Exploring Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Caregivers of Children and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease and HIV: A Comparative Analysis.

Introduction: Paediatric HIV and sickle cell disease (SCD) are two stigmatising and potentially fatal illnesses that place a significant burden on families. HIV patients benefit from a longstanding free-service national programme in Cameroon, and this could considerably alleviate burden of care on HIV caregivers, possibly leading to better quality of life (QoL) in HIV caregivers compared to SCD caregivers. Our study aimed to compare the QoL between caregivers of children and adolescents with SCD and HIV and explore factors associated with this QoL in Cameroon.

Predictors of prolonged length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality in patients aged 1-24 months with acute bronchiolitis in Douala, Cameroon.

Introduction: In Cameroon, acute bronchiolitis has been reported as the third commonest lower respiratory infection and is usually associated with low mortality. Nonetheless, respiratory distress associated with non-adherence to management guidelines can prolong hospital stay. This study aimed to explore predictors of prolonged hospital stay (≥ 5 days) and mortality in patients aged < 2years hospitalised for acute bronchiolitis.

Factors associated with sensitisation to selected aero-allergens in children and adolescents with asthma followed up at Laquintinie Hospital Douala, Cameroon.

Introduction: In spite of the substantial impact of pediatric asthma on healthcare resources, there is a notable dearth of research focusing on allergen sensitization specifically in children and adolescents with asthma in Cameroon, with existing studies primarily concentrating on adult populations. We, therefore, set out to determine factors associated with sensitization to selected aero-allergens in children and adolescents with asthma followed up at Laquintinie Hospital Douala, Cameroon.

Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study on patients aged 2-17 years followed up for pediatric asthma at Laquintinie Hospital Douala for 8 months (January to August 2023).

Comparison of in-hospital mortality in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease in a resource-limited setting before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: COVID-19 in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) has variable presentations (from mild to severe disease), and the main symptoms are vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) and acute chest syndrome (ACS). We hypothesized that the desertion of hospitals due to the pandemic would lead to late arrival at the emergency room and an increased mortality. In this study, we sought to measure and compare the mortality of children with sickle cell disease before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In-ICU Outcomes of Critically Ill Patients in a Reference Cameroonian Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Mortality rate amongst critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) is disproportionately high in sub-Saharan African countries such as Cameroon. Identifying factors associated with higher in-ICU mortality guides more aggressive resuscitative measures to curb mortality, but the dearth of data on predictors of in-ICU mortality precludes this action. We aimed to determine predictors of in-ICU mortality in a major referral ICU in Cameroon.

Factors associated with mortality in patients with tetanus in Cameroon.

Background: Tetanus constitutes a significant cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa, with case fatality rates as high as 64%, 47%, and 43.1% reported in Nigeria, Uganda, and Tanzania, respectively. However, the knowledge gap on factors that influence tetanus mortality still exists in Cameroon.

Describing the growth and nutritional status of sickle cell disease children and adolescents with reference to WHO growth standards in Cameroon.

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic disease with many complications among which is growth retardation. Here, we described the growth and nutritional status patterns of children with SCD and adolescents living in Douala, Cameroon.

Methods: This cross-sectional study took place at the sickle cell treatment center of Douala Laquintinie Hospital from November 2015 to April 2016.

Bart's syndrome associated with a disorder of sexual differentiation: An atypical presentation in a Cameroonian newborn.

Bart's syndrome consists of congenital aplasia of the skin affecting only the lower limbs, associated with bullae over the skin and/or mucous membranes, as well as a nail anomaly. It is an extremely rare genetic disorder, which can be associated with other birth defects. We report the case of a newborn baby admitted at day 0 of life in the neonatal department, for multifocal skin detachment predominantly at the lower limbs.

A case report of ruptured ectopic pregnancy plus massive hemoperitoneum on a heterotrophic pregnancy in a resource-poor setting, Mbengwi, Cameroon.

Heterotopic pregnancy is a rare obstetrics phenomenon and carries significant maternal morbidity and mortality due to the risk of rupture of the ectopic pregnancy. Physicians tend to feel comfortable and relieved when an intrauterine gestation sac is seen. This results in an inadequate inspection of the adnexae and remaining structures during emergency bedside ultrasound despite a strong initial clinical suspicion of ectopic pregnancy.

Clinical profile and management of primary thyroid cancer in patients with nodular goitre at the Douala General Hospital, Cameroon.

Introduction: thyroid cancer (TC) is considered to have become the fastest growing cancer in terms of incidence worldwide. Despite literature reporting a prevalence of 5-10% in clinically identified thyroid nodules, Cameroon still has limited data on the profile of TCs in patients with Nodular Goitres (NGs). The Objective were to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic profiles of TCs in patients with nodular goitres at the Douala General Hospital (DGH).

Efficacy and Tolerance of Vascular Electrical Stimulation Therapy in the Management of Vaso-Occlusive Crises in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: A Phase II Single-Centre Randomized Study in Ivory Coast.

Background: Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is the primary cause of hospitalization in patients with sickle cell disease. Treatment mainly consists of intravenous morphine or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which have many dose-related side effects. The question arises as to whether vascular electrical stimulation therapy (VEST) could be effective or not on VOCs.

[Administration of analgesics at home for the treatment of vaso-occlusive crises before admission to hospital].

Introduction: vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) are the primary reason for admission and hospitalization in children with sickle cell disease and most often they require home care before arriving to consultation. The purpose of this study was to describe home-based therapy for children with sickle cell disease admitted with VOCs.

Methods: we conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, in the pediatric emergencies at the Mother and Child Centre of the Chantal Biya Foundation (CBF) over a 4-month period from February to May 2018.

Malaria in patients with sickle cell anaemia: burden, risk factors and outcome at the Laquintinie hospital, Cameroon.

Background: It is believed that the current prevalence of malaria in endemic areas reflects selection for the carrier form of sickle cell trait through a survival advantage. Malaria has been incriminated as a great cause of mortality in people with sickle cell disease (SCD). However, people with SCD, a high-risk group, do not benefit from free or subsisized malaria prevention and treatment in Cameroon unlike other vulnerable groups which may be due to insufficient evidence to guide policy makers.

Management of face presentation, face and lip edema in a primary healthcare facility case report, Mbengwi, Cameroon.

Face presentation is a rare obstetric event and most practitioners will go through their carriers without ever meeting one. Face presentation can be delivered vaginally only if the foetus is in the mentum anterior position. More than half of the cases of face presentation are delivered by caesarean section.

Predictors of mortality of pediatric burn injury in the Douala General Hospital, Cameroon.

Introduction: Burn injuries are a major cause of hospitalization and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in children aged four years or below. In Cameroon, the mortality rate of pediatric severe burns was estimated at 41.2%.