Malaria prevention reduces in-hospital mortality among severely ill tuberculosis patients: a three-step intervention in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

Background: Malaria and Tuberculosis (TB) are important causes of morbidity and mortality in Africa. Malaria prevention reduces mortality among HIV patients, pregnant women and children, but its role in TB patients is not clear. In the TB National Reference Center in Guinea-Bissau, admitted patients are in severe clinical conditions and mortality during the rainy season is high.

Impact of tuberculosis exposure at home on mortality in children under 5 years of age in Guinea-Bissau.

Objective: To assess mortality related to exposure to tuberculosis (TB) at home among children in urban areas of Guinea-Bissau.

Methods: In four suburban areas included in the demographic surveillance system of the Bandim Health Project in Bissau, the mortality of children aged <5 years living with an adult with TB was compared with the mortality of children in the general population.

Results: Children <5 years of age exposed to an adult with intrathoracic TB had 66% higher mortality than unexposed children (HR 1.

A short-term intervention for the treatment of severe malnutrition in a post-conflict country: results of a survey in Guinea Bissau.

Objectives: To determine (i) the extent of malnutrition and the risk factors for severe malnutrition in Guinea Bissau, a post-conflict country experiencing long-term consequences of civil war; and (ii) the feasibility and effectiveness of a short-term intervention characterized by outpatient treatment with locally produced food for the treatment of severe malnutrition during the rainy season.

Design And Setting: Social, clinical, nutritional information were collected for children reaching the paediatric outpatient clinic of the Hospital 'Comunità di Sant'Egidio' in Bissau, Guinea Bissau, from 1 July to 12 August 2003. Severely malnourished children (weight-for-age <-3sd) in poor health status were admitted for daily nutritional and pharmacological treatment until complete recovery.

Risk factors for positive tuberculin skin test in Guinea-Bissau.

Background: The tuberculin skin test is used for tracing of tuberculosis transmission and identifying individuals in need of prophylactic treatment.

Methods: Using a case-control study design, we recruited 220 smear-positive tuberculosis cases and 223 randomly selected healthy community controls in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, during 1999-2000. Tuberculin skin tests were performed on family members of cases and controls (n = 1059 and n = 921, respectively).

Tuberculosis in Bissau: incidence and risk factors in an urban community in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Despite the long history of tuberculosis (TB) research, population-based studies from developing countries are rare.

Methods: In a prospective community study in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, we assessed the impact of demographic, socioeconomic and cultural risk factors on active TB. A surveillance system in four districts of the capital identified 247 adult (>or=15 years) cases of intrathoracic TB between May 1996 and June 1998.

Community study of the relative impact of HIV-1 and HIV-2 on intrathoracic tuberculosis.

Background: HIV-1 infection is associated with an increased incidence of and mortality from tuberculosis. Few community studies have examined the effect of HIV-2 on tuberculosis.

Methods: We investigated the association between HIV-1, HIV-2 and active tuberculosis in four districts (population 42 709) in Bissau, capital of Guinea-Bissau, with the highest known seroprevalence of HIV-2 infection in the world.