Neurological manifestations of mycetoma: a cross-sectional community-based study.

Mycetoma is a chronic specific granulomatous progressive and disfiguring subcutaneous inflammatory disease. It is caused by true fungi (Eumycetoma) or by higher bacteria (actinomycetoma). Mycetoma mainly affects the lower limbs, followed by the upper limbs, back, and rarely the head and neck. Mycetoma is mainly transmitted through trauma with infected sharp objects. Herein, we want to determine the neurological manifestations of mycetoma in Sudanese patients. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional community-based study included 160 patients with mycetoma seen in the White Nile state. A team of doctors collected data using standardized questionnaires that included clinical history, neurological examination, investigations including laboratory, neurophysiological studies, and imaging. Results: Almost 160 patients were included in the study; 90% of them were male. Two patients presented with entrapment neuropathy, one presented with proximal neuropathy, one had peripheral neuropathy, one had dorsal spine involvement and presented with spastic paraplegia with sensory level, one had cervical cord compression, and one patient had repeated attacks of convulsion. Conclusion: Although it is rare, clinicians should highly suspect neurological involvement in mycetoma patients.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical students towards COVID19 in Sudan: A cross sectional study among 19 universities.

Background: Since December 2019, an outbreak of severe respiratory infection (COVID-19) emerged in the city of Wuhan in China. The knowledge, awareness and practice of medical students toward COVID-19 pandemic is of most importance as it demonstrates their preparedness to deal with this pandemic. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge, awareness and practice of medical students in Sudan universities about COVID 19. Methodogy: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 19 universities that have medical schools in Sudan. Data from at least 100 medical students from each university were included in the study. Data were collected using an online questionnaire in April 2020. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Science software, version 25. Results: About 2603 medical students from 19 universities were included. Overall good knowledge and practice were demonstrated by the medical students (88.9%) and (78.6%), respectively. Respondents who answered that the most common clinical symptoms of COVID-19 were the main combination of dry cough, fatigue and fever were (27.7%), and the first initial symptom was headache were (48.3%.). (60.2%) Wear medical masks, (95%) said that avoiding crowded places protects against the spread of COVID-19, and (50.7%) have confidence that Sudan can win the battle against the COVID-19. Finally, (68.8%) agreed that COVID-19 will finally be successfully controlled. Conclusion: This study has found that medical students in Sudan demonstrated good knowledge and good practice toward Covid19.

Prevalence and risk factors of functional seizures among adult Sudanese patients with epilepsy, a cross-sectional clinic-based study.

Background: Epilepsy can be associated with functional seizures. Our main aim is to assess functional seizures' prevalence and risk factors among adult Sudanese patients with epilepsy. Methods: This cross-sectional clinic-based study was conducted from January to February 2021 at Daoud Charity Clinic in Omdurman city, Sudan. Ninety-nine adult Sudanese patients with epilepsy were included. Data were collected using a validated interview-based semi-structured questionnaire. A senior consultant neurologist and a consultant psychiatrist diagnosed the functional seizures based on full clinical history and investigations. The diagnosis was performed according to International League against epilepsy (ILAE) classification. Results: This study included 99 patients with epilepsy, 57% were females, 79% reside in Khartoum state, and 32% reached secondary school. The main types of epilepsy were generalized tonic-clonic (68%), followed by focal seizures with impaired awareness (11%). The majority of the patients have been diagnosed with epilepsy for over three years (65%). Comorbid epilepsy and functional seizures were found in 29% of the patients, with a significantly higher prevalence in patients with social problems and depression (p = 0.005 and p < 0.01, respectively). Patients with depression had a 14 times higher risk of functional seizures than those without depression, 95% CI [3.8, 52.3]. Conclusion: A remarkably high prevalence of functional seizures was found among adult patients with epilepsy. Patients suffering from social problems and/or depression and poor economic status had a higher tendency to develop functional seizures, especially after two to three years of treatment and above.

Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors Associated with Severe Disease Progression among COVID-19 Patients In Wad Medani Isolation Centers: A Multicenter Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Since December 2019, (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on global health systems. Because little is known about the clinical characteristics and risk factors connected with COVID-19 severity in Sudanese patients, it is vital to summarize the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients and to investigate the risk factors linked to COVID-19 severity. Objectives: We aimed to assess the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients and look into risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity. Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study that took place in two Isolation Centers in Wad Medani, Gezira State, Sudan. Four hundred and eighteen patients were included between May 2020 and May 2021. All COVID-19 patients over the age of 18 who were proven COVID-19 positive by nucleic acid testing or had characteristics suggestive of COVID-19 on a chest CT scan and had a complete medical record in the study period were included. Results: The participants in this study were 418 confirmed COVID-19 cases with a median age of 66.313 years. There were 279 men (66.7%) among the patients. The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (n = 195; 46.7%) and diabetes (n = 187; 44.7%). Fever (n = 303; 72.5%), cough (n = 278; 66.5%), and dyspnea (n = 256; 61.2%) were the most prevalent symptoms at the onset of COVID-19. The overall mortality rate (n = 148) was 35.4%. Patients with severe illness had a mortality rate of 42.3% (n = 118). Older age, anemia, neutrophilia, and lymphocytopenia, as well as higher glucose, HbA1c, and creatinine levels, were all linked to severe COVID-19, according to the chi-square test and analysis of variance analysis. Conclusion: Sixteen variables were found to be associated with COVID-19 severity. These patients are more prone to go through a serious infection and as a result have a greater death rate than those who do not have these characteristics.