[Survey of the quality of leprosy diagnosis in Madagascar].

Background: By 2005, Madagascar had not achieved its goal of eliminating leprosy. During reexamination of leprosy patients, rates of diagnostic error ranged from 4.5 to 62%, casting doubt on the reported prevalence of leprosy.

Promising clinical efficacy of streptomycin-rifampin combination for treatment of buruli ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans disease).

According to recommendations of the 6th WHO Advisory Committee on Buruli ulcer, directly observed treatment with the combination of rifampin and streptomycin, administered daily for 8 weeks, was recommended to 310 patients diagnosed with Buruli ulcer in Pobè, Bénin. Among the 224 (72%) eligible patients for whom treatment was initiated, 215 (96%) were categorized as treatment successes, and 9, including 1 death and 8 losses to follow-up, were treatment failures. Of the 215 successfully treated patients, 102 (47%) were treated exclusively with antibiotics and 113 (53%) were treated with antibiotics plus surgical excision and skin grafting.

Mycobacterium ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer) in rural hospital, Southern Benin, 1997-2001.

Data from 1,700 patients living in southern Benin were collected at the Centre Sanitaire et Nutritionnel Gbemoten, Zagnanado, Benin, from 1997 through 2001. In the Zou region in 1999, Buruli ulcer (BU) had a higher detection rate (21.5/100,000) than leprosy (13.

[Traditional treatment for Buruli ulcer in Benin].

The purpose of this transversve qualitative study on traditional treatment for Buruli ulcer in Benin was to track the treatment itinerary of patients, the main phases of traditional treatment, cost and efficacy of such treatment, and the knowledge and skills of traditional practitioners. A total of 20 traditional practitioners, 35 patients treated by traditional therapy, and 35 patients treated by surgery were included. Findings showed that both traditional and surgical treatment was sought at a late stage.