin disease for months or years. Skin itch as constant sign of AD is provoked by different triggered with high prevalence of emotional stress in adult-onset AD and different frequency of contact triggers among groups. Emotional trauma was considered by the patients as a major trigger of mild relapses in adult-age AD and moderate relapses in early-age AD. Constant and severe xerosis was more common for patients with AD onset in childhood and was mostly not a significant impacting issue for adult-aged AD. Secondary pyoderma accompanies AD relapses of both groups. 100% of examined patients had experience of self-treatment with topical and systemic medications. Physical modalities of treatment (sunbathing, change of climate etc.) are less often of adult-age AD patients’ choice and provide good results more for early onset AD patients. Steroid-phobia was observed in patients with early disease onset only and is not an issue for adult-age AD patients. Conclusions. Diagnostic criteria stay an important tool for diagnosing AD. Adult patients may demonstrate different set of positive major and minor criteria depending on time of the disease onset. Established diagnosis of AD may not correspond to first manifestation of the disease that is possible both in childhood and adult patients. Prognosing of AD course in adults may depend on general duration of the disease: starting in childhood AD more often has seasonal relation, constant xerosis, irritation by sweeting; patients have long experience of moisturizers and physical treatments use. If started in adulty AD more often aggravates due to emotional and occupational triggers, then others; long-term use of moisturizers more probably would be neglected by the patient.


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