Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with high rates of transmission and low case detection rates. This paper presents the challenges of screening and investigation of contacts of patients with TB in Oyo and Osun State, Nigeria. This descriptive-qualitative study was conducted in eight Local Government Areas with high TB burdens. Twenty-four focus group discussions and 30 key informant interviews were conducted among TB patients, household TB contacts, and government TB staff, among others. Respondents ages ranged from 17-85 years with a mean of 42.08 ± 14.9 years, and (4.0%) had a postgraduate degree. This study identified that the majority of TB contacts who tested negative for TB were unwilling to be placed on TB preventive therapy because of the belief that only a sick person should take drugs. Also, hostility from the TB contacts to the contact tracers during the house-to-house screening of presumptive TB cases due to community stigma associated with TB was another existing gap reported in TB contact investigations. The findings emphasise the importance of tailored approaches in TB prevention and control, addressing challenges in testing and contact investigations; this necessitates investments in community engagement strategies to enhance the cooperation of TB contacts.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9070144 | DOI Listing |
J Med Internet Res
January 2025
First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Background: HIV/AIDS remains a significant global challenge, and with the rapid advancement of technology, there has been an increasing number of interventions aimed at improving HIV/AIDS cognition and self-management behaviors among patients. However, there is still a lack of detailed literature integrating relevant evidence.
Objective: This study aims to comprehensively review existing research on interventions using modern information methods to improve HIV/AIDS cognition and enhance self-management behaviors among patients.
JCO Oncol Pract
January 2025
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY.
Cachexia is a systemic wasting syndrome prevalent in patients with cancer that significantly affects quality of life, health care costs, and therapeutic outcomes. Despite its clinical importance, cachexia is rarely formally diagnosed. This deficiency presents a challenge for effective patient management and care, health care resource allocation, and the advancement of therapeutic approaches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat
January 2025
Regional Hospital of Trujillo, Trujillo, Peru.
Although basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, the superficial subtype is rarely seen on the upper eyelid. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman with a 4-year history of upper eyelid pruritus, initially diagnosed as blepharitis and unsuccessfully treated with various medications, including topical and systemic corticosteroids, topical immunomodulators, and antihistamines. The unusual presentation, location, histologic subtype, and persistent pruritus posed a significant diagnostic challenge in this case.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPostgrad Med
January 2025
Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood, PA, USA.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE), consisting of both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is an extremely common condition both in the United States and worldwide. Not only is the diagnosis associated with significant morbidity and mortality for patients, but also it imposes a deleterious financial burden on the US healthcare system. Diagnosis may be challenging due to variability in clinical presentation and requires a sequential workup including assessment of clinical pretest probability for VTE, D-dimer testing, and imaging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
Concord Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Objectives: Clinical breast examination (CBE) open the pathway to early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. This study examined barriers to CBE uptake in seven sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.
Methods: Data from the most current Demographic and Health Surveys of Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Kenya Mozambique, Senegal and Tanzania was used.
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