Clinical and epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Douala, Cameroon.

INTRODUCTION: the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a disease that originated from Wuhan in December 2019. It rapidly spread across the globe causing high mortality especially among the elderly. Africa though not spared has limited studies regarding its effects on its population. We therefore sought to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Douala, Cameroon. METHODS: we conducted a single-centre, retrospective, and observational study by reviewing records of patients managed for COVID-19 between the 8th March 2020 and 31st, May 2020. Cases were confirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction and were analysed for epidemiological, demographic, clinical, and radiological features. Outcomes were either clinical improvement by Day-28 or in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: we analyzed 282 case files, 192 were males (M: F=2: 1). The mean age was 52 (+/- 15) years. Hypertension and diabetes accounted for 75% of the chronic medical conditions identified. Main presenting complaints were dyspnea, cough, asthenia, and fever (55-60%). Radiographic analysis showed a ground-glass appearance in 85% of cases. Chloroquine/Hydroxychloroquine was the most (91.8%) frequently used drug in management protocols, 35% needed oxygen supplementation while 6 patients were intubated. Severe pneumonia (11.3%) was the commonest complication. They were 91 admissions in the intensive care unit. The average length of hospital stay was 10 (+/- 5) days. The mortality rate was 32%. CONCLUSION: our findings are concordant with universally reported data of COVID-19 hospitalised patients. These parameters are essential in designing effective prevention and control programs aimed at reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic particularly in countries with limited resources.

[Aspects of the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of sickle cell osteomyelitis in children in Africa]. / Particularités épidémiologiques, diagnostiques et thérapeutiques de l'ostéomyélite drépanocytaire de l'enfant en milieu africain.

IntroductionSickle cell osteomyelitis in children is one of the complications of osteoarthritis in sickle cell disease.ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell osteomyelitis in children in Africa to improve management.Tools and methodA review of records showed that from April 2004 through September 2009, eleven cases of osteomyelitis in children aged 0 to 15 years who carried the sickle cell trait were treated in the surgical and pediatric unit of the Women's and Children's Hospital of Yaounde.ResultThe children's mean age was 7 years, but frequency was highest for those aged 1 to 5 years. The sex ratio was 2:1 male. The portal of entry was found for only 30% of cases. The predilection of the disease for long bones, the non-fistulated forms, the homozygous type, and the frequency of Salmonella were all remarkable. Medical and preventive treatment, always applied, were followed by orthopedic treatment. The usefulness of surgery, on the other hand, is subject to debate. Healing was obtained in 80% of cases.ConclusionThe authors describe the profile of osteomyelitis in children with sickle cell disease in Africa.

[Central nervous system tumours in Cameroon: histopathology and demography]. / Les tumeurs du système nerveux central au Cameroun: histopathologie, démographie.

UNLABELLED: Tumours of the central nervous system (CNS) have not received much scientific attention in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the central African zone. The aim of this study was to determine the relative frequency and different histologic types of CNS tumours seen in the neurosurgery units of Cameroon, a multiethnic country of central Africa. This retrospective study covers the decade from January 1996 through December 2006 in the three neurosurgery departments in Cameroon, at the Yaoundé General Hospital, the Yaoundé Central Hospital, and the Douala General Hospital. INCLUSION CRITERIA: All cases undergoing surgery in these units for a histologically-confirmed CNS tumour. There were 231 cases with complete files, accounting for 6.3% of total admissions in the various units. Patients' mean age was 46.3+/-20.6 years (range: 2 weeks to 74 years); the male/female ratio was 0.8. Paediatric patients made up 15.1% (n=35) of the population while adults comprised 84.9% (n=196). In all, 74.9% (n=173) of the tumours were intracranial and 25.1% (n=58) spinal; 167 (72.3%) were the primary site and 64 (27.7%) metastatic. The average age of patients with metastatic tumors was 42+/-18.5 years compared with 36.5+/-17.8 years for cases with primary tumors. Primary tumors were malignant in 34.2% (n=12) of the children and benign in 65.8% (n=23); among adults 22.7% (n=30) were malignant and 77.3% (n=102) benign. Meningiomas were the most frequent tumours in our series, with 56 (24.2%) cases, followed by 42 astrocytomas (18.1%). Most patients were younger than 55 years. In conclusion, CNS tumors occurred mainly before the age of 55 years and had a slight predilection for girls and women. Meningiomas were the most frequent tumors in adults while astrocytomas were more prevalent in children.