Clinical Spectrum of Schistosomiasis: An Update

Schistosomiasis is a helminthic infection and one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). It is caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma. It is an important public health problem, particularly in poverty-stricken areas, especially those within the tropics and subtropics. It is estimated that at least 236 million people worldwide are infected, 90% of them in sub-Saharan Africa, and that this disease causes approximately 300,000 deaths annually. The clinical manifestations are varied and affect practically all organs. There are substantial differences in the clinical presentation, depending on the phase and clinical form of schistosomiasis in which it occurs. Schistosomiasis can remain undiagnosed for a long period of time, with secondary clinical lesion. Here, we review the clinical profile of schistosomiasis. This information may aid in the development of more efficacious treatments and improved disease prognosis.

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MALARIA AND HIV IN ADULTS: When The Parasite runs into The Virus

Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases ◽

10.4084/mjhid.2012.032 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. e2012032 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Emanuele Focà ◽

Silvia Odolini ◽

Nigritella Brianese ◽

Gianpiero Carosi

Keyword(s):

Travel Medicine ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Clinical Complications ◽

Resource Limited ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Global Public Health Problem

Malaria and HIV/AIDS are among the principal causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in resource-limited settings such as sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the international community’s efforts to reduce incidence and prevalence of these diseases, they remain a global public health problem. Clinical manifestations of malaria may be more severe in HIV infected patients, which have higher risks of severe malaria and malaria related death. Co-infected pregnant women, children and international travelers from non-malaria endemic countries are at higher risk of clinical complications. However, there is a paucity and conflicting data regarding malaria and HIV co-infection, particularly on how HIV infection can modify the response to antimalarial drugs and about drug-interactions between antiretroviral agents and artemisinin-based combined regimens. Moreover, consulting HIV-infected international travelers and physicians specialized in HIV care and travel medicine should prescribe an adequate chemoprophylaxis in patients travelling towards malaria endemic areas and pay attention on interactions between antiretrovirals and antimalarial prophylaxis drugs in order to prevent clinical complications of this co-infection. This review aims to evaluate the available international literature on malaria and HIV co-infection in adults providing a critical comprehensive review of nowadays knowledge.

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Accelerating control of NTDs and schistosomiasis in particular, 2008-2020.

10.1079/9781786392558.0019 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 224-236

Author(s):

Alan Fenwick ◽

Wendie Norris ◽

Becky McCall

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

Critical Mass ◽

Community Support ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Control Programs ◽

Education And Health ◽

The World ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

The Tropics

Abstract Public health in sub-Saharan Africa, even after COVID-19, has reached a critical mass that promises positive change for nearly a billion poorest in the world. This change is driven by the expansion interested in "neglected tropical diseases" or NTDs, ironically called, and the success of the built-in control programs for them. Now the removal of the disease in 2030, most consumers are in the spotlight due to continued community support: private partnerships for drug funding from pharmaceutical companies, bilateral sponsors (UK and US), fundraising organisations (GiveWell, GWWC, The END Fund), implementing NGOs (RTI, SCI, GAELF) and ministries of education and health care in endemic countries. There's still a lot of work to do resulted in elimination, but the word "forgotten" in the context of the tropics illness may no longer be true. NTD has since been practically unknown in the 20th century outside the poor and rural areas of the world, to a situation where, at the beginning of the 21st century, more than a billion treatments were performed each year.

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A brief review on features of falciparum malaria during pregnancy

Journal of Public Health in Africa ◽

10.4081/jphia.2017.668 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alexandre Manirakiza ◽

Eugène Serdouma ◽

Richard Norbert Ngbalé ◽

Sandrine Moussa ◽

Samuel Gondjé ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Falciparum Malaria ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Malaria In Pregnancy ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Malaria During Pregnancy ◽

Concurrent Infections ◽

Tropical Areas ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Protection Against Infection ◽

