Pediatric Hypertension in Two University Hospitals in Cotonou, Benin: Presentation, Etiology, Management and Outcome

Background: Hypertension (HPT) is a major public health problem. Many studies have attempted to investigate HPT in school children. Few, however, have targeted hospital HPT. We conducted this study to describe the epidemiologic characteristics, etiologies, management, and outcome of hospital HPT in our setting. Methods: This was a prospective and descriptive study carried out from March 01 through June 30, 2017 in the pediatric departments of two university hospitals: Centre National Hospitalier Universitaire Hubert K. Maga and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Mère et de L’Enfant Lagune of Cotonou, Benin. Every consecutive patient aged 3 to 18 years who was admitted to the two hospitals for any reason had his (her) BP measured. Every patient with HPT was reviewed for demographics, history and clinical examination, and laboratory investigations as appropriate. Management was done accordingly. Outcome was also recorded. Results: The hospital frequency of HPT was 1.98% (31 cases/1565 admissions). The male/female ratio was 1.06 (16 males, 15 females). Mean age was 8.5 years ± 4.39 (range, 3 to 16 years). 74.19% patients had Body mass index within -2SD and +2SD. Only one patient had BMI above +3SD. The main etiologies found were renal: acute tubular necrosis (45.16%), acute glomerulonephritis (16.13%), and acute pyelonephritis (12.90%). Diuretics (64.5%), were the main antihypertensive drugs used. A single drug therapy was used in 35.4%, a two-drug therapy in 32.2% and a three-drug therapy in 9.6% of cases. Length of hospital stay was more than one week in 70.97% of cases. Hospital death rate for HPT was 19.35%. The outcome was not known in one patient due to exit from hospital against medical advice. All the other patients fully recovered at one month post-discharge follow-up. Conclusion: HPT presents as a symptomatic disease in our hospitals;it has a renal etiology in most cases and has significant death rate despite treatment. Advocacy with health authorities must be the way out of issues of HPT management in our setting.

Bilateral Iris Coloboma Revealed by a Decreased Vision: About the First Case in Togo Observed in Kara University Teaching Hospital

Background: Ocular coloboma is the product of an error in the fetal fissure closure, normally occurring between the fifth and sixth weeks of gestation [1]. It may involve the cornea, iris, zonula, ciliary body, choroid, retina and optic nerve. The incidence of this syndrome is 0.7 per 10,000 live-births [1]. The aim of this observation is to present the first case of bilateral coloboma of the iris [1]. This case was associated with an ametropia causing a decrease in visual acuity. Case Presentation: This was a clinical observation concerning a young 12-year-old patient who consulted for blurring of vision which had progressed for approximately 2 years. The ophthalmologic examination revealed an ametropia with a bilateral notch of the pupillary rim suggesting a bilateral coloboma. There was no association with another coloboma such as chorioretinal coloboma which is quite common and is accompanied frequently by visual symptoms. Conclusion: A visual impairment of the child can indicate ametropia. However, other congenital anomalies can be discovered as was the case in this clinical observation.

Place of Ocular Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Optic Disc Druses in Developing Countries: About a Case and Review of the Literature

Background: Druses of the papilla constitute abnormal deposits of calcified hyaline material at the level of the head of the optic nerve. They can be superficial or deep. Aim: The aim of this study is to show the utility of ocular ultrasound in ophthalmology in underdeveloped countries for the characterization of optic disc druse. Case Presentation: Our study relates to a clinical observation of buried papillary druses diagnosed by ocular ultrasound. The ophthalmologic examination revealed an aspect of false papillary edema in the fundus. The ocular ultrasound revealed hyperechogenic deposits buried in the papillary margins, which suggests the deep papillary druses. Conclusion: Ocular ultrasound still has a prominent place in the diagnosis of certain eye conditions despite the new sophisticated means available to ophthalmology to date.