Keloids on stretch marks: Case of a Cameroonian lady.

Keloids are hypertrophic scars that develop as a result of various pathophysiologic mechanisms. We report a case of a 30-year-old Cameroonian woman who presented with keloid-like masses in the abdomen. The onset was postpartum without trauma. After histopathologic confirmation, we concluded a postinflammatory keloid.

Failure to return to receive HIV-test results: the Cameroon experience.

BACKGROUND: To be acquainted of one's HIV serological status is an important strategy for the fight against HIV/AIDS, but many patients still miss the appointment to receive their HIV-test result. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological and serological profiles of patients not coming back to collect their HIV-test result in a tertiary health care facility in Yaoundé, Cameroon. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective analysis of data of patients who visited the HIV-day care unit of the Yaoundé Central Hospital (Yaoundé, Cameroon) from January to December 2009 in order to be screened for HIV, and who did not come back to retrieve their result. RESULTS: Of the 3990 patients who visited the unit during the study period, 396 (9.92%) did not come back to collect their HIV-test result, of whom 21% were aged 26-30 years representing the most encountered age group. Females (57.8%) were significantly more present than males (p = 0.023). More than half of these patients (54.9%) visited the unit for a voluntary HIV testing. Two hundred and three patients (51.3%) had a positive HIV-test result, of whom 63.5% were females. The most HIV-infected group was the one coming for a voluntary screening (36.5%). Women not returning to receive their results were more likely to be tested HIV-positive (odds ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-2.42; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Almost 10% of patients screened for HIV infection did not come back to collect their result. More strategies should be implemented to reduce this rate, especially targeting young adults (20-35 years) and women. The delay in delivering patients' results should be shortened. Concurrently, there is need to increase voluntary HIV-testing in our settings.

Features of human scabies in resource-limited settings: the Cameroon case.

BACKGROUND: The persistent high prevalence of human scabies, especially in low- and middle-income countries prompted us to research the sociodemographic profile of patients suffering from it, and its spreading factors in Cameroon, a resource-poor setting. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey from October 2011 to September 2012 in three hospitals located in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and enrolled patients diagnosed with human scabies during dermatologists' consultations who volunteered to take part in the study. RESULTS: We included 255 patients of whom 158 (62 %) were male. Age ranged from 0 to 80 years old with a median of 18 (Inter quartile range: 3-29) years. One to eight persons of our patients' entourage exhibited pruritus (mean = 2.1 ± 1.8). The number of persons per bed/room varied from 1 to 5 (mean = 2.1 ± 0.8). The first dermatologist's consultation occurred 4 to 720 days after the onset of symptoms (mean = 77.1 ± 63.7). The post-scabies pruritus (10.2 % of cases) was unrelated to the complications observed before correct treatment (all p values > 0.05), mainly impetiginization (7.1 %) and eczematization (5.9 %). CONCLUSION: Human scabies remains preponderant in our milieu. Populations should be educated on preventive measures in order to avoid this disease, and clinicians' knowledges must be strengthened for its proper diagnosis and management.

Acné juvénile : une pathologie fréquente chez les adolescents scolarisés d'Afrique Sub-saharienne

OBJECTIF : Décrire les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et cliniques de l'acné chez les adolescents scolarisés de Yaoundé. MÉTHODOLOGIE : Nous avons mené une étude transversale de Janvier à Avril 2013 au sein de 3 établissements d'enseignement secondaire de la ville de Yaoundé, Cameroun. Tout adolescent âgé de 15-19 ans et atteint d'acné était inclus dans l'étude. RÉSULTATS : Des 535 adolescents examinés, 400 (74,8%) étaient atteints d'acné, dont 214 filles (53,5%) avec un risque plus élevé chez les garçons d'être atteints (odds-ratio (OR) 1,8, intervalle de confiance (IC) à 95% : 1,2-2,7 ; p = 0,005). L'âge moyen était de 16,7 ± 1.3 ans. Les participants âgés de 16 ans étaient les plus affectés (31,7%). Le pic d'âge au début de l'acné était de 12 ans chez les filles (22,4%) et 14 ans chez les garçons (30,1%), avec significativement plus de filles affectées tôt (9-13 ans) que de garçons (14-18 ans) (OR 2,8, IC : 1,8-4,3 ; p < 0,0001). Le visage représentait le siège préférentiel (79%), et, comédons (98%) et papules (95%) étaient les types de lésions les plus nombreuses. L'acné rétentionnelle (58,5%) et l'acné polymorphe (37,5%) étaient les formes les plus rencontrées, et le grade 2 était le degré de sévérité le plus observé (41,5%). CONCLUSION : L'acné est une pathologie fréquente en milieu scolaire Camerounais. Bien que les formes sévères soient rares, les lésions semblent prédominer sur les parties exposées du corps, ce qui pourrait avoir un retentissement sur l'état psycho-affectif et la qualité de vie des patients

La gale humaine : profil sociodemographique; distribution lesionnelle et types de lesions

