Effectiveness of bubble continuous positive airway pressure for treatment of children aged 1-59 months with severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia in Ethiopia: a pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The safety and efficacy of bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) for treatment of childhood severe pneumonia outside tertiary care hospitals is uncertain. We did a cluster-randomised effectiveness trial of locally made bCPAP compared with WHO-recommended low-flow oxygen therapy in children with severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia in general hospitals in Ethiopia. METHODS: This open, cluster-randomised trial was done in 12 general (secondary) hospitals in Ethiopia. We randomly assigned six hospitals to bCPAP as first-line respiratory support for children aged 1-59 months who presented with severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia and six hospitals to standard low-flow oxygen therapy. Cluster (hospital) randomisation was stratified by availability of mechanical ventilation. All children received treatment in paediatric wards (in a dedicated corner in front of a nursing station) with a similar level of facilities (equipment for oxygen therapy and medications) and staffing (overall, one nurse per six patients and one general practitioner per 18 patients) in all hospitals. All children received additional care according to WHO guidelines, supervised by paediatricians and general practitioners. The primary outcome was treatment failure (defined as any of the following: peripheral oxygen saturation <85% at any time after at least 1 h of intervention plus signs of respiratory distress; indication for mechanical ventilation; death during hospital stay or within 72 h of leaving hospital against medical advice; or leaving hospital against medical advice during intervention). The analysis included all children enrolled in the trial. We performed both unadjusted and adjusted analyses of the primary outcome, with the latter adjusted for the stratification variable and for the design effect of cluster randomisation, as well as selected potentially confounding variables, including age. We calculated effectiveness as the relative risk (RR) of the outcomes in the bCPAP group versus low-flow oxygen group. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT03870243, and is completed. FINDINGS: From June 8, 2021, to July 27, 2022, 1240 children were enrolled (620 in hospitals allocated to bCPAP and 620 in hospitals allocated to low-flow oxygen). Cluster sizes ranged from 103 to 104 children. Five (0·8%) of 620 children in the bCPAP group had treatment failure compared with 21 (3·4%) of 620 children in the low-flow oxygen group (unadjusted RR 0·24, 95% CI 0·09-0·63, p=0·0015; adjusted RR 0·24, 0·07-0·87, p=0·030). Six children died during hospital stay, all of whom were in the low-flow oxygen group (p=0·031). No serious adverse events were attributable to bCPAP. INTERPRETATION: In Ethiopian general hospitals, introduction of locally made bCPAP, supervised by general practitioners and paediatricians, was associated with reduced risk of treatment failure and in-hospital mortality in children with severe pneumonia and hypoxaemia compared with use of standard low-flow oxygen therapy. Implementation research is required in higher mortality settings to consolidate our findings. FUNDING: SIDA Sweden and Grand Challenges Ethiopia.

Pulmonary tuberculosis case notification and burden of drug resistance among children under 15 years of age in Ethiopia: sub-analysis from third-round drug resistance tuberculosis survey.

INTRODUCTION: Data on the burden of bacteriologically confirmed childhood Tuberculosis (PTB) and drug-resistant TB in Ethiopia is limited due to difficulties related to its diagnosis in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to assess bacteriologically confirmed childhood PTB Case Notification Rates (CNRs) and the burden of Drug Resistant-Tuberculosis among children in Ethiopia. METHOD: Retrospective secondary clinical and laboratory data were obtained from 3rd round national DR-TB survey which was conducted between August 2017 and January 2019. We used IBM SPSS 24 for sub-analysis of 3rd round Drug Resistant-Tuberculosis data. Descriptive statistics were used in computing the association between the sociodemographic characteristics and PTB CNRs, and the strength of the associations was determined using binary logistic regression with Odds ratios (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULT: Overall, 102 bacteriologically confirmed childhood PTB cases were identified with a median age of 12 (range 1-14) years. Of these, 54 (52.9%) were females and 81 (79.4%) lived in rural areas. HIV-TB co-infection cases were 5/102 (4.3%) and the majority (98%) of cases were newly diagnosed children. Nationally, the incidence of bacteriologically confirmed childhood PTB was calculated to be 5.1 per 100,000 children. The burden of Drug Resistant-Tuberculosis to at least one of the five first-line anti-TB drugs tested was five (6.5%) cases and one (1.3%) was found to be a Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis case. Drug-resistant tuberculosis was significantly associated with the age group 10-14 years (P = 0.002; [AOR] 29.76; [95% CI, 3.51-252.64]) and children living in urban areas (P = 0.027; [AOR] 5.76; 95% CI, 1.22-27.09). CONCLUSION: Bacteriologically confirmed childhood PTB cases increased as the age of the children increased. Most of the bacteriologically confirmed childhood PTB and the identified drug Resistant-Tuberculosis cases were new cases. Also, rural children were more affected by TB than their urban, counterparts Drug Resistant-Tuberculosis was higher in urban resident children.

