Southern African HIV Clinicians Society Guideline for the clinical management of syphilis.

Syphilis, 'the great imitator', caused by infection, remains a complex and multifaceted disease with a rich history of clinical diversity. This guideline aims to be a comprehensive guide for healthcare workers in Southern Africa, offering practical insights into the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic testing, therapeutic principles, and public health responses to syphilis. Although the syphilis burden has declined over the years, recent data indicate a troubling resurgence, particularly among pregnant women and neonates.

Tuberculous Drug-induced Liver Injury and Treatment Re-challenge in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-infection.

Background: Tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (TB-DILI) is the most common adverse event necessitating therapy interruption. The optimal re-challenge strategy for antituberculous therapy (ATT) remains unclear, especially in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected individuals in high-prevalence settings such as South Africa.

Objective: To determine the incidence of and risk factors for the recurrence of TB-DILI with different ATT re-challenge strategies.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis and fluoxetine: a case report.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a distinct clinical entity within a spectrum of adverse cutaneous drug reactions. It is characterized by >30% of the body surface area of skin detachment with an average reported mortality of 25-35%. Drug induced TEN is associated with various antibiotics, anticonvulsants and other drugs.

A high incidence of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-induced lactic acidosis in HIV-infected patients in a South African context.

Objective: To determine the incidence of and predisposing risk factors for lactic acidosis in HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral drugs in South Africa.

Design: Observational case series.

Setting: Sinikithemba HIV Clinic, McCord Hospital, Durban.

African women with depression: the effect of imipramine and fluoxetine on body mass index and leptin secretion.

Treatment of depression is often accompanied by weight changes. Previous studies indicate that leptin plays no role in this change despite showing a strong correlation with body mass index (BMI) in healthy people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of imipramine and fluoxetine on BMI and its correlation with leptin.