Weight-for-Height Z Score and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference as Predictors of Mortality in Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition.

Background: Mortality associated with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) could be reduced by screening malnourished children for those most vulnerable to death. We compared the weight-for-height Z score (WHZ) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as predictors of mortality in children with SAM. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study spanning over 8 years, using records of children aged 6-59 months, hospitalized for SAM and discharged alive or who died during hospitalization. Results: Area under the curve was greater for MUAC [0.809 (95% CI, 0.709-0.911, p = 0.001)] than WHZ [0.649 (95% CI, 0.524-0.774, p = 0.032)]. MUAC predicted death better [sensitivity: 95.5%, specificity: 25.0%, positive likelihood ratio (PLR): 1.27, negative likelihood ratio (NLR): 0.18] than WHZ (sensitivity: 86.4%, specificity: 21.4%, PLR: 1.10, NLR: 0.64). Best MUAC and WHZ cut-offs for predicting death (10.3 cm and -4, respectively) were most accurate in infants aged <12 months, the former being more accurate. Conclusion: MUAC predicts death better than WHZ in children with SAM.

The clinical spectrum of severe acute malnutrition in children in Cameroon: a hospital-based study in Yaounde, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a major health problem, and the cause of more than half of childhood deaths in children less than 5 years in developing countries. Globally, 20 million children under 5 years of age are severely malnourished according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Cameroon, the prevalence of SAM remains high and estimated at 1.9% in 2011 and 1.3% in 2014. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology, clinical aspects and outcome of SAM at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (YGOPH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children hospitalized in the YGOPH for SAM over a period of 8 1/2 years (from September 2006 to March 2015). We included the medical records of children under 15 years of age who were hospitalized in the pediatric unit of the YGOPH for the management of SAM. Data was collected using a data entry form and was analyzed with Epi info version 3.5.4 software. Data was considered statistically significant for P less than 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of SAM was 2.72%. The median age was 9 months (range, 23 days-112 months). The most represented age group was 6 to 12 months with 34.6% of the children. The most frequent symptoms on admission were: wasting (58.1%) and fever (53.6%). The mean interval between the onset of symptoms and admission was 30.36 days. Marasmus was the most frequent clinical form of SAM observed in 88.8% of the children. Respiratory tract infections were the most common comorbidities and were present in 45 patients (25.1%), followed by malaria in 15.1% of cases. The sero-prevalence of human immuno deficiency virus (HIV) was 43.75% amongst the 32 children whose HIV status was known. Dehydration was the most frequent complication, with an occurrence of 29.6%. A total of 58.7% of patients were discharged following clinical improvement and the mortality rate was 15%. The average duration of hospitalization was 8.25 days. CONCLUSIONS: SAM is a frequently encountered pathology in this context with a high mortality, thus the need to step up prevention strategies. Health education during pediatric consultations and vaccination sessions on the appropriate feeding of the young infant and the child should be reinforced.

Risks associated with mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection.

Nguefack F, Koki-Ndombo P, Ngoh R, Soh Fru F, Kinkela MN, Chiabi A. Risks associated with mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection. Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 426-433. Early infant diagnosis (EID) permits the detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in exposed children from 4-6 weeks by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The aim of this study was to assess some maternal and infant characteristics associated with HIV infected children in an EID program. A retrospective study was performed using records of HIV exposed children enrolled in the EID program from 2009 to 2013. Patients recruited were from various health structures and at different clinical stages; some for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) follow up, others with signs of HIV infection. Data was collected from completed hospital records of children aged 6 weeks to 18 months containing at least two PCR, one PCR and one serologic test, or one PCR test and viral load. HIV infection was considered if one of the of tests was positive. In all, 130 (5.3%) exposed children with only one positive PCR test, and 1,442 (59%) others with information lacking in their record were excluded. A total 107 out of 871 infants enrolled (12.2%) were infected. Only, 32.7% of the mothers were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Of these, 53.3% had their first PCR performed between 6 weeks and 6 months. Children were less likely to be HIV infected when their mothers received antiretroviral (ARV) (OR=0.15, 95% CI 0.07-0.30, P=0.000). Factors associated with HIV infection in the children were the lack of ARV prophylaxis (OR=2.07, 95%CI 1.05-4.09, P=0.035) and having mixed feeding (OR=3.91, 95% CI 1.66-9.24, P=0.002) in multivariate analysis. The high rate of infection associated with the maternal and infant correlates of HIV infected children would result from the poor implementation of the PMTCT. Systematic screening of pregnant and breastfeeding women should be reinforced and the lifelong ARVs for PMTCT (Option B+) be promoted.

Baseline demographic, clinical and immunological profiles of HIV-infected children at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric hospital, Cameroon.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 2.5 million children below 15 years are infected with the HIV virus, with 90% in sub-Saharan Africa. The Yaounde Gynaeco-obstetric and Pediatric hospital has been a treatment center for HIV since 2006. The aim of this study was to analyze the baseline demographic, clinical and immunologic characteristics of the children with the HIV infection in this hospital. METHODS: It was a retrospective, cross- sectional and analytic study, carried out between January and April 2011 which included 61 HIV positive children aged 0-15 years. The socio-demographic, clinical and immunologic data were obtained from their medical records. RESULTS: Most (52.5%) of the children studied were above 60 months of age with a mean age of 71 months. Most (57.4%) were females. Mother-to-child transmission was the principal mode of contamination in 88.5% of cases. More than half of their mothers (55.7%) did not receive antiretroviral prophylaxis during pregnancy and labor. Common clinical findings included prolonged fever (44.6%), malnutrition (37.6%), lymphadenopathy (34.4%), respiratory tract infections (34.4%) and diarrhea (24.5%). Diagnosis was confirmed by HIV serology for most of the patients (93.4%). Polymerase chain reaction served as method of diagnosis in only 6.6% of the cases. HIV 1 was the predominant viral type. More than half of the children (52.5%) were seen at an advanced stage of the disease. CONCLUSION: HIV screening during pregnancy and prevention of mother-to-child transmission should be reinforced in this context, and fathers of HIV-infected children should be encouraged to go for HIV testing.

Neonatal mortality in a referral hospital in Cameroon over a seven year period: trends, associated factors and causes.

BACKGROUND: The fourth Millennium Development Goals targets reduction by 2/3 the mortality rate of under-fives by 2015. This reduction starts with that of neonatal mortality representing 40% of childhood mortality. In Cameroon neonatal mortality was 31‰ in 2011. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the trends, associated factors and causes of neonatal deaths at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital. METHODS: The study was a retrospective chart review. Data was collected from the hospital records, and included both maternal and neonatal variables from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2010. RESULTS: The neonatal mortality was 10%. Out-borns represented 49.3% of the deceased neonates with 11.3% born at home. The neonatal mortality rate followed a downward trend dropping from 12.4% in 2004 to 7.2% in 2010. The major causes of deaths were: neonatal sepsis (37.85%), prematurity (31.26%), birth asphyxia (16%), and congenital malformations (10.54%). Most (74.2%) of the deaths occurred within the first week with 35% occurring within 24hours of life. Mortality was higher in neonates with birth weight less than 2500g and a gestational age of less than 37 weeks. In the mothers, it was high in single parenthood , primiparous and in housewives and students. CONCLUSION: There has been a steady decline of neonatal mortality since 2004. Neonatal sepsis, prematurity, birth asphyxia and congenital malformations were the major causes of neonatal deaths. Neonatal sepsis remained constant although at lower rates over the study period.