Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Afr J Biotechnol. 2009 February 28; Volume 8 (Issue 4); 536-546.; DOI:10.5897/AJB2009.000-9091
Ahoua L, Guetta AN, Ekaza E, Bouzid S, N’Guessan R, et al.
Afr J Biotechnol. 2009 February 28; Volume 8 (Issue 4); 536-546.; DOI:10.5897/AJB2009.000-9091
A case-control study was carried out in 3 highly endemic regions of Côte d’Ivoire to study risk factors for Buruli ulcer. A case was defined as a Buruli ulcer occurring less than one year before the date of survey, resident in one of the regions investigated and there was no history of Buruli ulcer illness. Controls were selected from the general population by a two stage cluster sampling method. A total of 116 cases and 116 controls were included. For the cases, the male/female sex ratio was 0.84, the median age was 19.5 years and 40.5% were children 15 years. Biological results were obtained for 86 (74%) cases using skin exudate samples. Positive rates were 22.0, 22.1 and 27.9% respectively for smear examination, culture and PCR IS2404, respectively. After adjusting for possible confounders, no history of BCG vaccination (ORa = 5.0, CI 1.7 - 14.3), presence of a case 15 years (ORa = 8.3, CI 2.8 -24.1), having a river/lake/dam near the housing (ORa = 4.4, CI 1.6 - 12.2) and the type of place for fishing (p = 0.001) were associated with illness. Young children and women having daily water related activities were most at risk. Swab samples were not sensitive enough for Buruli ulcer diagnosis. There is an urgent need for a rapid field test to diagnosis Buruli Ulcer as PCR IS2404 remains expensive for most of the endemic countries.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 November 11; Volume 90 (Issue 1); DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.13-0150
Mueller YK, Kolaczinski JH, Koech T, Lokwang P, Riongoita M, et al.
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 November 11; Volume 90 (Issue 1); DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.13-0150
Between 2000 and 2010, Médecins Sans Frontières diagnosed and treated 4,831 patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Pokot region straddling the border between Uganda and Kenya. A retrospective analysis of routinely collected clinical data showed no marked seasonal or annual fluctuations. Males between 5 and 14 years of age were the most affected group. Marked splenomegaly and anemia were striking features. An Rk39 antigen-based rapid diagnostic test was evaluated and found sufficiently accurate to replace the direct agglutination test and spleen aspiration as the first-line diagnostic procedure. The case-fatality rate with sodium stibogluconate as first-line treatment was low. The VL relapses were rare and often diagnosed more than 6 months post-treatment. Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis was rare but likely to be underdiagnosed. The epidemiological and clinical features of VL in the Pokot area differed markedly from VL in Sudan, the main endemic focus in Africa.
Journal Article > LetterFull Text
Lancet Global Health. 2014 August 19; Volume 2 (Issue 8); DOI:10.1016/S2214-109X(14)70252-9
Dorlo TPC, Balasegaram M
Lancet Global Health. 2014 August 19; Volume 2 (Issue 8); DOI:10.1016/S2214-109X(14)70252-9
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014 August 7; Volume 8 (Issue 8); e3053.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003053
Burza S, Mahajan R, Singh A, van Griensven J, Pandey K, et al.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014 August 7; Volume 8 (Issue 8); e3053.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003053
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL; also known as kala-azar) is an ultimately fatal disease endemic in the Indian state of Bihar, while HIV/AIDS is an emerging disease in this region. A 2011 observational cohort study conducted in Bihar involving 55 VL/HIV co-infected patients treated with 20-25 mg/kg intravenous liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) estimated an 85.5% probability of survival and a 26.5% probability of VL relapse within 2 years. Here we report the long-term field outcomes of a larger cohort of co-infected patients treated with this regimen between 2007 and 2012.
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 November 12; Volume 9 (Issue 11); e0004075.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004075
O'Brien DP, Ford NP, Vitoria M, Asiedu K, Calmy A, et al.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 November 12; Volume 9 (Issue 11); e0004075.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004075
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
BMJ Glob Health. 2021 October 25; Volume 6 (Issue 10); e006913.; DOI:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006913
Martins D, Ribeiro I, Potet J
BMJ Glob Health. 2021 October 25; Volume 6 (Issue 10); e006913.; DOI:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006913
SUMMARY POINTS
• Despite inherent differences, Snakebite Envenoming and COVID-19 have much in common in terms of research and development (R&D) challenges and opportunities.
• Both crises require a diversified portfolio of R&D solutions, ranging from diagnostics to treatments, that can effectively work and be accessible in different resource settings.
• Collaborative clinical research and streamlined regulatory pathways are critical to accelerate these candidates in the R&D pipeline.
• Transformative progress is possible with a concerted approach that aligns strong political will, coordinated financing and the needs of the most marginalised communities.
• Despite inherent differences, Snakebite Envenoming and COVID-19 have much in common in terms of research and development (R&D) challenges and opportunities.
• Both crises require a diversified portfolio of R&D solutions, ranging from diagnostics to treatments, that can effectively work and be accessible in different resource settings.
• Collaborative clinical research and streamlined regulatory pathways are critical to accelerate these candidates in the R&D pipeline.
• Transformative progress is possible with a concerted approach that aligns strong political will, coordinated financing and the needs of the most marginalised communities.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 February 22; Volume 98 (Issue 4); 1091–1101.; DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.17-0872
Sunyoto T, Adam GK, Atia AM, Hamid Y, Babiker RA, et al.
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 February 22; Volume 98 (Issue 4); 1091–1101.; DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.17-0872
Early diagnosis and treatment is the principal strategy to control visceral leishmaniasis (VL), or kala-azar in East Africa. As VL strikes remote rural, sparsely populated areas, kala-azar care might not be accessed optimally or timely. We conducted a qualitative study to explore access barriers in a longstanding kala-azar endemic area in southern Gadarif, Sudan. Former kala-azar patients or caretakers, community leaders, and health-care providers were purposively sampled and thematic data analysis was used. Our study participants revealed the multitude of difficulties faced when seeking care. The disease is well known in the area, yet misconceptions about causes and transmission persist. The care-seeking itineraries were not always straightforward: "shopping around" for treatments are common, partly linked to difficulties in diagnosing kala-azar. Kala-azar is perceived to be "hiding," requiring multiple tests and other diseases must be treated first. Negative perceptions on quality of care in the public hospitals prevail, with the unavailability of drugs or staff as the main concern. Delay to seek care remains predominantly linked to economic constraint: albeit treatment is for free, patients have to pay out of pocket for everything else, pushing families further into poverty. Despite increased efforts to tackle the disease over the years, access to quality kala-azar care in this rural Sudanese context remains problematic. The barriers explored in this study are a compelling reminder of the need to boost efforts to address these barriers.
Journal Article > ReviewFull Text
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 December 14; Volume 15 (Issue 12); e0009844.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0009844
Farley ES, Mehta UC, Srour ML, Lenglet AD
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 December 14; Volume 15 (Issue 12); e0009844.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0009844
BACKGROUND
Noma (cancrum oris) is an ancient but neglected and poorly understood preventable disease, afflicting the most disenfranchised populations in the world. It is a devastating and often fatal condition that requires urgent and intensive clinical and surgical care, often difficult to access as most cases of noma occur in resource-limited settings. We conducted a scoping review of the literature published on noma to understand the size and scope of available research on the disease and identify research gaps that need to be addressed to evolve our understanding of how to address this disease.
METHODS
We searched 11 databases and collected primary peer reviewed articles on noma in all languages, the final search was conducted on 24th August 2021. The oldest manuscript identified was from 28th March 1843 and the most recently published manuscript was from 3rd June 2021. Search terms included cancrum oris and noma. Data was extracted using a standardised data extraction tool and key areas of interest were identified. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic review and Meta-Analyses requirements were followed.
RESULTS
The review included 147 articles, the majority of the studies (n = 94, 64%) were case reports. Most manuscripts (n = 81, 55%) were published in the 2000s, 49 (33%) were from the 1900s and 17 (12%) from the 1800s. The main areas of interest identified were the history and epidemiology of the disease, noma's clinical progression and aetiology, treatment regimens, mortality rates and the risk factors for the development of noma.
CONCLUSIONS
Noma has been reported in the literature for hundreds of years; however important gaps in our understanding of the disease remain. Future research should focus on determining the burden and distribution of disease; the true mortality rate, pathogenic cause(s) and the factors that influence prognosis and outcomes after treatment.
Noma (cancrum oris) is an ancient but neglected and poorly understood preventable disease, afflicting the most disenfranchised populations in the world. It is a devastating and often fatal condition that requires urgent and intensive clinical and surgical care, often difficult to access as most cases of noma occur in resource-limited settings. We conducted a scoping review of the literature published on noma to understand the size and scope of available research on the disease and identify research gaps that need to be addressed to evolve our understanding of how to address this disease.
METHODS
We searched 11 databases and collected primary peer reviewed articles on noma in all languages, the final search was conducted on 24th August 2021. The oldest manuscript identified was from 28th March 1843 and the most recently published manuscript was from 3rd June 2021. Search terms included cancrum oris and noma. Data was extracted using a standardised data extraction tool and key areas of interest were identified. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic review and Meta-Analyses requirements were followed.
RESULTS
The review included 147 articles, the majority of the studies (n = 94, 64%) were case reports. Most manuscripts (n = 81, 55%) were published in the 2000s, 49 (33%) were from the 1900s and 17 (12%) from the 1800s. The main areas of interest identified were the history and epidemiology of the disease, noma's clinical progression and aetiology, treatment regimens, mortality rates and the risk factors for the development of noma.
CONCLUSIONS
Noma has been reported in the literature for hundreds of years; however important gaps in our understanding of the disease remain. Future research should focus on determining the burden and distribution of disease; the true mortality rate, pathogenic cause(s) and the factors that influence prognosis and outcomes after treatment.
Conference Material > Video
Ajamah S
MSF Paediatric Days 2022. 2022 December 1; DOI:10.57740/95q8-ne84
Conference Material > Video
Burzio V
MSF Paediatric Days 2022. 2022 December 1
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