Medicine
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While pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing has been more focused on children below 18 months through prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), the yield of this approach remains unclear comparatively to testing children above 18 months through routine provider-initiated testing and counselling (PITC). This study aimed at assessing and comparing the HIV case detection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) enrolment among children below and above 18 months of age in Cameroon. This information is required to guide the investments in HIV testing among children and adolescents. ⋯ Compared with children <18 months, children group ≥18 months was 4-fold higher among those who enrolled in the study (80.3% vs 19.7%, P < .001); 3.5-fold higher among those who tested for HIV (77.6% vs 22.4%, P < .001); 6-fold higher among those who tested HIV+ (85.7% vs 14.3%, P = .24), and 11-fold higher among those who enrolled on ART (91.7% vs 8.3%, P = .02). Our results show that 4 out of 5 children who tested HIV+ and over 90% of ART enrolled cases were children ≥18 months. Thus, while rolling out PCR HIV testing technology for neonates and infants, committing adequate and proportionate resources in antibody rapid testing for older children is a sine quo none condition to achieve an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-free generation.
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Case Reports
Noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinoma with pathological features in between low and high grades: A case report.
Urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor in the urinary system, and noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinoma (NIPUC) comprises most bladder malignancies. NIPUC grading is important for therapeutic and clinical protocol selection. Here, we report a case of NIPUC with pathological features in between low (LG-NIPUC) and high (HG-NIPUC) grades NIPUC. ⋯ We diagnosed this patient as having LG-NIPUC with local HG-NIPUC components. HG- and LG-HIPUC have different outcomes. This case is a new challenge for the pathological grading of NIPUC. An intermediate HIPUC grade might need to be added to the original NIPUC grading system.
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Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common complications after spinal surgery that result in increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. It was estimated that SSIs after spinal surgery resulted in a 4-fold increase in health care costs. The reported SSI rate following spinal surgery remains highly variable between approximately 0.5% and 18%. ⋯ This study revealed a low SSI rate following spinal surgery. We identified a history of hypertension, prolonged hospitalization, longer operative time, blood transfusion, and higher ASA score as risk factors for SSI in spine surgery in our population. As our findings are from a single institute, we believe that a national research collaboration among multiple disciplines should be performed to provide better estimates of SSI risk factors in our patient population.
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Drug induced oral erythema multiforme a rare clinical entity which involves only the lips and oral mucosa without skin involvement. These lesions are difficult in diagnosing with other oral ulcerative lesions with similar clinical manifestations. ⋯ Medications should be taken under medical supervision. Over the counter drugs might lead to allergic reactions like drug induced oral erythema multiforme, which is a rare variant and needs to be differentiate from other oral ulcerative lesion for prompt management and follow-up.
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Observational Study
Comparison of severe pediatric complicated influenza patients with and without neurological involvement.
Although influenza is generally an acute, self-limited, and uncomplicated disease in healthy children, it can result in severe morbidity and mortality. The objectives of this study were to analyze and compare the clinical features and outcome of severe pediatric influenza with and without central nervous system (CNS) involvement. We conducted a retrospective observational study of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of China Medical University Children's Hospital in Taiwan with a confirmed diagnosis of influenza. ⋯ The overall mortality rate was higher in the CNS group (n = 6) than in the nCNS group (n = 1) (37.5% vs 6.25%, P = .03). The mortality rate of severe complicated influenza was significantly higher with CNS involvement. Children with primary cardiopulmonary abnormalities were at high risk of developing severe complicated influenza, while previously healthy children exhibited risk for influenza-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy.