[PROFILE OF TROPHALLERGEN SENSITIZATION IN CHILDREN IN THE PNEUMO-ALLERGOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CHU-CAMPUS DE LOMÉ, TOGO]. / Profil de sensibilisation aux trophallergènes chez les enfants dans le service de pneumo-allergologie du CHU-Campus de Lomé, Togo.

Introduction: La sensibilisation aux trophallergènes, bien que mal connue, est décrite comme responsable d'une sensibilité relativement fréquente. L'objectif de cette étude était de décrire le profil de la sensibilisation aux trophallergènes chez les enfants. Méthodes: Il s'est agi d'une étude prospective, descriptive et analytique qui s'est déroulée de 1er juillet 2015 à 30 juin 2022 dans le service de pneumo-allergologie du CHU-Campus de Lomé et ayant porté sur les patients qui après acceptation et réalisation des tests cutanés étaient sensibilisés aux trophallergènes. Résultats: Nous avons recensé au total 468 patients âgés de 7 mois à 18 ans ; la fréquence de réalisation des tests était de 25,9% et celle de la sensibilisation aux trophallergènes de 66,9%. L'âge moyen des patients était de 8,12 ± 0,77 ans. Le sexe ratio était de 1,3. La rhinite allergique était le motif de consultation dans 39,9 % des cas. L'arachide était l'aliment incriminé dans 31,5 % des cas comme trophallergène dans les antécédents personnels. Les patients étaient sensibilisés aux oléagineuses 70,4% (arachide, sésame) ; aux légumineuses 24,6% (soja, haricot) ; aux légumes 4,7% (gombo, corète potagère) ; aux fruits 33,6% (banane, avocat) ; aux céréales 11,8% (blé, maïs) ; aux tubercules 1,9% (manioc, igname) ; à l'œuf 54,9% ; à la crevette 53,6% ; au lait de vache 51,1% ; au crabe 16,5%. Conclusion: La sensibilisation aux trophallergènes était élevée et concernait aussi bien les protéines animales que végétales.

[Respiratory distress in newborns at the University Hospital of Lomé, Togo]. / Détresse respiratoire du nouveau-né dans les CHU de Lomé, Togo.

Introduction: La détresse respiratoire du nouveau-né est une urgence néonatale source de séquelles neurologiques graves en l'absence de traitement adéquat. L'objectif de cette étude était de décrire les aspects épidémiologiques, diagnostiques et évolutifs de la détresse respiratoire du nouveau-né. Méthodes: Il s'est agi d'une étude rétrospective analytique et descriptive, réalisée dans les services de pédiatrie des CHU de Lomé, incluant les nouveau-nés pris en charge pour une détresse respiratoire sur une période d'un an allant du 1er janvier 2021 au 31 décembre 2021. Les données étaient saisies avec Epi Data 3.1 et analysées avec Epi Info 7.2.1. Résultats: Le nombre total des nouveau-nés hospitalisés pour détresse respiratoire était de 353 cas avec un sex ratio de 1,5. L'âge moyen était de 0,82 ± 3,20 jours ; la tranche d'âge de 0-6 jours représentait 92,4 % des cas. Tous les nouveau-nés avaient un trouble de la fréquence respiratoire. La dyspnée était le principal motif de consultation (100%). Les nouveau-nés avaient été réanimés à la naissance dans 46,7 % des cas. La détresse respiratoire était intense dans 64,9 % des cas. L'hyperleucocytose et la leucopénie étaient constatées chez 14,8 % des cas. L'anémie était de 15,9 % des cas. L'encéphalopathie anoxo-ischémique y était associée dans 49,1% des cas. Le taux de mortalité était de 20,4 %. Conclusion: La détresse respiratoire néonatale était fréquente dans la période néonatale précoce et sa mortalité élevée.

Resistance profile of children and adolescents infected with HIV-1 in urban areas in Togo.