Magnitude and Determinant Factors of Pediatrics Seizures in Pediatrics Emergency Unit at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020: A Retrospective and Descriptive Study.

Background: One of the most prevalent medical problems affecting kids is epilepsy, which is the most prevalent chronic neurological condition in kids in both developed and developing nations. The spectrum of diseases that make up childhood epilepsy syndromes ranges from mild to potentially fatal. Children may experience seizures due to a variety of illnesses, such as infection, severe brain injury, and anatomical deformity. It is the foremost visit calculates in neurological and cognitive impedance in children in low-income countries as well as the foremost common reason for pediatric clinic confirmations in children from destitute countries. All things considered, constrained things have been conducted in Ethiopia. Hence, this ponder points to survey the size and related variables of pediatric seizures among children conceded to Tikur Anbessa pediatric emergency. Methods: By looking through 256 patient charts, an institution-based retrospective cross-sectional analysis was done. Data collection utilized a systematic checklist that had been evaluated beforehand. The EpiData version 4.4.2.2 was used to enter the data, which was then exported for analysis to the SPSS version 25. Binary logistic regression and descriptive statistics were employed. Variables from the bivariate analysis that had a p-value of less than 0.25 were carried over to multivariate analysis. The strength and existence of the link were assessed using adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval and a p-value of 0.05, respectively. Result: Patients' ages ranged from 3.7 to 2.8 years on average. 4.5% of patients had seizures, and 155 of them (60.5%) were men, with a male-to-female ratio of (1.5 : 1). Males and females experienced seizures on average at 1.3 (95% CI: 1.1, 1.5) and 2 (95% CI: 1.6, 2.5) years old, respectively. AOR: 2.68 (95% CI: 1.192, 6.68, p = 0.02) and AOR: 2.8 (95% CI: 2.576, 5.302, p = 0.04) both demonstrated statistically significant correlations with pediatric seizure. Conclusion: A vast number of children experienced convulsions, with generalized seizures being the most prevalent form. The chances of a child having a seizure were linked to their family history and where they were born. Therefore, health workers and other people who are involved in healthcare need to work harder on the factors that they have already identified.

Effectiveness of Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (BCPAP) for Treatment of Children Aged 1-59 Months with Severe Pneumonia and Hypoxemia in Ethiopia: A Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Despite the beneficial effect of bubble continuous positive airway pressure (BCPAP) oxygen therapy for children with severe pneumonia under the supervision of physicians that has been shown in different studies, effectiveness trials in developing country settings where low-flow oxygen therapy is the standard of care are still needed. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of bubble CPAP oxygen therapy compared to the WHO standard low-flow oxygen therapy among children hospitalized with severe pneumonia and hypoxemia in Ethiopia. This is a cluster randomized controlled trial where six district hospitals are randomized to BCPAP and six to standard WHO low-flow oxygen therapy. The total sample size is 620 per arm. Currently, recruitment of the patients is still ongoing where the management and follow-up of the enrolled patients are performed by general physicians and nurses under the supervision of pediatricians. The primary outcome is treatment failure and main secondary outcome is death. We anticipate to complete enrollment by September 2022 and data analysis followed by manuscript writing by December 2022. Findings will also be disseminated in December 2022. Our study will provide data on the effectiveness of BCPAP in treating childhood severe pneumonia and hypoxemia in a real-world setting.

Prognostic factors and outcomes of COVID-19 cases in Ethiopia: multi-center cohort study protocol.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and became pandemic after emerging in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Several studies have been conducted to understand the key features of COVID-19 and its public health impact. However, the prognostic factors of COVID-19 are not well studied in the African setting. In this study, we aim to determine the epidemiological and clinical features of COVID-19 cases, immunological and virological courses, interaction with nutritional status, and response to treatment for COVID-19 patients in Ethiopia. METHODS: A multi-center cohort study design will be performed. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection admitted to selected treatment centers will be enrolled irrespective of their symptoms and followed-up for 12 months. Baseline epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and imaging data will be collected from treatment records, interviews, physical measurements, and biological samples. Follow-up data collection involves treatment and prognostic outcomes to be measured using different biomarkers and clinical parameters. Data collection will be done electronically using the Open Data Kit (ODK) software package and then exported to STATA/SPSS for analysis. Both descriptive and multivariable analyses will be performed to assess the independent determinants of the treatment outcome and prognosis to generate relevant information for informed prevention and case management. The primary outcomes of this study are death/survival and viral shedding. Secondary outcomes include epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, genetic frequency shifts (genotypic variations), and nutritional status. DISCUSSION: This is the first large prospective cohort study of patients in hospitals with COVID-19 in Ethiopia. The results will enable us to better understand the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Africa. This study will also provide useful information for effective public health measures and future pandemic preparedness and in response to outbreaks. It will also support policymakers in managing the epidemic based on scientific evidence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Protocol prospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04584424) on 30 October, 2020.

Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Related Deaths in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Since the occurrence of COVID-19 in the world, it has claimed nearly 1.39 million human lives in the world and more than 1500 lives in Ethiopia. The number of deaths is increasing with variable distribution in the world. Despite its increasing fatality, the clinical characteristics of the deceased patients are not yet fully known. Analyzing the clinical characteristics of deceased patients will help to improve the outcome of infected patients. Hence, this study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of patients who died due to COVID-19 in Ethiopia. METHODS: Hospital based multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted using chart review of deceased patients. Since the number of COVID-19 related deaths was limited, all consecutive COVID-19 related hospital deaths were analyzed. The data was entered into and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics was used to explain the data collected from the survey. RESULT: A total of 92 deceased patient charts were analyzed. Of these patients, 65(71%) were males. Age ranged from 17 to 92 years (mean age being 59 years). On arrival vital signs, 60.5% of them had hypoxia, 49% had tachycardia and only 32% of patients had fever. Three fourth of the patients 64/85 had at least one comorbidity. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was the commonest comorbidity accounting for 445.9%, followed by hypertension, 23/85(27%), and HIV/ AIDS, 15/85 (17.5%). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that COVID-19 deceased patients presented with respiratory failure and hypoxia. However, less than a third of these patients had fever. In addition, the presence of comorbid illnesses and non-COVID-19 diseases like AIDS defining illness in significant amount needs further study to identify their level of contribution to the increasing burden of COVID-19 deaths in Ethiopia.

Clinical and Socio-demographic Profile of the First 33 COVID-19 Cases Treated at Dedicated Treatment Center in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Severe respiratory tract infection caused by family of Corona viruses has become world pandemic. The purpose of this study was to describe the first few COVID 19 cases in Ethiopia. METHOD: Descriptive study was conducted on the first 33 consecutive RT-PCR confirmed COVID 19 cases diagnosed and managed at Ekka-Kotebe COVID Treatment Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. RESULT: The median age of the cases was 36 years. Cough, headache and fever were the most frequent symptoms. Diarrhea, sore throats, loss of taste and/or smell sensation were among the rare symptoms. Most (84.8%) had mild to moderate disease, and 15.2%(n=5) were critical at the time of admission. Among the five ICU admissions, four patients required invasive mechanical ventilation. Thirty cases were discharged after two pairs of nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples turned negative for SARS CoV2. Three cases from the ICU died while on mechanical ventilator. The age of the two deaths was 65 years, and one was 60 years. With the exception of three, all cases were either imported from abroad or had contact with confirmed cases. CONCLUSION: Most of our patients were in the younger age group with male predominance and few with comorbidities. Cough was the commonest symptom followed by headache and fever. As it was in the early stage of the pandemic, observation of more cases in the future will reveal further clinical and demographic profiles of COVID-19 cases in Ethiopia.

Clinical and socio-demographic profile of the first 33 COVID-19 cases treated at dedicated treatment center in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND:Severe respiratory tract infection caused by family of Corona viruses has become world pandemic. The purpose of this study was to describe the first few COVID 19 cases in Ethiopia. METHOD: Descriptive study was conducted on the first 33 consecutive RT-PCR confirmed COVID 19 cases diagnosed and managed at Ekka-Kotebe COVID Treatment Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. RESULT: The median age of the cases was 36 years. Cough, headache and fever were the most frequent symptoms. Diarrhea, sore throats, loss of taste and/or smell sensation were among the rare symptoms. Most (84.8%) had mild to moderate disease, and 15.2%(n=5) were critical at the time of admission. Among the five ICU admissions, four patients required invasive mechanical ventilation. Thirty cases were discharged after two pairs of nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples turned negative for SARS CoV2. Three cases from the ICU died while on mechanical ventilator. The age of the two deaths was 65 years, and one was 60 years. With the exception of three, all cases were either imported from abroad or had contact with confirmed cases. CONCLUSION: Most of our patients were in the younger age group with male predominance and few with comorbidities. Cough was the commonest symptom followed by headache and fever. As it was in the early stage of the pandemic, observation of more cases in the future will reveal further clinical and demographic profiles of COVID-19 cases in Ethiopia