In Pregnancy

Malaria in pregnancy is a serious public health problem in tropical areas. Frequently, the placenta is infected by accumulation of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in the intervillous space. Falciparum malaria acts during pregnancy by a range of mechanisms, and chronic or repeated infection and co-infections have insidious effects. The susceptibility of pregnant women to malaria is due to both immunological and humoral changes. Until a malaria vaccine becomes available, the deleterious effects of malaria in pregnancy can be avoided by protection against infection and prompt treatment with safe, effective antimalarial agents; however, concurrent infections such as with HIV and helminths during pregnancy are jeopardizing malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Revered but Poorly Understood: A Case Report of Dendroaspis polylepis (Black Mamba) Envenomation in Watamu, Malindi Kenya, and a Review of the Literature

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease ◽

10.3390/tropicalmed3030104 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 104 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Valentine Erulu ◽

Mitchel Okumu ◽

Francis Ochola ◽

Joseph Gikunju

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Oxygen Saturation ◽

South African ◽

Artificial Ventilation ◽

Clinical Course ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Hemodynamic Instability ◽

Rapid Onset ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) ranks consistently as one of the most revered snakes in sub-Saharan Africa. It has potent neurotoxic venom, and envenomation results in rapid onset and severe clinical manifestations. This report describes the clinical course and reversal of effects of black mamba envenomation in a 13-year-old boy in the Jimba area of Malindi. The victim presented to Watamu Hospital, a low resource health facility with labored breathing, frothing at the mouth, severe ptosis and pupils non-responsive to light. His blood pressure was unrecordable, heart rate was 100 beats per minute but thready, his temperature was 35.5 °C, and oxygen saturation was 83%. Management involved suction to clear salivary secretions, several hours of mechanical ventilation via ambu-bagging, oxygen saturation monitoring, and the use of South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) polyvalent antivenom. Subcutaneous adrenaline was used to stave off anaphylaxis. The victim went into cardiac arrest on two occasions and chest compressions lasting 3–5 min was used to complement artificial ventilation. Hemodynamic instability was corrected using IV infusion of ringers lactate and normal saline (three liters over 24 h). Adequate mechanical ventilation and the use of specific antivenom remain key in the management of black mamba envenomation.

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Factors associated with oral cavity cancers in Sub-Saharan Africa: Summary of the literature

African Journal of Oncology ◽

10.54266/ajo.1.2.34.meun5028 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 34-41

Author(s):

A Dieng ◽

AD Faye ◽

MM Ndiaye ◽

G Diop ◽

A Bouazé ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oral Cavity ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Manual Search ◽

African Populations ◽

Localization Strategy ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Oral Cavity Cancers

INTRODUCTION: Oral cavity cancers are now a public health problem according to WHO epidemiological data. There are several risk factors or factors associated with cancers of the oral cavity but they vary according to geographic regions. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with cancers of the oral cavity in Sub-Saharan African populations through a systematic literature review. METHODOLOGY: Using the data available for the period from January 1980 to December 2019, a synthesis of the literature was carried out. The literature localization strategy included an electronic search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and GOOGLE SCHOLAR databases from 1980 to 2019 and a manual search of the list of references of articles identified by snowballing. The data were extracted independently by two researchers on an Excel© spreadsheet. Parameters collected from each study were author, country, type of study, period of study, size, age, gender, and factors studied. RESULTS: Out of 1,318 articles found, 24 were selected. The data contained 17,290 patients including 8,229 men, i.e. a male / female sex-ratio of 0.91. Factors studied were tobacco, alcohol, diet, infection, genetics and social factors. CONCLUSION: The results reported showed that several factors are associated with the occurrence of oral cavity cancers in Sub-Saharan Africa. There is a need to conduct further studies with more structured methodologies for more convincing results.

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Prise En Charge Des Péritonites Aiguës Dans Un Hôpital De District En Afrique Sub-saharienne : Cas Du Bénin

European Scientific Journal ESJ ◽

10.19044/esj.2017.v13n36p388 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (36) ◽

pp. 388

Author(s):

Bio Tamou Sambo ◽

Salako Alexandre Allodé ◽

Didier Sewadé Wekpon ◽

Djifid Morel Séto ◽

Montcho Adrien Hodonou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

District Hospital ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Prise En Charge ◽

Prospective Data ◽

Acute Peritonitis ◽

Generalized Peritonitis ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Surgery Department

