Burden and features of neurological patients in Chittagong Medical College and Hospital in Bangladesh

Background: Neurological disorders are a common and significant public health problem globally, and innovative strategies are needed to address the epidemic in resource-poor settings in Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to evaluate the burden and features of neurological diseases requiring hospitalization in a tertiary care hospital in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Methods: This study was a prospective observational study conducted from January to June 2021 on patients admitted to the adult neurology unit of a hospital in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews, laboratory data, and previous medical records, and in-hospital complications and outcomes were recorded. The data was cleaned and analysed using SPSS and presented in tables. Results: In this study, stroke was the most common neurological condition requiring hospitalization, accounting for 74% of cases and leading to death in 73% of cases. The most frequent in-hospital complication was urinary tract infection (26%), mostly in stroke patients. Of stroke patients, 88% had incomplete recoveries at discharge, while 7% died. Hypertension was the most common risk factor present in both acute confusional state and stroke cases. The median duration of hospital stay was longest among patients with central nervous system infections. Conclusions: Stroke dominates the burden of neurological diseases requiring hospitalization in tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh. The most frequent in-hospital complication was urinary tract infections, mostly in stroke cases. The overall in-hospital mortality was 7%, most patients recovered incompletely at discharge (82%)

Timing of Enteral Feeding in Cerebral Malaria in Resource-Poor Settings: A Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND: Early start of enteral feeding is an established treatment strategy in intubated patients in intensive care since it reduces invasive bacterial infections and length of hospital stay. There is equipoise whether early enteral feeding is also beneficial in non-intubated patients with cerebral malaria in resource poor settings. We hypothesized that the risk of aspiration pneumonia might outweigh the potential benefits of earlier recovery and prevention of hypoglycaemia. METHOD AND FINDINGS: A randomized trial of early (day of admission) versus late (after 60 hours in adults or 36 hours in children) start of enteral feeding was undertaken in patients with cerebral malaria in Chittagong, Bangladesh from May 2008 to August 2009. The primary outcome measures were incidence of aspiration pneumonia, hypoglycaemia and coma recovery time. The trial was terminated after inclusion of 56 patients because of a high incidence of aspiration pneumonia in the early feeding group (9/27 (33%)), compared to the late feeding group (0/29 (0%)), p = 0.001). One patient in the late feeding group, and none in the early group, had hypoglycaemia during admission. There was no significant difference in overall mortality (9/27 (33%) vs 6/29 (21%), p = 0.370), but mortality was 5/9 (56%) in patients with aspiration pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, early start of enteral feeding is detrimental in non-intubated patients with cerebral malaria in many resource-poor settings. Evidence gathered in resource rich settings is not necessarily transferable to resource-poor settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN57488577

Annual Incidence of Snake Bite in Rural Bangladesh

Snake bite is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in many rural tropical areas. As a neglected public health problem, estimate of the risk is largely unknown. However, the associated personal and economic impact of snake bite is substantial across developing countries. This national survey investigated the risk and consequences of snake bite among the rural Bangladeshi population. We surveyed 18857 individuals from 24 out of 64 districts in Bangladesh where 98 snake bites including one death were reported. The estimated incidence density of snake bite is 623.4/ 100,000 person years (95% CI: 513.4–789.2/100,000 person years). Biting occurs mostly when individuals are at work. The majority of the victims (71%) received snake bites to their lower extremities. Eighty-six percent of the victims received some form of management within two hours of snake bite, although only three percent of them went directly to either a medical doctor or a hospital. The observed rate of snake bite in rural Bangladesh is substantially higher than anticipated. This coupled with poor access to health services led to an increase in related morbidity and mortality. An improvement in public health actions is therefore warranted

Retinal changes in visceral leishmaniasis by retinal photography

Background: In visceral leishmaniasis (VL), retinal changes have previously been noted but not described in detail and their clinical and pathological significance are unknown. A prospective observational study was undertaken in Mymensingh, Bangladesh aiming to describe in detail visible changes in the retina in unselected patients with VL. Methods: Patients underwent assessment of visual function, indirect and direct ophthalmoscopy and portable retinal photography. The photographs were assessed by masked observers including assessment for vessel tortuosity using a semi-automated system. Results: 30 patients with VL were enrolled, of whom 6 (20%) had abnormalities. These included 5 with focal retinal whitening, 2 with cotton wool spots, 2 with haemorrhages, as well as increased vessel tortuosity. Visual function was preserved. Conclusions: These changes suggest a previously unrecognized retinal vasculopathy. An inflammatory aetiology is plausible such as a subclinical retinal vasculitis, possibly with altered local microvascular autoregulation, and warrants further investigation. </p

Spread of artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

BACKGROUND: Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum has emerged in Southeast Asia and now poses a threat to the control and elimination of malaria. Mapping the geographic extent of resistance is essential for planning containment and elimination strategies. METHODS: Between May 2011 and April 2013, we enrolled 1241 adults and children with acute, uncomplicated falciparum malaria in an open-label trial at 15 sites in 10 countries (7 in Asia and 3 in Africa). Patients received artesunate, administered orally at a daily dose of either 2 mg per kilogram of body weight per day or 4 mg per kilogram, for 3 days, followed by a standard 3-day course of artemisinin-based combination therapy. Parasite counts in peripheral-blood samples were measured every 6 hours, and the parasite clearance half-lives were determined. RESULTS: The median parasite clearance half-lives ranged from 1.9 hours in the Democratic Republic of Congo to 7.0 hours at the Thailand-Cambodia border. Slowly clearing infections (parasite clearance half-life >5 hours), strongly associated with single point mutations in the "propeller" region of the P. falciparum kelch protein gene on chromosome 13 (kelch13), were detected throughout mainland Southeast Asia from southern Vietnam to central Myanmar. The incidence of pretreatment and post-treatment gametocytemia was higher among patients with slow parasite clearance, suggesting greater potential for transmission. In western Cambodia, where artemisinin-based combination therapies are failing, the 6-day course of antimalarial therapy was associated with a cure rate of 97.7% (95% confidence interval, 90.9 to 99.4) at 42 days. CONCLUSIONS: Artemisinin resistance to P. falciparum, which is now prevalent across mainland Southeast Asia, is associated with mutations in kelch13. Prolonged courses of artemisinin-based combination therapies are currently efficacious in areas where standard 3-day treatments are failing. (Funded by the U.K. Department of International Development and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01350856.)

DOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v35i1.2313 Neurological findings and outcome in adult cerebral malaria

The neurological findings of 100 patients of adult cerebral malaria were studied. The commonest neurological feature was symmetrical upper motor neuron lesion as evidenced by exaggerated tendon reflexes and bilateral planter extensor (61%). Twenty two percent had features of meningeal irritation and/or meningism. Abnormal posturing occurred decerebrate rigidity (6%) and decorticate rigidity (4%) with or without opisthotonus, focal neurological deficit was noted in 5 % cases. Pupillary size and reaction were normal in 86%, poor in 14%. Corneal reflexes were absent in 4 % cases. Fundoscopy showed retinal hemorrhage in 16%, papilloedema is 3 % and exudates in 1%. Majority of the patients recovered (80%) without any persistent neurological sequelae at the time of discharge from hospital and death rate was 20%. Patients having focal neurological deficit, disconjugate gaze, poor pupillary reaction, absent corneal reflex and papilloedema were more susceptible to death. Delay in hospitalization and deep coma were also associated with increased mortality, whereas early hospitalization and proper nursing care could reduce mortality