Approach and solutions to congenital hearing impairment in Cameroon: perspective of hearing professionals.

OBJECTIVES: To bring out the diagnostic attitude of hearing professionals in Cameroon towards congenital hearing impairment (CHI), assess availability of tests, neonatal screening, and create a national map of availability of treatment opportunities. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online-based survey from June to December 2021, concerning ear-nose-throat (ENT) specialists, hearing care professionals, speech therapists and ENT nurses. A Google Forms online questionnaire was used to collect data, filled by eligible professionals involved in hearing care in Cameroon. RESULTS: A total of 93 professionals working in 31 different health facilities participated. A cumulative percentage of 79.9% of ENTs were found in just two out of 10 regions. Specialists sought by ENTs for assessment of patients with CHI included neurologists/neuro-pediatricians (96.8%), pediatricians (47.6%), other ENTs (34.9%), and psychologists (3.2%). Investigations requested included auditory-evoked brainstem response (ABR; 87.3%), otoacoustic emissions recording (OAE; 71.4%), and tympanometry (66.7%). There were eight OAE and nine ABR machines in the country. Twenty-five (88.6%) out of 31 facilities with otolaryngologists did not carry out systematic neonatal screening. Reasons included unavailability of equipment (21; 84%), and administrative delays (14; 56%). Sixteen (51.6%) facilities had ENTs with additional training in otologic surgery and 11 (35.5%) were equipped to perform ear surgery. Three centers (9.7%) specialized in hearing aid provision and maintenance services. Three hospitals (9.7%) had performed cochlear implantation. CONCLUSION: Our results show scarcity and overt unevenness in distribution of specialists, equipment and solutions to CHI in Cameroon. A serious negative health care consequence of this shortage is the unavailability of universal newborn hearing screening and implementation programs.

Otitis media with effusion in Africa-prevalence and associated factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the overall and subgroup prevalence of otitis media with effusion (OME) in Africa, and identify setting-specific predictors in children and adults. METHODS: PubMed, African Journals Online, African Index Medicus, Afrolib, SciELO, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, GreyLit and OpenGray were searched to identify relevant articles on OME in Africa, from inception to December 31st 2019. A random-effects model was used to pool outcome estimates. RESULTS: Overall, 38 studies were included, with 27 in meta-analysis (40 331 participants). The overall prevalence of OME in Africa was 6% (95% CI: 5%-7%; I 2 = 97.5%, P < .001). The prevalence was 8% (95% CI: 7%-9%) in children and 2% (95% CI: 0.1%-3%) in adolescents/adults. North Africa had the highest prevalence (10%; 95% CI: 9%-13%), followed by West and Southern Africa (9%; 95% CI: 7%-10% and 9%; 95% CI: 6%-12% respectively), Central Africa (7%; 95% CI: 5%-10%) and East Africa (2%; 95% CI: 1%-3%). There was no major variability in prevalence over the last four decades. Cleft palate was the strongest predictor (OR: 5.2; 95% CI: 1.4-18.6, P = .02). Other significant associated factors were age, adenoid hypertrophy, allergic rhinitis in children, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, low CD4 count in adults. CONCLUSION: OME prevalence was similar to that reported in other settings, notably high-income temperate countries. Health care providers should consider age, presence of cleft palate, adenoid hypertrophy and allergic rhinitis when assessing OME in children and deciding on a management plan. More research is required to confirm risk factors and evaluate treatment options. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3a.

Orbital cavernous haemangioma; profile and outcome of 76 patients managed surgically.

Background: Orbital cavernous haemangioma (OCH) is one of the most common primary orbital tumours in adults. They can encroach on intraorbital or adjacent structures and be considered 'anatomically' malignant. Aims: To report a series of patients that were all managed surgically, with possible specificities and propose predictors of treatment outcome. Methods: We realised a hospital-based retrospective case review including data from 76 patient files. Results: The mean age was 37.8 years. Unilateral proptosis was observed in all patients. Visual loss was found in 32 patients (42.1%). Findings on eye examination included lagophthalmos (76.3%), blepharoptosis (21.1%), complications of corneal exposure (19.6%), strabismus (13.2%) and fundoscopic abnormalities (60.5%). Abnormal fundoscopy was significantly associated with decreased visual acuity (VA) (p < .001). Small tumours were predominant (65.8%) and size was associated with VA (correlation coefficient r = -0.5, p < .001). Surgery was mainly by lateral orbitotomy (94.7%), with early post-operative complications in 18 patients (23.7%). Multivariable analysis showed that tumour size, preoperative VA and abnormal fundoscopy were significantly associated with postoperative VA. Conclusion: Clinical and radiological profiles are consistent. Tumour size, preoperative VA, and abnormal fundoscopy seem to be important factors that could influence outcome expectations. Surgical management is still predominantly by open approaches. Severe complications remain rare.

Lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma: a review of 52 cases, 15-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Lacrimal gland (LG) tumours are rare neoplasms. Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common histologic variant, representing ∼20% of all LG tumours. PA tends to recur leading to great morbidity. AIMS: We carried out this study to share our experience and provide recent data on the clinical aspects, radiologic findings, management and outcome after treatment. METHODS: We realised a hospital-based retrospective case review including data collected from 52 patients, managed over 15 years. RESULTS: The mean age was 39.8 ± 2 years. Unilateral painless proptosis was the most constant sign (51.9%). CT-scan showed predominantly isodense lesions (96.2%), with regular borders (94.2%), measuring on average 2 cm. MRI showed isointense lesions on T1-weighted images in 96.2% of cases. No pre-operative biopsy was done. Surgical management was mainly external lateral orbitotomy (94.2%). There was no recurrence, considering a mean follow-up period of 12.6 years. Size of tumour at the time of diagnosis increased with age (r = +0.36, p = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and radiologic characteristics are consistent with literature. Older patients seem to present larger tumours. We believe that biopsy is not necessary if appropriate imaging is done. Complete, intact resection is generally sufficient to minimise the risk of recurrence.

Effectiveness of amoxicillin alone in the treatment of uncomplicated acute otitis media: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Amoxicillin is the first-line antibiotic recommended by most scientific societies for the treatment of uncomplicated acute otitis media (AOM) in children and adults. In low-income and middle-income countries however, absence of setting-specific recommendations and antibiotic resistance, promoted by higher population density and over-the-counter antibiotic availability, could hamper the effectiveness of amoxicillin. We aim to provide updated information to enable evidence-based decisions for first-line therapy of uncomplicated AOM in our setting. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a systematic review of all randomised controlled trials on the clinical effectiveness of amoxicillin for the treatment of uncomplicated AOM in children above 6 months and adults. The search will include studies published from the generation of the included databases to 31 December 2017. Study selection will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and study quality will be assessed by the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool from the Cochrane Handbook for randomised trials. A meta-analysis will be conducted for homogeneous studies, eventually, using the fixed-effect model. Subgroup analysis will include age groups, amoxicillin dosage, treatment duration, effectiveness criteria, time of trial realisation, study quality and region of the world involved. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Formal ethical approval is not required, as primary data will not be collected. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and presented at scientific meetings. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42017080029.