Introduction: Peritonitis remains a public health problem in Africa. We aim to describe the epidemiological, etiological and therapeutic aspects of acute peritonitis in a district hospital in Sub Saharan Africa. Methods: This was a descriptive study with prospective data collection over a period of 15 months from May 1 st 2015 to July 31st 2016 in Bembereke district hospital. It has taken into account all the patients managed in the general surgery department for acute generalized peritonitis that has been confirmed at laparotomy. Results: Fifty-three patients, 38 men (71.7 %) and 15 women (28.3 %) had been registered. The average age of the patients was 19.8 ± 16.9 years. The main etiologies were: non-traumatic ileal perforation from typhoid infection 52.8%; perforated gastric or duodenal ulcer 17%; complicated appendicitis and abdominal traumas 11.3% each one. Twenty nine patients (54.7%) have been operated by a surgeon and the 24 remaining (45.3%) by a general practitioner with surgical skills. Twenty one patients (39.6%) had postoperative complications of which 11 cases of parietal suppurations (52.4%). The mortality rate was 11.3%. The mean hospital stay was 22.5 ± 4 days. Conclusion: In northern-Benin, peritonitis remains dominated by the complications of typhoid fever. The mortality rate remains high. Prevention requires good hygiene and awareness of early consultations.

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Prevalence of Anemia and Undernutrition of Adolescent Females in Selected Schools in Ghana

Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1155/2021/6684839 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Marina Aferiba Tandoh ◽

Abigail Owusuaa Appiah ◽

Anthony Kwaku Edusei

Keyword(s):

Public Health Problem ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Adolescent Females ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Health And Wellness ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Poor Nutrition ◽

Prevalence Of Anemia

Anemia among adolescent females is a major worldwide public health problem which should be given appropriate attention. Half of all anemic cases are caused by iron deficiency. In addition to anemia, poor nutrition is also a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. This study determined the prevalence of anemia and undernutrition among adolescent females in school. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 151 adolescent females in four basic schools in the Ahafo region of Ghana. The hemoglobin level and anthropometry measures of participants were taken to determine their anemic and nutritional status. The prevalence of anemia among adolescent females in school was 50.3%. Out of the 151 participants, 6.6%, 19.9%, and 23.8% were severely anemic, moderately anemic, or mildly anemic, respectively. Only 2% of the participants were underweight, but the rate of stunting was 26.5%. The notable high prevalence of anemia that was found among adolescent females was correlated with other health and wellness concerns. Anemia and under nutrition negatively affect academic performance, productivity, and general wellbeing of adolescents; therefore, effective measures should be put in place to correct and eradicate these nutritional problems.

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The prevalence of scabies in Monrovia, Liberia: a population-based survey

10.1101/2020.06.25.20139808 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shelui Collinson ◽

Joseph Timothy ◽

Samuel K Zayay ◽

Karsor K Kollie ◽

Eglantine Lebas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Health Problem ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Quality Data ◽

Local Health ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

The Impact

AbstractBackgroundScabies is known to be a public health problem in many settings but the majority of recent data is from rural settings in the Pacific. There is a need for high quality data from sub-Saharan Africa and peri-Urban settings to inform scale up of scabies control efforts. There have been anecdotal reports of scabies being a public health problem in Liberia but robust data are lacking.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional cluster-randomised prevalence survey for scabies in a peri-urban community in Monrovia, Liberia in February-March 2020. Participants underwent a standardised examination conducted by trained local health care workers. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using age-appropriate dermatology life quality indices (DLQIs). Prevalence estimates were calculated accounting for clustering at community and household levels and associations with key demographic variables assessed through multivariable random-effects logistic regression.Results1,318 participants from 477 households were surveyed. The prevalence of scabies prevalence was 9.3% (95% CI: 6.5-13.2%), across 75 (19.7%) households; impetigo or infected scabies prevalence was 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4-1.9%). The majority (52%) of scabies cases were classified as severe. Scabies prevalence was lower in females and higher in the youngest age group; no associations were found with other collected demographic or socio-economic variables. DLQI scores indicated a very or extremely large effect on HRQoL in 29% of adults and 18% of children diagnosed with scabies.ConclusionsOur study indicates a substantial burden of scabies in this peri-Urban population in Liberia. This was associated with significant impact on quality of life, highlighting the need for action to control scabies in this population. Further work is needed to assess the impact of interventions in this context on both the prevalence of scabies and quality of life.Plain English summaryScabies is an infestation with a microscopic mite which affects many people living in low-resource tropical countries. It causes intense itching, which can lead to complications through bacterial infection and poor quality of life. To help develop global scabies control programmes, we need a better understanding of how common it is across different tropical settings. We conducted a survey to assess the burden of scabies and bacterial skin infection in a random sample of people living in a community in Monrovia, Liberia. Information about participants and their household were collected and their skin was examined; those with skin conditions were asked about its impact on quality of life.We examined 1,318 participants and found that almost 10% of people had scanies. Scabies was more common in young children, and was more common in male children than female children. We found that there was a large impact on quality of life due mostly to the itching that scabies causes and to people feeling embarrassed or sad because of their skin condition. This scabies survey is one of the first conducted across all age groups in recent years in sub-Saharan Africa and indicates a substantial burden and impact on quality of life. More work is needed to understand how common scabies is in different settings and the impact that different treatment strategies may have.

