Assessment of neurodisability and malnutrition in children in Africa.

Neurodevelopmental delay, neurodisability, and malnutrition interact to contribute a significant burden of disease in global settings. Assessments which are well integrated with plans of management or advice are most likely to improve outcomes. Assessment tools used in clinical research and programming to evaluate outcomes include developmental and cognitive tools that vary in complexity, sensitivity, and validity as well as the target age of assessment.

The interaction of malnutrition and neurologic disability in Africa.

Malnutrition and neurodisability are both major public health problems in Africa. This review highlights key areas where they interact. This happens throughout life and starts with maternal malnutrition affecting fetal neurodevelopment with both immediate (eg, folate deficiency causing neural tube defects) and lifelong implications (eg, impaired cognitive function).

Central nervous system lesions in Malawian children: identifying the treatable.

In Malawi, children with central nervous system (CNS) tumours are seldom able to be treated with curative intent. A study was undertaken of 29 children who underwent CNS MRI during a two year period. A combination of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diagnoses were noted, seven of which were revised on review.

Endothelium-based biomarkers are associated with cerebral malaria in Malawian children: a retrospective case-control study.

Background: Differentiating cerebral malaria (CM) from other causes of serious illness in African children is problematic, owing to the non-specific nature of the clinical presentation and the high prevalence of incidental parasitaemia. CM is associated with endothelial activation. In this study we tested the hypothesis that endothelium-derived biomarkers are associated with the pathophysiology of severe malaria and may help identify children with CM.

Anterior spinal artery syndrome in a girl with Down syndrome: case report and literature review.

Background/objective: Anterior spinal artery syndrome is an extremely rare cause of acute ischemic cord infarction in children. It is caused by hypoperfusion of the anterior spinal artery, leading to ischemia in the anterior two thirds of the spinal cord. The presentation is usually with an acute and painful myelopathy with impaired bladder and bowel control.

Successful treatment of cytomegalovirus polyradiculopathy in a 9-year-old child with congenital human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Cytomegalovirus lumbosacral polyradiculopathy is a well-documented complication of human immunodeficiency virus in adults who have a CD4 count of less than 40/microL. Patients present with an acute ascending flaccid paralysis of the lower limbs with areflexia, paresthesia, and urinary and bowel symptoms. However, it appears to be rare in children with congenitally acquired immune deficiency syndrome.