Obstetrical, maternal characteristics and outcome of HIV-infected rapid progressor infants at Yaounde: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Rapid progressors are exposed to HIV infection at an early stage of life, and the prognosis is poor without treatment. Reducing the proportion of infants who are rapid progressors, require strengthening strategies to achieve the highest level of performance for the PMTCT program. METHODS: This was a retrospective study carried out on HIV infected infants aged less than 12 months, clinically classified stage 4 (WHO) or having CD4 count <25%. We described maternal and obstetrical characteristics of HIV-infected rapid progressors using univariate and bivariate analysis. Patients' survival was monitored from the inclusion time to the end of the study. We then estimated their probability of survival with or without anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment from birth using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The characteristics of the mothers of the 150 rapid progressors infants we included were: low level of education (OR=3.87; P=0.016), CD4 count less than 200/mm(3) (OR=43.3; P=0.000), absence of ARV prophylaxis (OR=6.02; P=0.043), or treatment with HAART (OR=5.74; P=0.000) during pregnancy. In the children, the most important findings were lack of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis (OR=11.61; P=0.000) and antiretroviral prophylaxis (OR=2.70; P=0.0344). The survival rate was 84.3% in infants who were receiving HAART as opposed to 43.3% in those who were not (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HIV infected women who are eligible should start antiretroviral treatment prior to a pregnancy, in order to improve their immunological status. This measure associated to cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and ART could improve their survival.

Molecular surveillance of rotavirus strains circulating in Yaoundé, Cameroon, September 2007-December 2012.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrheal disease in children under 5 years of age worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 453,000 rotavirus-attributable deaths occur annually. Through the WHO, the Rotavirus Sentinel Surveillance Program was established in Cameroon in September 2007 with the Mother and Child Center (MCC) in Yaoundé playing the role of sentinel site and national laboratory for this program. The objectives of this surveillance were to assess the rotavirus disease burden and collect baseline information on rotavirus strains circulating in Cameroon. Diarrheal stool samples were collected in a pediatric hospital from children under 5, using the WHO case definition for rotavirus diarrhea. Antigen detection of rotavirus was performed by using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The genotypic characterization was performed using multiplexed semi-nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. Between September 2007 and December 2012, 2444 stool samples were received at the MCC laboratory for rotavirus antigen detection, of which 999 (41%) were EIA positive. Among EIA positive samples 898 were genotyped. Genotype prevalence varied each year. Genotype G9P[8] was the dominant type during 2007 (32%) and 2008 (24%), genotype G3P[6] predominated in 2010 (36%) and 2011 (25%), and G1P[8] was predominant in 2012 (44%). The findings showed that the rotavirus disease burden is high and there is a broad range of rotavirus strains circulating in Yaoundé. These data will help measure the impact of vaccination in the future.

Le tetanos chez le grand enfant dans un hopital pediatrique a Yaounde; Cameroun

Le tetanos est evitable par la vaccination; mais peut survenir en cas d'une immunisation incomplete. Nous avons mene une etude sur les dossiers medicaux des enfants admis pour tetanos entre 2008-2009 au Centre Mere et Enfant de la Fondation Chantal BIYA a Yaounde. Le but etait d'analyser les circonstances de survenue et les manifestations cliniques du tetanos chez le grand enfant; afin de proposer des strategies de prevention adaptees au contexte camerounais. Le statut vaccinal etait inconnu chez un patient; les autres (80) n'avaient pas recu de rappel vaccinal. Les portes d'entree etaient les plaies aux membres; l'une etait secondaire a une injection medicamenteuse. Tous ont presente le tetanos generalise. Le deces etait survenu chez un patient. Le tetanos n'est pas rare chez le grand enfant au Cameroun. Il se degage ainsi la problematique des rappels vaccinaux

[Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia: report of one case at Mother and Child Center of Chantal Biya Foundation, Yaounde, Cameroon]. / La dysplasie ectodermique anhydrotique : à propos d'un cas au Centre Mère et Enfant de la Fondation Chantal Biya, Yaoundé, Cameroun.

Ectodermal dysplasia are rare genetic diseases characterized by the absence or dysplasia of some tissues of ectodermal origin. We present a case of a young boy seen at the age of seven and a half years for late eruption of teeth, morphologic abnormalities of the teeth and a feeling of exaggerated heat. The diagnosis of anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia was discussed. The absence of sweat glands on the skin biopsy slides was in favor of the diagnosis. Dental prostheses were put in place which the aim of permitting the child to eat normally and have a better self image.