[Antenatal transmission of hepatitis B virus in an area of HIV moderate prevalence, Burkina Faso]. / Transmission anténatale du virus de l'hépatite B en zone de prévalence modérée du VIH, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The aim of this study was to assess antenatal transmission of hepatitis B virus in a context of moderate prevalence of HIV in Burkina Faso. Among 360 counselled pregnant women for HIV and HBV testing, 307 were voluntarily enrolled at their last antenatal clinic at the university hospital, in Ouagadougou. Blood samples were collected from all the 307 mothers and tested for HBsAg, HBeAg and antibodies to HIV Blood samples were collected from 313 newborns in the 24 hours after birth and screened for HBV Data from mothers and newborns were collected and analysed using the EPI Info 2002 software. Values for p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. HBsAg were found in 35 (11.4%) mothers, including 7 with HBeAg and 6 co-infected by both HIV and HBV. Seven babies born to 13 carrier mothers for HBsAg and HBeAg had HBsAg versus 6 born to 22 HBsAg carrier mothers HBeAg-negative. HBsAg was detected in 4 babies born to 6 HIV/HBV co-infected mothers versus 9 born to 29 mothers with HBsAg and HIV-negative. HIV infection, HBeAg and mothers excision were significantly associated with mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HBV (p < 0.02). HBV antenatal transmission was important in Ouagadougou and it occurred 2.5 folds more from HIV coinfected mothers than in HIV-negative mothers to newborns. These results showed the need of the implementation of national programme for HBV screening and immunisation in Burkina Faso.

Un appendicite de localisation atypique : apport de la coloscopie au diagnostic

Le diagnostic de l'appendicite a gauche est fait en dehors de la laparotomie a l'imagerie medicale (echographie et scanner). Les auteurs rapportent ici un cas ou le diagnostic a ete fait a la coloscopie. Ils militent a travers une analyse basee sur le cas rapporte et ceux de la litterature en faveur de l'emploi de la coloscopie comme moyen diagnostic de confirmation des appendicites lorsque l'imagerie medicale (scanner) est inaccessible ou est pris a defaut

[Helicobacter pylori infections in children in the tropical zone. Endoscopic and histological aspects]. / Infection à Helicobacter pylori chez l'enfant en zone tropicale. Aspects endoscopiques et histologiques.

AIMS: To assess the endoscopic and histological aspects of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in children in a prospective study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and four children (6 months-15 years old), with digestive symptoms admitted to the Pediatric Department of the National Hospital of Ouagadougou between February Ist and October 31 1996, underwent upper digestive endoscopy with fundic and antral biopsies for histological and bacteriological analysis. RESULTS: Endoscopy was normal in 80 cases (77%). No lesion was specific of H. pylori infection. Nodular gastritis was observed in 3% of the cases only. Duodenal ulcers were seen in 3 children (3%). 83% of the children had chronic antral gastritis, associates with H. pylori in 95% of the cases. The lesions were follicular gastritis (45%), mild atrophic gastritis (38.5%) and lymphocytic gastritis (1%). Follicular gastritis was more pronounced in the antrum than in the fundus. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of early H. pylori infection and chronic gastritis in children contrasts with the rarity of gastric cancer in black Africa. Protective factors or peculiar strains should be searched for.