INTRODUCTION: Children and adolescents are more vulnerable than adults to virologic failure and the emergence of resistance. The objective of our study was to determine the resistance patterns in adolescents on antiretroviral therapy at Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital in Lome, Togo. METHODS: From June 1 to September 30, 2014, we included patients who had been on HAART for more than 12 months in the pediatric ward of Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital. Patients with an HIV viral load ≥ 1000 copies underwent resistance genotyping. RESULTS: Virologic failure was found in 36 of the 198 children and adolescents in the study (18.2%). Half were in WHO stage 3,72.2% were treated with a combination of two NRTIs (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) and one NNRTI (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor). The mutations were mostly found in the NNRTI class with 100% mutations for EFV and NVP. The mutations associated with the most frequent NRTIs were M184V, Y181C, and T215Y. CONCLUSION: Our study shows the need to use PIs (boosted protease inhibitors) in most children treated with NNRTI. It is necessary to strengthen the virological monitoring of children on HAART.

Tuberculosis in children in Togo: epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most lethal communicable diseases in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). New strategies must be implemented to meet targets for 2035. OBJECTIVE: Describe the epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of tuberculosis in children in Togo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter, descriptive cross-sectional study examined the files of children younger than 15 years who were diagnosed with TB and treatment in the Maritime region from 2008 to 2011. RESULTS: The study included 74 children aged 0-15 years, for an average of 18 cases of childhood tuberculosis annually. Pulmonary tuberculosis (38 cases) was the most common. TB-HIV co-infection was found in 14.9% of cases. Boys accounted for more than half of the patients. The age range of 11-15 years accounted for the highest proportion of cases (41.9%). The most common treatment was a combination of 2RHZE and 4RH (25 children, 33.8%). Laboratory monitoring was satisfactory. In all, 56 (75.7%) children were cured, and 14 (18.2%) lost to follow-up, while 3 (4%) died (all with TB/HIV). CONCLUSION: Active testing for HIV infection is essential in children with TB, because the combination of the two can be lethal.

[Profile of Buruli ulcer treated at the National Reference Centre of Togo: a study of 119 cases]. / Profil de l'ulcère de Buruli pris en charge au Centre national de référence du Togo: étude de 119 cas.

The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic profile and the outcome of Buruli ulcer (BU) in the National Reference Center for Buruli ulcer treatment (NRCBUT) in Togo. It was a retrospective and descriptive study of records of patients treated for BU in the NRCBUT between June 2007 and December 2010. During the study period, 119 patients (56.3% males) were treated in the NRCBUT for BU. The median age of patients was 14 years. The proportion of children (< 15 years) was 56.3%. On admission, 85 patients were at ulcer stage and 34 patients at the pre-ulcer stage. BU wounds were mainly located on lower limbs (50.4%), followed by upper limbs (32.6%) and trunk (13.3%). The location of the wounds on the lower limbs were more frequent in patients older than 15 years (P < 0.001), while those on the upper limbs (P = 0.002) and trunk (P = 0.03) were more frequent in patients aged less than 15 years. All patients had received medical treatment which was based on rifampicin-streptomycin combination for eight weeks. This treatment was coupled to surgery in 30 cases. The outcome was punctuated by complications in 7 patients, limb amputation in 3 patients, and sequels in 10 patients. This study confirmed that the BU is the prerogative of young subjects and the exposed areas in the skin facilitates transmission. Apart from these classic features, some unique aspects including the age-dependent distribution are related to the pathogenesis of this disease.

[Follow-up of HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy in a rural area of Togo]. / Suivi des enfants infectés par le VIH/sida sous traitement antirétroviral en milieu rural au Togo.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the monitoring of HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy in rural areas of Togo and the effectiveness of the treatment. METHODS: This retrospective descriptive study, conducted at the Luis Scrosospi Center in Kouvé from 15 November, 2008, through 14 November, 2009, examined the records of children who had been receiving antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months. RESULTS: We studied the records of 55 children. The sex ratio was 0.9, and the primary opportunistic infections were respiratory infections and malaria. At treatment initiation, their average age was 6 years and 3 months, the average CD4 T cell count 358/mm(3), and the mean weight 12.9 kg. The hemoglobin level was less than 8 g/dL in 31%. All children received a nutritional kit monthly. The antiretroviral therapy for 52 children was a combination of stavudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine. The adherence rate during the first 12 months was 80% (44/55 children). The mean weight gain was 860 g (below -3SD) at 3 months, 1,550 g (between -3SD and -2SD) at 6 months, and 1 270 g (between -2SD and -1SD) at 12 months of treatment. The severe acute malnutrition rate fell from 60% at treatment initiation to 56% at 3 months, 47% at 6 months, and 25% at 12 months. Also after 12 months, the CD4 T cell count had risen in 60% of the children. The main side effects were peripheral neuropathy (29%) and headaches (18%). Eight children died (14%) during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Monitoring of HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy is possible in Togo's rural areas and should be encouraged for it will help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

[Basidiobolomycosis: a review]. / Basidiobolomycose: revue générale.

