Liver and Kidney Biochemical Profile of Typhoid Fever Patients at the Dschang District Hospital, West Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Typhoid fever remains prevalent in developing countries and most often affects liver and kidney. This study aimed to assess biochemical disturbances of the liver and kidney in patients with typhoid fever at the Dschang District Hospital, appreciate the implication of the disease duration as well as the type and the duration of treatment.Methods and materials:  This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dschang District Hospital, Cameroon. A total of 263 participants and a structure questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data. Stool culture was used for the diagnosis of typhoid fever. Liver and kidney biomarkers were access using spectrophotometric technic. Results: By these technics, 112 healthy individuals (Control Group, CG), and 151 patients diagnosed with typhoid fever (Study Group, SG) were obtained. A significant lower level of albumin (p<0.05) was noted in SG compare to CG while other biochemical parameters of the liver and kidney function (ALT, AST, T-BILI, C-BILI, ALP, γ-GT, urea and creatinine) presented a significant higher levels at varying degrees, especially for ALT (p <0.001), AST, ALP, urea and creatinine (p <0.01), T-BILI, C-BILI and γ-GT (p <0.05). Relatively to the variation of biochemical parameters with respect to the duration of illness in the patients before their arrival to the hospital, except albumin which had a significant (p<0.05) decreased level from the first to the third week of the disease, ALT and AST had a significant (p<0.05) increased level from the first to the third week of the disease and, T-BILI, C-BILI, UC-BILI, ALP and γ-GT from the second to the third week of the disease. Relatively to the type of drug intake, the serum level of ALT, γ-GT, albumin and creatinine were significantly increased (p<0.05) with fluoroquinolones and indigenous (medicinal plants) intake while the serum level of AST, T-BILI, C-BILI, UC-BILI, ALP, urea and creatinine clearance were significantly (p<0.05) increased only with indigenous intake. Relatively to the duration of treatment, except creatinine clearance that significantly (p<0.05) decreased at the third week of treatment, the serum level of ALAT, ASAT, C-BILLI, ALP, γ-GT and albumin were significantly (p<0.05) increased from the first to the third week of the treatment, the serum level of T-BILI, UC-BILI and urea from the second to the third week of the treatment, and the serum level of creatinine at the third week of the treatment. There was a significant correlation between disease duration, drug intake duration and the serum level of ALT, AST, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, ALP, γ-GT, urea, creatinine, albumin and creatinine clearance. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that typhoid fever negatively affects the proper functioning of the liver and kidneys, which varies depending on the duration of the illness, self-medication with conventional drugs such as fluoroquinolones and medicinal plants, and the duration of treatment

Title: Primary Dysmenorrhea: Associated Symptoms, Impact and Management among Females in the Menoua Division of the West Region of Cameroon. Cross-sectional Study Running Title: Primary Dysmenorrhea in the Menoua Division

Primary dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation in the absence of pelvic pathology is a common and often debilitating gynecological condition that affects between 45% and 95% of women at reproductive age. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and associated menstrual symptoms and their self-management techniques among females. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Menoua Division, which has six subdivisions namely: Fokoue, Dschang, NKongni, Penka Michel, Santchou and Fongo tongo .For this purpose, 668 women aged from 12 to 38 years were considered. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The main results revealed that dysmenorrhea was reported on almost two-thirds of the women (66.17%). In the 442 girls who reported dysmenorrhea Severe pain was reported by 20.71 % of respondents. More than one-third of the respondents (39.75%) reported using pain relief medications with 23.38 % of herbal medicine and 76.54 % of synthetic medicines. The gastrointestinal problems (diarrhoea and vomiting were the most common symptoms experienced. Less than 19.41% of respondents reported having consulted a doctor for their dysmenorrhea, while most of them consulted friends and family.Dysmenorrhea is a very common problem among university students. A number of symptoms were related to dysmenorrhea. Even though it is common, and may not have a pathological cause, few women seek medical advice. Increasing the awareness might help in relieving the burden of this common health problem

Impact of Plasmodial Parasitaemia on the Quality of Erythrocyte Concentrates Distributed at the Blood Transfusion Center of the Regional Hospital of Bafoussam-Cameroon

Background: Blood transfusion is a potential route for transmission of Plasmodium, which lives mainly in erythrocytes and can survive low temperatures. Therefore, this study was undertaken in order to determine the plasmodial  parasitaemia in labile blood products for the evaluation of the quality of erythrocyte concentrates (EC) distributed at the Blood Transfusion Center of the Bafoussam Regional Hospital. Material and methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study carried out between March 15 and May 31, 2021 on 101 EC. The data collection was done on one hand by using a questionnaire and the technical sheet for the evaluation of the quality of the EC compared to the Cameroonian reference and on the other hand, by the analysis of the blood taken from the donors. This analysis was made through the examinations of RDT malaria, Thick blood smear, Thin blood smear, measurement of the hemoglobin level thanks to the HemoCue and hemogram using the Urit 3000 automaton. Data analysis was done using Epi info and SPSS software. Results: The prevalence of malaria among donors of the Bafoussam Regional Hospital Blood Bank was 4.41%. By considering the three parameters simultaneously, a compliance rate of 34.65% was obtained. A positive, although non-significant, correlation was established between plasmodial parasitaemia and EC quality. Conclusion: The importance of quality control of ECs is essential, sofar as the parasitaemia of plasmodial is not negligible with one bag of erythrocyte concentrate out of three non-compliant