Ferroportin Q248H mutation was not found to be protective against malaria and anemia in children under 5 years living in South Kivu/Democratic Republic of Congo, an endemic area of P lasmodium infection.

Background: Ferroportin (FPN) is known as an iron exporter and its effect on RBC iron could therefore hamper the growth of malaria parasites, since parasites are in need of iron. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of FPN Q248H in South Kivu/DRC and to evaluate its role in Plasmodium infected children and to explore its relationship with anemia. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the health zone of Miti Murhesa in South Kivu/DRC. 1088 children aged under five years were included. The FPN Q248H mutation was analyzed by PCR (N = 1071). Allele frequency was calculated based on Hardy-Weinberg equation. Plasmodium infection was assessed by LAMP malaria assay (N = 1057). Statistical analysis was done using Medcalc® software. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: We found 11.4% FPN Q248H mutation. T allele frequency was estimated to be 0.0588 ± 0.0052. No significant differences for frequencies of anemia and malaria were observed between FPN Q248H mutation and FPN wild type. However, Plasmodium infected carriers of the FPN Q248H mutation had lower hemoglobin values than wild type children. Conclusion: Even though FPN Q248H mutation is associated with lower hemoglobin values in Plasmodium infected children, it was not found to be protective against malaria and anemia in children under 5 years living in malaria endemic area of South Kivu/Democratic Republic of Congo.

Exploration of the relationship between anemia and iron and zinc deficiencies in children under 5 years of age living in the malaria endemic area of South Kivu/Democratic Republic of Congo.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of iron and zinc deficiencies and anemia in children aged under 5 years living in malaria endemic area of South Kivu/DRC. We conducted a cross-sectional study in the health zone of Miti Murhesa in South Kivu/DRC. A total of 1088 children in good general health were included in this study. Almost 40% of children were anemic. The prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) was found in 34.9% and 49.1% children based on ferritin or free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP), respectively. If anemia is present, we found iron deficiency anemia (IDA) according to the WHO-criteria (ferritin) in 31%, and according to FEP in 66% of children. The overall prevalence of zinc deficiency was 17.6%. If anemia is present, zinc deficiency was found in 24.4% of children. Inflammation/infection, based upon CRP, was present in 39.7% children. The independent factors associated with anemia were recent illness, middle upper arm circumference, weight-for-height, ID according to FEP, zinc deficiency, and submicroscopic Plasmodium infection. A high prevalence of ID was observed in children in South Kivu according to FEP. Ferritin as acute phase protein was less suited in this population due to a high frequency of infection/inflammation. Iron and zinc deficiencies were found to be significantly associated with anemia in this population.

Human respiratory syncytial virus: prevalence, viral co-infections and risk factors for lower respiratory tract infections in children under 5 years of age at a general hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children under the age of 5 years at the Provincial General Hospital of Bukavu (PGHB), and to analyse factors associated with the risk of ARI being diagnosed as lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). METHODOLOGY: A total of 146 children under 5 years visiting the PGHB for ARI between August and December 2016 were recruited, and socio-demographic information, clinical data and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected. The samples were analysed by a multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction targeting 15 different viruses. RESULTS: Of 146 samples collected, 84 (57.5 %) displayed a positive result of at least one of the 15 viruses. The overall prevalence of HRSV was 21.2 %. HRSV A (30, 20.5 %) was the virus the most detected, followed by HRV (24, 16.4 %), PIV3 (20, 16.6) and ADV (7, 4.79 %). The other viruses were detected in three or fewer cases. There were only 11 (7.5 %) cases of co-infection. HRSV infection, malnutrition, younger age, rural settings, low income and mother illiteracy were associated with the risk of ARI being diagnosed as LRTI in bivariate analyses but, after adjusting for the confounding factors, only HRSV infection and younger age were independently associated with LRTI. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HRSV is high among children visiting the PGHB for ARI. HRSV infection and lower age are independently associated with the risk of ARI being diagnosed as LRTI.

[Neonatal surgical emergencies at the Bukavu Provincial General Reference Hospital in Democratic Republic of Congo]. / Les urgences chirurgicales néonatales à l'hôpital provincial général de référence de Bukavu en République Démocratique du Congo.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine the prevalence of neonatal surgical emergencies and their epidemiology. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study reports 30 cases whose data were collected in the Department of Surgery at the Bukavu Provincial General Reference Hospital over a period of 3 years, from January 2010 to December 2013. RESULTS: Neonatal surgical emergencies account for 1.31% of surgical pathologies in general. The most frequent age of patients during medical consultation was less than 8 days. Male prevalence was noted with sex-ratio 3/2. The most frequent pathologies were gastrointestinal tract emergencies (43.3%) followed by neurological emergencies (40%). 80% of newborns underwent surgery. Mortality rate was 43.3%. CONCLUSION: Neonatal surgical pathologies occur in our midst. Clinicians should be on alert and implement prenatal diagnostic programs and proper neonatal care management in order to save the lives of these children.