1.Skin problems in children under five years old at a rural hospital in Southern Ethiopia
Ramos Manuel Jose ; Moles-Poveda Paula ; Tessema Dalu ; Kedir Mubarack ; Safayo Gamadi ; Tesfasmariam Abraham ; Reyes Francisco ; on Belinch Isabel
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2016;6(7):625-629
Objective: To examine the prevalence of cutaneous disorders in children under 5 years old who attended a rural hospital in Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 26 to February 20, 2015 in children under 5 years old who attended Gambo Rural Hospital in West Arsi of the Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Results: A total of 324 children were included (59.6%male) whose median age was 16.4 months. In total, 147 children [45.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 40.0%–50.8%] under 5 years had a skin problem, of which 101 (68.7%) consulted for that reason. The other 46 (31.3%) consulted for a general health problem and the dermatological condition was a secondary finding during the physical exploration. In 93 children (28.7%;95%CI:20%–33.8%), it was the main disease, and in 54 children (16.5%;95%CI:13.0%–21.1%) it was concomitant with other diseases. The most common dermatological disease was scabies (n=44, 13.6%;95%CI:10.3%–17.7%). Impetigo was diagnosed in 32 children (9.9%;95%CI:7.1%–13.3%), of which 23 (71.9%) had complicated impetigo. Nineteen children (5.9%;95%CI:3.8%–9.0%) had eczema, 10 (3.1%) had eczema associated to other conditions. The following most frequent skin problems were tinea (n = 9; 2.8%), infected wound and ulcer (n=7;2.2%), and burns (n=6;1.9%). Conclusions: Skin problems, mainly scabies, impetigo, and eczema were common in young children attended at a rural hospital in Southern Ethiopia. Children under 5 years should be examined thoroughly to rule out skin diseases, especially scabies.
2.Comparison between gynecologic oncology ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of early-stage cervical cancer: A local experience in cancer imaging
Martha Isabel Junio Parroco ; Genalin F. Amparo ; Leilani C. Coloma
Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2023;47(2):57-64
Objective:
This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of gynecologic oncology ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of early-stage cervical cancer.
Methodology:
This was a prospective, cross-sectional study of patients with early-stage cervical cancer eligible for radical hysterectomy in a tertiary government institution from November 25, 2020, to August 2, 2022. Preoperative gynecologic oncology (transabdominal/transvaginal/transrectal) ultrasound and MRI measurements were obtained and compared with histopathologic findings. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and positive likelihood ratio were used to check for the diagnostic accuracy of each modality.
Results:
A total of 27 patients were enrolled in the study. Four were stage IB1 (14.81%), 10 were stage IB2 (37.03%), nine were stage IB3 (33.33%), two were stage IIA1 (7.40%), and two were stage IIA2 (7.40%). Ultrasound has a comparable diagnostic accuracy with MRI to assess tumor size length, width, and height with an area under the curve of 0.789, 0.753, and 0.806, respectively. Both modalities can predict the absence of parametrial invasion and nodal involvement with a specificity of 100% and a negative predictive value of 88.89% and 81.48%, respectively. The results of the gynecologic oncology ultrasound showed good agreement with MRI.
Conclusion
Ultrasound has comparable diagnostic accuracy with MRI in assessing tumor size, parametrial invasion, and nodal involvement in patients with early-stage cervical cancer. It is a good alternative imaging modality to MRI in staging cervical cancer, especially in low- to middle-income countries.
magnetic resonance imaging
3. Skin problems in children under five years old at a rural hospital in Southern Ethiopia
José Manuel RAMOS ; Dalu TESSEMA ; Mubarack KEDIR ; Gamadi SAFAYO ; Abraham TESFASMARIAM ; Francisco REYES ; José Manuel RAMOS ; José Manuel RAMOS ; Paula MOLÉS-POVEDA ; Isabel BELINCHÓN
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2016;6(7):625-629
Objective To examine the prevalence of cutaneous disorders in children under 5 years old who attended a rural hospital in Southern Ethiopia. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 26 to February 20, 2015 in children under 5 years old who attended Gambo Rural Hospital in West Arsi of the Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Results A total of 324 children were included (59.6% male) whose median age was 16.4 months. In total, 147 children [45.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 40.0%–50.8%] under 5 years had a skin problem, of which 101 (68.7%) consulted for that reason. The other 46 (31.3%) consulted for a general health problem and the dermatological condition was a secondary finding during the physical exploration. In 93 children (28.7%; 95% CI: 20%–33.8%), it was the main disease, and in 54 children (16.5%; 95% CI: 13.0%–21.1%) it was concomitant with other diseases. The most common dermatological disease was scabies (n = 44, 13.6%; 95% CI: 10.3%–17.7%). Impetigo was diagnosed in 32 children (9.9%; 95% CI: 7.1%–13.3%), of which 23 (71.9%) had complicated impetigo. Nineteen children (5.9%; 95% CI: 3.8%–9.0%) had eczema, 10 (3.1%) had eczema associated to other conditions. The following most frequent skin problems were tinea (n = 9; 2.8%), infected wound and ulcer (n = 7; 2.2%), and burns (n = 6; 1.9%). Conclusions Skin problems, mainly scabies, impetigo, and eczema were common in young children attended at a rural hospital in Southern Ethiopia. Children under 5 years should be examined thoroughly to rule out skin diseases, especially scabies.
4. Characterization of two Achromobacter xylosoxidans isolates from patients with pertussis-like symptoms
Fiorella ORELLANA-PERALTA ; Michelle JACINTO ; Maria J. PONS ; Juana DEL VALLE MENDOZA ; Cláudia GOMES ; Joaquim RUIZ ; Carlos BADA ; Isabel REYES ; Juana DEL VALLE MENDOZA ; Juana DEL VALLE MENDOZA
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2015;8(6):464-467
Objective: To characterize two Achromobacter xylosoxidans recovered from 2 patients diagnosed with pertussis during a Bordetella pertussis surveillance program. Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs from 2 children under 1 year of age with clinical suspicion of pertussis were analyzed by culture and PCR. Results: Two Achromobacter xylosoxidans A8, closely related to Bordetella spp. were recovered from 2 patients diagnosed of pertussis, both carrying the ptxA gene and IS418 the pertussis toxin encoding gene. Subsequently, antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated by disk-diffusion method and by PCR. Conclusions: Although more detailed studies are needed, the present data highlight the possibility that Achromobacter xylosoxidans, closely related Bordetella pertusssis microorganisms and not covered under the vaccine umbrella, might also result in cases of whooping cough. Thereby further surveillance is necessary to determine the extension and relevance of their pathogenic role in order to discriminate their real public health implication.