COVID-19 Infection and Homozygous SS Sickle Cell Disease in Children: About Two Cases in Ziguinchor/Senegal

The World Health Organization declared that corona virus diseases-19 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic is more likely to cause disaster in developing area including West Africa due to limited medical resources. COVID-19 reportedly causes severer conditions in adults with advanced age and in patients with underlying comorbidities including sickle cell anemia. We recently experienced two pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SS), who had COVID-19. We here highlight the difficulties of management and the severity of COVID-19 infection in children with homozygous sickle cell SS.

Prevalence of Hypertension and Associated Factors in Patients Living with HIV Followed at the Ambulatory Treatment Center (CTA) of Fann National University Hospital in Dakar

Introduction: The efficacy of antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV (PLHIV) has been associated with an important increase in metabolic disorders, such as hypertension (HTA). This work allowed us to estimate the prevalence of hypertension in PLHIV and to describe associated factors. Methods: A retrospective, descriptive and analytical study was carried out based on the records of people living with HIV followed at the Ambulatory Treatment Center (CTA), from January 1st 1998 to 31st, December 2014. The WHO criteria were used to diagnose hypertension. Data entry was performed using ESOPE software and data analysis was done using Epi Info software version 3.5.3. A multiple logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors associated with hypertension. Results: During the study period, 3624 patients followed at CTA were included of which 1184 patients (32.7%) had hypertension. The average age was 47. 3 years ±10.5 years, with a sex ratio of 0.7. The most common opportunistic infections at diagnosis were tuberculosis (14.9%) and oral candidiasis (15.3%). The HIV infection was advanced (stage 3 or 4 of WHO classification) for 39% of cases. Overweight and obesity was found in 19.1%. Only 17.6% were treated by protease inhibitors. Higher average age (OR:1,05;IC [1.04 - 1.05], p = 0.000001), higher average BMI (OR:5,3;IC [3.3 - 8.5], p = 0.00001), WHO clinical stage I-II (OR:1,4;IC [1.2 - 1.6], p = 0.00003), and ARV treatment (OR:2,5;IC [1.7 - 3.7], p = 0.000001) are associated with the occurrence of hypertension. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was high among PLHIV and associated factors were: advanced age, high BMI, WHO clinical stages I and II and antiretroviral therapy. Hence, the interest of a systematic screening of hypertension and others cardiovascular risk factors particularly in patients under ARV antiretroviral therapy.

Characteristics of Liver Abscess in Department of Infectious Diseases at Fann Teaching University Hospital in Dakar, Senegal

Introduction: Abscesses of the liver are due to an infection of bacterial, parasitic or fungal origin. Through amoebiological imaging and serology, their diagnosis was facilitated. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and evolutionary aspects of these liver abscesses at the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases in Fann Teaching University Hospital. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study, based on records of patients hospitalized for abscess of the liver over a period of 8 years, from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2015. Results: We collected 20 cases of abscesses including 12 cases of confirmed amoebic abscesses and 5 cases of pyogenic abscesses. The mean age of the patients was 43.15 ± 15.12 years. There were 18 men and 2 women. The average hospital stay was 32 days. The most common clinical signs were abdominal pain (100%), fever (75%), hepatomegaly (80%). A leukocytosis greater than 12,000 Gb/mm3 was found in 13 patients. The amoebic serology was positive in 71% of cases and negative in 29% of cases. No germ was isolated from the blood culture. On hepatic ultrasound the abscess was unique in 90%. Treatment was exclusively medical in 11 patients (55%). The trend was favorable in 85% of cases. Conclusion: The incidence of liver abscesses has significantly decreased. It is important to develop diagnostic tools better in the case of pyogenic abscesses.