Prevalence of skin infections, infestations, and papular urticaria among adolescents in secondary schools in Calabar, Nigeria

Background: Acne is an inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous gland, and the most common dermatosis in adolescents globally. Infectious dermatoses are common in the tropics, but due to the paucity of epidemiologic surveys, not much is known about the prevalence and common types found in different sub-populations including adolescents.It is however presumed that the prevalence will be high and the pattern diverse. We therefore conducted a school-based survey to ascertain the prevalence and pattern of infectious dermatoses, infestations, and papular urticaria (insect bite reactions) in teenage adolescents in Calabar, Nigeria.Methods: A cross sectional observational survey of adolescents aged 13-19 years attending randomly selected secondary schools in Calabar, Nigeria. It involved the use of  questionnaires and subsequent whole body examination.Results: A total of 1447 senior secondary school students were examined. Infectious dermatoses, infestations, and papular urticaria (IDIP) were observed in 505 (34.9%) persons, among whom were 269 (53.3%) males, and 236 (46.7%) females (X2=34.87, p=<0.001). Fungal dermatoses constituted more than 90% of the diseases, the bulk of which was contributed by pityriasis versicolor [430 (79.6%)]. The six most common dermatoses in descending order of frequencies were Pityriasis versicolor, tinea, papular urticaria, candidiasis, furuncles, and viral warts.Conclusion: A high prevalence of cutaneous infections exists among teenage adolescents in Calabar, Nigeria. Males have a higher predisposition to fungal dermatoses. Control of the predominant cause of cutaneous infections – pityriasis versicolor, will significantly affect the prevalence of infectious dermatoses, and invariably, the burden of skin disorders in adolescents in Calabar, Nigeria.Keywords: Dermatoses, Infections, Adolescents, Nigeria, PrevalenceFunding: Self sponsore

Ocular Diseases in HIV/AIDS

This study evaluated the prevalence of HIV seropositivity among a suspected group and describes the ocular manifestations among patients seen at the eye clinic of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife. Confirmatory diagnosis of HIV/AIDS by serologic tests was positive in 11 (28.9%) patients. Age range of 11 HIV/AIDS positive patients was 16 to 56 years, with a mean age of 32 +/- 2.7 years. There were 7 males and 4 females, giving a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. Of the 11 indexed patients, 1 had squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva related to acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; four [36.4%] had herpes zoster ophthalmicus (3 males and I female) and herpes simplex keratitis (1).Others were lateral rectus muscle palsy and associated optic atrophy(1), uveitis(2), uniocular pan-uveitis with rubeosis iridis(1) and retinopathy (2). This study showed a significant proportion of patients suspected of HIV/AIDS among high risk patients were actually infected. A high index of suspicion is required in diagnosing HIV/AIDS among ophthalmic patients. Keywords: This study evaluated the prevalence of HIV seropositivity among a suspected group and describes the ocular manifestations among patients seen at the eye clinic of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife. Confirmatory diagnosis of HIV/AIDS by serologic tests was positive in 11 (28.9%) patients. Age range of 11 HIV/AIDS positive patients was 16 to 56 years, with a mean age of 32 +/- 2.7 years. There were 7 males and 4 females, giving a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. Of the 11 indexed patients, 1 had squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva related to acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; four [36.4%] had herpes zoster ophthalmicus (3 males and I female) and herpes simplex keratitis (1).Others were lateral rectus muscle palsy and associated optic atrophy(1), uveitis(2), uniocular pan-uveitis with rubeosis iridis(1) and retinopathy (2). This study showed a significant proportion of patients suspected of HIV/AIDS among high risk patients were actually infected. A high index of suspicion is required in diagnosing HIV/AIDS among ophthalmic patients. This study evaluated the prevalence of HIV seropositivity among a suspected group and describes the ocular manifestations among patients seen at the eye clinic of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife. Confirmatory diagnosis of HIV/AIDS by serologic tests was positive in 11 (28.9%) patients. Age range of 11 HIV/AIDS positive patients was 16 to 56 years, with a mean age of 32 +/- 2.7 years. There were 7 males and 4 females, giving a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. Of the 11 indexed patients, 1 had squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva related to acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; four [36.4%] had herpes zoster ophthalmicus (3 males and I female) and herpes simplex keratitis (1).Others were lateral rectus muscle palsy and associated optic atrophy(1), uveitis(2), uniocular pan-uveitis with rubeosis iridis(1) and retinopathy (2). This study showed a significant proportion of patients suspected of HIV/AIDS among high risk patients were actually infected. A high index of suspicion is required in diagnosing HIV/AIDS among ophthalmic patients. This study evaluated the prevalence of HIV seropositivity among a suspected group and describes the ocular manifestations among patients seen at the eye clinic of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife. Confirmatory diagnosis of HIV/AIDS by serologic tests was positive in 11 (28.9%) patients. Age range of 11 HIV/AIDS positive patients was 16 to 56 years, with a mean age of 32 +/- 2.7 years. There were 7 males and 4 females, giving a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. Of the 11 indexed patients, 1 had squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva related to acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; four [36.4%] had herpes zoster ophthalmicus (3 males and I female) and herpes simplex keratitis (1).Others were lateral rectus muscle palsy and associated optic atrophy(1), uveitis(2), uniocular pan-uveitis with rubeosis iridis(1) and retinopathy (2). This study showed a significant proportion of patients suspected of HIV/AIDS among high risk patients were actually infected. A high index of suspicion is required in diagnosing HIV/AIDS among ophthalmic patients. Keywords: Eye, HIV/AIDS, Suspicion Nigerian Journal of Surgical Science Vol. 16 (2) 2006: pp. 47-5

Lymphomas in sub-Saharan Africa - what can we learn and how can we help in improving diagnosis, managing patients and fostering translational research?

Approximately 30000 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) occur in the equatorial belt of Africa each year. Apart from the fact that Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is very common among children and adolescents in Africa and that an epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is currently ongoing in this part of the world, very little is known about lymphomas in Africa. This review provides information regarding the current infrastructure for diagnostics in sub-Saharan Africa. The results on the diagnostic accuracy and on the distribution of different lymphoma subsets in sub-Saharan Africa were based on a review undertaken by a team of lymphoma experts on 159 fine needle aspirate samples and 467 histological samples during their visit to selected sub-Saharan African centres is presented. Among children (<18years of age), BL accounted for 82% of all NHL, and among adults, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma accounted for 55% of all NHLs. Among adults, various lymphomas other than BL, including T-cell lymphomas, were encountered. The review also discusses the current strategies of the International Network of Cancer Treatment and Research on improving the diagnostic standards and management of lymphoma patients and in acquiring reliable clinical and pathology data in sub-Saharan Africa for fostering high-quality translational research