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A multi-state spatio-temporal Markov model for categorized incidence of meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268812001926 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 141 (8) ◽

pp. 1764-1771 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

L. AGIER ◽

M. STANTON ◽

G. SOGA ◽

P. J. DIGGLE

Keyword(s):

Positive Predictive Value ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Temporal Dependence ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Annual Scale

SUMMARYMeningococcal meningitis is a major public health problem in the African Belt. Despite the obvious seasonality of epidemics, the factors driving them are still poorly understood. Here, we provide a first attempt to predict epidemics at the spatio-temporal scale required for in-year response, using a purely empirical approach. District-level weekly incidence rates for Niger (1986–2007) were discretized into latent, alert and epidemic states according to pre-specified epidemiological thresholds. We modelled the probabilities of transition between states, accounting for seasonality and spatio-temporal dependence. One-week-ahead predictions for entering the epidemic state were generated with specificity and negative predictive value >99%, sensitivity and positive predictive value >72%. On the annual scale, we predict the first entry of a district into the epidemic state with sensitivity 65·0%, positive predictive value 49·0%, and an average time gained of 4·6 weeks. These results could inform decisions on preparatory actions.

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Susceptibility Profile of Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) from Montclair, California, to Commonly Used Pesticides, With Note on Resistance to Pyriproxyfen

Journal of Medical Entomology ◽

10.1093/jme/tjz019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 1047-1054 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tianyun Su ◽

Jennifer Thieme ◽

Taylor Lura ◽

Min-Lee Cheng ◽

Michelle Q Brown

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

The United States ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Modes Of Action ◽

Breeding Populations ◽

Laboratory Colony ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

The Tropics ◽

And Control

Abstract The peridomestic anthropophilic Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is originated from the wild zoophilic subspecies Aedes aegypti formosus in sub-Saharan Africa, and currently has a broad distribution in human-modified environments of the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In California, breeding populations were initially detected in 2013 in the cities of Fresno, Madera, and San Mateo, and now can be found in 188 cities of 12 counties in the state. Recent genetic studies suggest that this species invaded California on multiple occasions from several regions of the United States and northern Mexico prior to initial detection. As an invasive species and vector for numerous arboviruses, Ae. aegypti is a primary target of surveillance and control in California. In southern California city of Montclair, a population was identified in September 2015, from which a short-term colony was established in an insectary. The susceptibility of this field population to commonly used pesticides with various modes of action, including 15 formulations against larvae and four against adults, was determined, in reference to a susceptible laboratory colony of the same species. No resistance was shown to most pesticides tested. However, tolerance or reduced susceptibility to spinosad, spinetoram, diflubezuron, and fipronil was detected, and modest levels of resistance to pyriproxyfen (resistance ratio = 38.7-fold at IE50 and 81.5-fold at IE90) was observed. Results are discussed based on the field usage and modes of action of the pesticides tested. Strategic selection and application of pesticides against this population of Ae. aegypti in the urban environments should be taken into consideration.

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