Introduction : La gale humaine est une ectoparasitose due a Sarcoptes scabiei; parasite humain obligatoire. Son diagnostic est essentiellement clinique. Plusieurs auteurs ont recemment decrit sa recrudescence. Ainsi avons-nous voulu etablir un profil socio-demographique; ressortir la distribution lesionnelle et le type de lesions de la scabiose rencontree au cours de nos consultations de Dermatologie a Yaounde (Cameroun). Methodologie : Nous avons mene une etude descriptive et analytique a Yaounde pendant 12 mois (Octobre 2011 a Septembre 2012). Les patients avec un diagnostic de gale humaine pose durant la consultation initiale etaient inclus dans cette etude ouverte au tout venant. Les donnees recoltees prospectivement etaient saisies et analysees sous le logiciel Epi infos version 3.5.3. Resultats : 255 patients etaient retenus dont 158 (62) de sexe masculin et 97 (38) de sexe feminin. L'age variait de 0 a 80 ans avec une mediane de 18; 151 (59.2) etaient contamines par un proche ; 176 (69) signalaient une notion de contage et on notait 42 cas (16;5) de recidive. Une a huit personnes dans l'entourage avait un prurit. Les lesions siegeaient aux plis sous fessiers (71;8); aux poignets (70;2); aux plis inter fessiers (56;5). Les points crouteux (82;4); les papules (69;8) et les papulo-vesicules (68;6) etaient observes. Conclusion : La scabiose reste d'actualite et sa tendance a la propension necessite une sensibilisation aussi bien des populations que des praticiens au diagnostic precoce et a la prise en charge dans un bref delai

The spectrum of skin diseases in a rural setting in Cameroon (sub-Saharan Africa).

BACKGROUND: Skin disorders are generally considered to be more prevalent in the rural areas of Cameroon. This study was carried out to verify this assumption by describing the spectrum of skin disorders in a rural setting of Cameroon. METHODS: We carried out a community-based clinical skin examination of 400 consenting subjects from 4 villages of Cameroon: Nyamanga (27%), Yebekolo (24%), Mbangassina (23%) and Bilomo (26%). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of skin diseases in our sample was 62% {95% CI: 57.2%, 66.8%} (248/400). The commonest skin disorders were: fungal infections (25.4%), parasitic infestations (21.4%), atrophic skin disorders (11.7%), hypertrophic skin disorders (9.7%), disorders of skin appendages {acne} (8.9%), benign neoplasm (6.5%), bacterial skin infections (5.2%), pigmentation disorders (4.8%), and dermatitis/eczema (4.0%). Skin infections and infestations constituted 52.82% of all skin disorders. The overall prevalence of infectious and parasitic infestation was 32.75% {95%CI: 28.17%, 37.59%} (131/400) as against 29.25% {95%CI: 24.83%, 33.98%} (117/400) for non-infectious disorders.Among people with skin infections/parasitic infestations, those with fungal infections and onchocercal skin lesions were the most prevalent, accounting for 48.1% (63/131) and 35.1% (46/131); and an overall prevalence of 15.75% {95%CI: 12.3%, 19.7%} (63/400) and 11.5% {95%CI: 8.5%, 15.0%} (46/400) respectively.There was secondary bacterial infection in 12.1% {95%CI: 8.31%, 16.82%} (30/248) of subjects with skin diseases. Hypertrophic and atrophic disorders of the skin were mainly keloids (9.68%), scarification marks (6.05%) and burn scars (5.65%). Skin diseases like dermatitis and eczema (4.03%), malignant tumours and pigmentation disorders were rare in our sample.The proportion of subjects diagnosed with skin disorders after examination (62.8%) was significantly higher than the proportion of 40.8% that declared having skin diseases (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of skin diseases in the rural Mbam valley is alarming, dominated by easily treatable or preventable skin infections and their magnitude is highly neglected by the community, contrasting with findings in the urban setting. Similar studies are needed in other ecological/demographic settings of the country in order to construct a better understanding of the epidemiology of skin disorders. This would lead to the development of national policies to improve skin care.

Outbreak of tinea corporis gladiatorum, a fungal skin infection due to Trichophyton tonsurans, in a French high level judo team.

An outbreak of 49 cases of tinea corporis gladiatorum due to Trichophyton tonsurans infection occurred in a high level judo team of 131 members in Orleans, central France, between October 2004 and April 2005. The team was divided into 5 groups: cadet-junior boys (n=44), cadet-junior girls (n=33), male university students (n= 15), female university students (n=21), and a group called 'pole technique' made up of high level judokas who have finished academic study (n=18). The outbreak involved 86% of the cadet-junior boys, but only 6 men in the 'pole technique' (33%) and only 5 of the 69 other team members (7%) (cadet-junior girls and university students). We describe the outbreak and the results of a survey that found a known risk factor for the 'pole technique': sharing an electric hair shaver. Personal hygiene practices were found to be very good among the cadet-junior boys. The high attack rate in this group may be linked to the poor shower facilities in the gymnasium where they practiced that led them to have their showers several hours after the end of daily practice.