Médecine tropicale : revue du Corps de santé colonial
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Nifurtimox is one of the two molecules used for treatment of Chagas disease. Although posology has not yet been clearly defined, nifurtimox is increasingly used, especially in combination with eflonithin. Nifurtimox is perfectly suited to the WHO's Chagas disease eradication program.
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The Ebola and Marburg viruses are the sole members of the Filoviridae family of viruses. They are characterized by a long filamentous form that is unique in the viral world. Filoviruses are among the most virulent pathogens currently known to infect humans. ⋯ However, due to their extremely high lethality, association with multifocal hemorrhaging and specificity to the African continent, these hemorrhagic fever viruses have given rise to great interest on the part not only of the international scientific community but also of the general public because of their perceived potential as biological weapons. Much research has been performed on these viruses and major progress has been made in knowledge of their ecology, epidemiology and physiopathology and in development of vaccine candidates and therapeutic schemes. The purpose of this review is to present the main developments in these particular fields in the last decade.
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Case Reports
[Post-partum thunderclap headaches in a patient from Burkina Faso: reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes].
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is considered as rare but is probably under-recognized. It is characterized by the association of acute severe headache and/or focal neurological deficits and/or seizures and segmental vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries that resolve within one to three months. The purpose of this report is to describe the first case of post-partum RCVS from Burkina Faso. Diagnosis of RCVS was based on clinical setting (post-partum), absence of vascular risk factor, sudden onset, rapid resolution of signs and symptoms within eight days, brain scan findings (spontaneous bilateral posterior low density areas of cerebral ischemia), and elimination of other possible causes, i.e., meningeal or cerebellar hemorrhage, cerebral venous thrombosis, HELLP syndrome.
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Noma causes tissue degeneration of the face resulting in impaired mouth opening with secondary malnutrition and metabolic disorders. Reconstructive plastic surgery for noma can be lifesaving but requires special airway and ventilation techniques because of limited mouth opening. In addition, the African context imposes logistic and budgetary constraints. The purpose of this article is to describe an upper airway management strategy that takes into account disease factors and available resources.