Working in Psychiatry: Staff Perception of the Brazzaville Hospital and University Center

Background: In Congo-Brazzaville, there is a lake of mental healthcare provider and facilities specialized on psychiatric care: only two psychiatrists and one psychiatric department around the country. Poor appreciation of their role and work environment can negatively impact the esteem of psychiatric staff and lead to stigma and discrimination towards patients. Aims: The study aimed to assess the perception of the staff of the only psychiatric service in Congo. Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive, prospective survey;conducted among the psychiatric staff of the Brazzaville University Hospital in September 2019. An anonymous individual questionnaire was administered to collect: 1) socio-professional data, 2) perceptions (assignment, role, workload and working conditions), and 3) identify the main problems of the service. Averages and frequencies were calculated on Epi info 7.2.2.6. Results: Thirty out of 42 staff had responded (71.4%);16 were male and at their first psychiatric assignment (28/30), with an average age of 44.7 ± 7 and seniority of 8.4 ± 8.3 years. Among them: one psychiatrist, two psychologists, and 19 nurses. Their assignment in psychiatry was well perceived in 93.3% (27/30), as well as their role (the importance of psychiatric care and psychiatry). Working conditions were perceived as poor: precarious hygiene (93.3%), cohabitation with dangerous patients (82.1%), heavy workload due to lack of staff (100%). Of their professional future, 23.3% (7/30) were considering leaving. Conclusion: Almost all psychiatric staff had a good perception of their role and psychiatry, but not of the working conditions. Local measures to improve working conditions must be carried out to improve the attractiveness of psychiatry and the quality of care.

Antiretroviral Therpay Induced Liver Toxicity among Immunecompromised HIV Patients at Chu Brazzaville

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a public health problem of concern. Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is associated with multiple side effects. This study aimed at identifying the different hepatic manifestations of antiretroviral therapy and the responsible molecules. Patients and Methods: This was an eight months period prospective descriptive study, from January 1st to August 31st, 2015, conducted in the Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine at the Brazzaville University Teaching Hospital. Study participants were treatment-na?ve HIV patients who were initiated on ART treatment during the study period. Patients with liver disease, liver cytolysis prior to initiation of therapy, and those with alternative therapy that may cause hepatotoxicity were excluded. The sample size was 110 patients. Results: The age was ranging from 25 to 70 years with a mean age of 47.5 ± 7.5 years. During the six months of follow-up, the alarming hepatic signs were observed in 26.36% of cases (n = 29) in the 3rd month of treatment. There was no observed alarming sign in the 6th month of follow-up. The cytolytic pattern was observed in 54.55% of cases (n = 60) in the 3rd month. The cholestatic pattern was observed in 6.36% of cases (n = 7) in the 3rd month. Triple therapy combination of Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine (AZT + 3TC + NVP) was the most used in 57.27% (n = 63) with a statistically significant p value to the occurrence of cytolytic pattern (p Conclusion: Drug induced liver toxicity occurs in a significant number of patients starting ART. The prevalence of hepatic events was high at the third month of treatment and the triple therapy of Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine (AZT + 3TC + NVP) was the most incriminated.

Plummer-Vinson Syndrome: A Rare Entity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is a rare condition characterized by classical triad;high dysphagia, iron-deficiency anemia and oesophageal ring formation. We report a case of PVS in a 62-year-old patient admitted to the department of gastroenterology and internal medicine for high dysphagia. The clinical examination showed anemic syndrome, general impairment and polyarthritis. Biological examinations concluded to iron deficiency anemia. The endoscopy had observed a circular ring immediately above Killian’s mouth ruptured during the examination. The patient was treated with iron and proton pump inhibitors. The oesophageal symptomatology regressed completely from the second day of treatment.

Role of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>Infection in Recurrent Abdominal Pain of the Child in Brazzaville

The Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is a public health problem, especially in developing countries. However, the responsibility of Hp for the occurrence of recurrent abdominal pain is still unclear. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in Brazzaville and to establish the relationship between Hp infection and RAP. Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional case-control study, between March and September 2018, including 106 children with RAP and 218 children without RAP, aged 2 to 17 years old, received in health centres in Brazzaville. All the children were subjected to detection of Hp fecal antigen by qualitative immuno-chromatography in the faeces. Results: The prevalence of Hp infection among children with RAP in Brazzaville was 43.4%. The female sex was most represented in both populations, with a sex ratio of 0.84 in the infected population. Compared with controls, these were children with a mean age of 8.13 ± 4.57 years. Infected children with RAP were unschooled in 66.7% (n = 31) of cases (p < 0.05). Those using potty were 63% (n = 29). Handwashing before meals and after using the toilet was not done in 66.7% (n = 31) and 56.5% (n = 26) of cases, respectively. The proportions were almost similar in the control population. The epigastric site of pain was found in 51.8% of children infected with RAP, the association between Hp infection and the site of pain was statistically significant (p = 0.009). The epidemiological factors influencing Hp infestation in children were identical in both groups, those factors were: age (OR = 0.61;p < 0.04), education level (OR = 0.35;p < 0.01) of the children and guardian’s age (OR = 1.22;p < 0.03), type of toilet (OR = 2.37;p < 0.02) and hand washing (OR = 1;p < 0.01). No statistically significant association was found between Hp infection and RAP (p = 0.10). Conclusion: Hp infection is common among children with RAP in Brazzaville. It is favoured by young age and lack of hygiene. The cause and effect relationship between Hp and RAP has not been found. Nevertheless, the search for Hp fecal antigen in children with RAP should be recommended in order to improve the management of this pathology.

Varioliform Gastritis after Ibuprofen Poisoning

Diffuse varioliform gastritis is a rare attack of the gastric mucosa occurring mostly on atopic ground. This report is based on the observation of a 16-year-old girl with diffuse varioliform gastritis discovered after an internal medical examination via endoscope after attempting a suicidal act by overdosing herself with Ibuprofen. After the medical examination of the patient. Despite the quantity of ingested ibuprofen and presence of Helicobacter pylori on the biopsie, the particularity of this study is that there is no exudative lesion of the gastric mucosa. With hélicobacter pylori eradication evolution was favorable.

Hepatic Steatosis in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome at the Brazzaville University Hospital Center

Objective: To study the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical particularities of fatty liver disease in patients with metabolic syndrome. Patients and Method: This was a cross-sectional and analytical study carried out over a period of seven months, from February 1 to September 30, 2019, in the outpatient services of Gastroenterology and Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases of the Brazzaville University Hospital. It interested all patients with metabolic syndrome, according to the criteria of the FID harmonized in 2009, namely known diabetic and hypertensive patients, having abdominal obesity. Results: The variables studied were socio-demographic, clinical, morphological and biological. The search for fatty liver was done using an abdominal ultrasound. Results: During the study period, 124 patients with metabolic syndrome were included. The average age of the population was 52.8 ± 12 years with extremes ranging from 30 and 84 years. The population was mainly female with a Sex-Ratio of 2.54 (F/M). The frequency of fatty liver disease was 38.7%. The frequency of dyslipidemia was high in the study. Conclusion: The prevalence of hepatic steatosis is high in patients with metabolic syndrome at Brazzaville University Hospital. The gender, lack of occupation and high level of education were the factors associated with fatty liver disease.

Evolutionary and Pronostic Aspects of Cirrhosis at the University Hospital of Brazzaville (Congo)

Introduction: cirrhosis is a serious pathology that leads to complications whose management remains difficult in our country. This study aimed to evaluate the evolutionary aspects of cirrhosis at the Brazzaville University Hospital. Patients and methods: this was a retrospective study over a period of 18 months (from January 2015 to July 2016), performed in the Gastroenterology Department of the Brazzaville University Hospital. All patients regularly followed for decompensated cirrhosis were included. The studied variables were the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical characteristics, the occurrence of complications, the survival, and the causes of death. Univariate analysis was used to determine prognostic factors based on the Child Pugh score. Results: There were 43 patients, including 32 men and 11 women, with a mean age of 52 ± 9.5 years. Viral hepatitis B was the most common etiology (39.5%). Child Pugh stage C was found in 60.5%. Oesophageal varices were present in 93% of cases. Survival at 18 months was 72%. In univariate analysis, two variables were significantly associated with decreased survival, including Child Pugh stage C and esophageal varices (grade II and III). Conclusion: cirrhosis remains a worrying pathology because the diagnosis is often made at the stage of often serious complications putting at risk of vital prognosis.