This general review of the biomedical literature indexed on Medline (PubMed) and Pascal (INIST) over the past 40 years (1970-2010), supplemented by some unindexed studies, found 89 articles published about basidiobolomycosis. These case reports (n = 67) and series (n = 22) described 172 cases of basidiobolomycosis (84 in Asia, 47 in tropical Africa, 25 in North America, 12 in South America, two in Europe and two in Australia). Patients younger than 15 tears accounted for 70%, and the sex-ratio (M/F) was 2.1. Clinically, basidiobolomycosis results in firm subcutaneous plaques, sharply circumscribed, generally cold and painless, becoming hot and painful during flares. It can cause invasive disease of the gastrointestinal tract or lungs and can even be disseminated throughout the body. The main treatments are potassium iodide, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and the azole derivatives. The latter are very effective and well tolerated, unlike the former, which present a risk of recurrence or severe side effects.

[Evaluation of antiretroviral treatment in a cohort of 1,620 HIV-infected patients in Togo]. / Évaluation du traitement antirétroviral de 1 620 personnes infectées par le VIH au Togo.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of antiretroviral treatment for HIV-infected patients in Togo. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This retrospective study covered the period from January 2001 to January 2009 and included all HIV-infected patients who received antiretroviral therapy for at least 12 months. RESULTS: The study included 1,620 of the 8,901 patients (18.2%) treated with antiretroviral therapy. Mean patient age was 34.8 ± 11.4 years and the male/female sex-ratio was 0.4. When treatment began, the mean CD4+ T lymphocyte count was 143/mm(3) and mean patient weight was 53.3 kg. Overall, 263 of the 1,620 subjects (16.2%) had opportunistic infections before starting antiretroviral treatment. The most frequently used antiretroviral combination was stavudine/lamivudine/nevirapine (91.7%). The compliance rate for the first 12 months was 89.6%, and the antiretroviral regimen was changed in 5.9% of cases. After 36 months, mean weight gain was 8.8 kg and the mean increase in the CD4(+) T lymphocyte count was 265 cells/mm(3). The number of opportunistic infections decreased from 263 cases at the beginning of antiretroviral treatment to 9 after three years of treatment. During follow-up, 258 deaths were recorded, for a cumulative case fatality rate of 15.9%. The most common side effects were cutaneous toxicity and anemia in the short term and neurological toxicity, lipodystrophy and hepatotoxicity over the long term. DISCUSSION: This study confirms the efficacy of antiretroviral treatment of HIV-infected patients in Togo. These findings should encourage policy-makers to work toward universal access to antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV.

[Evaluation of the glycemia of low-weight newborns within the 24th hour of life at Lomé University Hospital (Togo)]. / Évaluation de la glycémie des nouveau-nés de petits poids avant la 24(e) heure de vie au CHU-Tokoin de Lomé

OBJECTIVE: To assess the glycemia of low-weight newborns (LWNBs) during their first 24h of life as well as their mother's glycemia. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This was a cross-sectional prospective study within a case-control group, conducted at Lomé University Hospital (nationwide main hospital) from January to May 2006. One hundred thirty-nine LWNBs and 150 eutrophic term newborns (ETNBs), 98 mothers of LWNBs (MLWNBs), and 145 mothers of ETNBs (METNBs) were screened and monitored on glycemia dosage. RESULTS: The average glycemia level of the LWNBs (0.34 ± 0.27g/l) was significantly greater than the ETNBs' glycemia level (0.30 ± 0.14 g/l); it was nearly the same for the mean glycemia level of the MLWNBs (0.82 ± 0.2g/l) and the METNBs (0.77 ± 0.1g/l). Neonatal hypoglycemia during the first 24h of life was less frequent (RR=0.8) in the LWNBs (61.15%) than in the ETNBs (80%). The positive correlation between gestational age and glycemia was higher in the ETNBs (r=0.17) than in the LWNBs (r=0.07). This positive correlation between birthweight and glycemia was lower in the LWNBs (r=0.17) compared to the ETNBs (r=0.37); this was not the case within the group of the ETNBs (r=0.02) compared to the group of the LWNBs (r=0.34) concerning the correlation between the glycemia of mothers and newborns. CONCLUSION: The early hypoglycemia was much greater in the ETNBs compared to the LWNBs. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically start breastfeeding all newborns within their first hours of life whatever their gestational age, in order to solve these metabolic disorders.

