Ventriculostomy

In neurosurgery, especially in pediatrics, the practice of ventriculostomy or placement of an external ventricular drainage (EVD) is a routine procedure. It consists of the implantation of a catheter in the ventricular system of the brain to temporarily divert cerebrospinal fluid or to measure the intracranial pressure. This method was created and improved during the past century, and it is now regarded as a standard procedure. Despite this standardization, EVD installation can still result in a variety of problems, the most serious of which is infection, which is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The essential points of EVDs in the pediatric population are presented in the current chapter, with an emphasis on the indications for insertion, complications, and measures to prevent poor functional outcomes

Marburg Virus Outbreak in Equatorial Guinea: Need for Speed

The co-existence of deadly viral pandemics can be considered a nightmare for public health authorities. The surge of a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in Africa at a time when the coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic is partially controlled with its limited resources is an urgent call for concern. Over the past decades, several bouts of MVD outbreaks have occurred in Africa with an alarming case fatality rate. Despite this, little has been done to end its recurrence, and affected countries essentially depend on preventative rather than curative measures of management. The recent outbreak of MVD declared by the health officials of Equatorial Guinea, causing several deaths in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, signals the need for speed in the establishment and the implementation of appropriate health policies and health system strategies to contain, destroy, and prevent the spread of this deadly virus to other neighboring countries

Prevalence and factors associated with anxiety disorder among married women exposed to violence in rural area, Ismailia, Egypt: A cross-sectional study

Background: Domestic abuse is a widespread health issue that negatively impacts both mental health and quality of life. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of domestic violence and anxiety among women visiting primary healthcare facilities in the rural Ismailia governorate. Methods: Between October 2021 and December 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Simple random methods were used to choose the participants from those who attended a clinic. 350 married women were included in the estimated sample size. By using an interview questionnaire, data were gathered including the following parts: The socio-demographic data, designed scale for assessment of violence and anxiety symptoms were assessed by the Hamilton anxiety scale. Results: The prevalence of domestic violence was 41% and both physical and sexual abuse was 43%. The most predominant sexual abuse was practice without consent (63%). The prevalence of anxiety was 76%, the predominance was mild degree 46% followed by mild to moderate 18%. The significant predictors for anxiety in the total sample were the increase in age of women, rural residence, and exposure to abuse (OR = 11.2 (4.9–25.4). The use of the husband's stimulant drugs was the most predictor factor for women's abuse (OR = 2.3 (1.4–3.9). Conclusion: forty-one of the women exposed to every form of violence, anxiety was present in more than three-quarters of the studied women. It is essential to screen any wife attending primary health care for the manifestation of domestic violence especially in rural areas and increase the awareness of family physicians towards screening of mental health problems

The challenges of addressing the cholera outbreak in Cameroon

Cholera is an enteric disease caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated by the toxins of the bacteria - Vibrio Cholerae. Its transmission is exacerbated by poor sanitary conditions and poor hygiene practices. Affected individuals may present with severe symptoms such as watery diarrhoea and vomiting that can lead to death within few hours. Cameroon is experiencing its worst cholera outbreak in decades. The outbreak is severest in the South-West and the Littoral regions. As of the time of writing, in six regions of the country, 6652 suspected cases of cholera including 134 deaths (CFR 2%) have been reported and the number is rising. Shortage of safe drinking water and contamination of rivers has exacerbated the outbreak, especially in the rural and hard to reach communities. The trans-border movement at the South-West region, defecation in the open and on rivers, and overcrowding at the Littoral region have been particularly challenging towards curbing the outbreak. Despite the challenges, Cameroon's health authorities have been working to bring the situation under control by engaging in community sensitization on good hygiene habits, disinfection of houses and vaccination campaigns. In the light of these, it is recommended that Cameroon should improve and strengthen its vaccination campaign across the country. Adequate health systems should be established at the point of entry to prevent cross-border cholera transmission and retransmission. Access to hard to reach communities should be improved so that vaccines and basic health care and sanitation services such as provision of safe drinking water can be provided

The monkeypox virus: A public health challenge threatening Africa

Abstract On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organization reported monkeypox cases in over 75 countries and, as a result, declared the virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Despite Africa being the centre of the zoonotic disease evolution, its healthcare systems have not provided optimum attention to the problem. The African healthcare system is under the threat of a repeat of the situation that transpired during the COVID‐19 pandemonium if stringent measures are not implemented immediately. Lessons learned from the COVID‐19 pandemic should inform emergency preparedness and response from African countries. Concerted and sustainable efforts can be achieved by reviewing and redesigning strategic preparedness plans for testing and vaccination as in previous pandemics. Africa needs to drive this response with collaboration and a united response, and with the use of strategic communication and a sense of urgency. Africa should prioritise access to available vaccines and invest in systems development for local vaccine production. In this article, we argue that monkeypox virus has serious public health implications in Africa and the region