[Biological profile of adult patients infected with HIV at initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Togo]. / Profil biologique des patients adultes infectés par le VIH à l'initiation du traitement antirétroviral au Togo.

OBJECTIVE: The study's objective was to determine the CD4 count and laboratory abnormalities in adults infected with HIV at initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Togo. METHODS: A retrospective and descriptive study was made of all patients on HAART in 2009 in Togo. RESULTS: A total of 5106 patients were included with a median age of 35 years. 68.6% were female patients. HIV1 infection was predominant (97.5%). The mean CD4) count at treatment initiation was 134 cells/µl. Among these patients, 22.1% had a CD4 count below 50 cells/µl and 73.8% had a CD4 count below 200 cells/µl. The median hemoglobin level was 10.4 g/dl. Transaminase level was elevated (grade 1 and above) in 55.9% of patients for AST, and in 29.8% of patients for ALT. Mean serum creatinine was 9.6 ± 5 mg/l. CONCLUSION: Initiation of ART is late in Togo, consequently a significant proportion of patients present with severe immunosuppression on initiation of treatment. Improving strategies for mass screening should increase the number of patients treated early to better meet WHO 2009 recommendations.

[Knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare providers in Togo regarding prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in 2010]. / Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des prestataires de soins en matière de prévention de la transmission du VIH de la mère à son enfant en 2010 au Togo.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of health care providers (HCP) in Togo regarding prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 22 antenatal clinics with PMTCT programs from January 18 to February 6, 2010. Clinic selection was based on attendance and local factors. Data were collected through interviews conducted by 23 trained investigators. RESULTS: A total of 97 HCP were interviewed at the 27 selected clinics. Most, i.e., 76%, had received PMTCT training. In terms of knowledge, interview data revealed the following strengths: 83% of HCP identified transmission from mother to child as the main route of HIV transmission in children < 15 years; 87% asserted that HIV-infected pregnant women do not always transmit HIV to their children; 77% knew that the ELISA test was performed after 18 months: and 96% had a clear notion about feeding infants born to HIV-infected mothers. Knowledge assessment revealed the following weaknesses: 30% of HCP had never heard of polymerase chain reaction; 27% said that confidentiality about HIV status was not always necessary; and 22% were unaware that decontamination of equipment using a chlorine solution kills HIV. In addition, interview data revealed the following positive attitudes and practices: 83% of HCP were willing to continue working in a center with a PMTCT program and 87% referred women pregnant for the HIV serology. On the negative side, however, only 27% of HCP summonsed husbands whose wives tested positive for HIV. CONCLUSION: This investigation shows that the knowledge, attitudes and practices of HCP in Togo regarding PMTCT is fairly good. However, it also revealed several weaknesses that should be addressed by further training.

[Treatment of children born of AIDS mothers in Tsevie hospital regional center, Togo]. / Prise en charge des enfants nés de mères infectées par le VIH au centre hospitalier régional de Tsévié, Togo.

The aim of this survey was to describe the components of the children medical care follow-up in the protocol of prevention of HIV/Aids from mother to child by nevirapine intake. A four-year retrospective study was carried out in Tsevie hospital regional center 90 children and their pregnant mothers who received nevirapine were recorded. 75 children received breast feeding. There was no follow-up for 42% of the children. The weight growth was correct in 90% of the children effectively followed. 49% of the children were completely vaccinated to PEV. The average children medical check up was 3.1 (minimum 1 maximum 8). The average age for breast feeding weaning was 6.2 months. The mother to child transmission rate was globally estimated at 12.5% at 18 months. 12 children (13%) died before HIV serology. The survey confirms the potency of nevirapine in preventing HIV transmission from mother to child and lays emphasis on real problems for which appropriate solutions should be found.