Emmanuel Armand Kouotou

Introduction : Addressing the scarcity of data on therapeutic and evolutional aspects of herpes zoster in Cameroon, the present study aims to describe the clinical, therapeutic and evolutional profiles of herpes zoster among HIV-infected patients in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Material and methods...

To be acquainted of one’s HIV serological status is an important strategy for the fight against HIV/AIDS, but many patients still miss the appointment to receive their HIV-test result. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological and serological profiles of patients not coming back to collect their HIV-test result in a tertiary health care facility in Yaoundé, Cameroon. We undertook a retrospective analysis of data of patients who visited the HIV-day care unit of the Yaoundé Central Hospital (Yaoundé, Cameroon) from January to December 2009 in order to be screened for HIV, and who did not come back to retrieve their result. Of the 3990 patients who visited the unit during the study period, 396 (9.92%) did not come back to collect their HIV-test result, of whom 21% were aged 26–30 years representing the most encountered age group. Females (57.8%) were significantly more present than males (p = 0.023). More than half of these patients (54.9%) visited the unit for a voluntary HIV testing. Two hundred and three patients (51.3%) had a positive HIV-test result, of whom 63.5% were females. The most HIV-infected group was the one coming for a voluntary screening (36.5%). Women not returning to receive their results were more likely to be tested HIV-positive (odds ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.08–2.42; p < 0.05). Almost 10% of patients screened for HIV infection did not come back to collect their result. More strategies should be implemented to reduce this rate, especially targeting young adults (20–35 years) and women. The delay in delivering patients’ results should be shortened. Concurrently, there is need to increase voluntary HIV-testing in our settings.

Background. Prevalence and incidence of drug eruptions vary around the world and are influenced by some key factors including HIV infection.Objective. This study aimed to find the peculiarities of drug eruptions in people living with HIV (PLHIV) and on antiretroviral therapy (ART).Methods. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study including ART-taking PLHIV, aged 15+ years, followed up between January 2010 and December 2014 at the day-care unit of the Yaoundé Central Hospital, and who presented with drug eruptions after ART initiation.Results. Of 6,829 ART-experiencing PLHIV, 41 presented with drug eruptions, giving a prevalence of 0.6%. The M/F sex ratio equaled 0.17. The mean age was 41.07 ± 11.36 years. Benign drug eruptions accounted for 83.3%. Milder forms were essentially maculopapular exanthema (36.6%), fixed pigmented erythema (7.3%), and urticaria (4.9%). Severe forms were represented by multiform erythema (4.9%), toxic epidermal necrolysis (2.4%), and drug hypersensitivity syndrome (2.4%). The Zidovudine + Lamivudine + Efavirenz ART-protocol was received by 48.8% of patients and 69% of patients were receiving Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. Nevirapine, Efavirenz, Zidovudine, and Cotrimoxazole were suspected as the potential causes in 43.7%, 4.8%, 2.4%, and 26.8% of cases, respectively.Conclusion. Drug eruptions seem infrequent among ART-exposed HIV infected adult Cameroonians.

Lack of data on skin whitening (SW) among Cameroonian female university students prompted us to undertake the present study which aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitudes, practices and motivations of female university students vis-a-vis SW. This was a cross-sectional study conducted from January to April 2013 in 4 university campuses of Yaoundé, Cameroon. Any female student regularly registered in one of the study sites, who was present at the campus when the investigator visited and volunteered to participate in the study was enrolled. Overall, we recruited 620 female students, their ages ranging from 16 to 46 years with a mean of 21.3 ± 2.9 years. Only 87 participants (14%) found that SW was a good practice. One hundred and sixty nine respondents (27.3%) were currently practicing SW with no age difference when compared to their counterparts (p = 0.09). The desire to have a uniform body skin color was the prevailing reason motivating the practice of SW (39.1%), followed by the need to have a soft skin (29%). Assessment of levels of knowledge regarding advantages of the black skin and deleterious effects of SW showed excellent scores (≥75% of good answers) only in 6.1 and 0.5% of cases respectively, with no difference between those practicing SW or not (all p values > 0.05). The practice of SW is common among Cameroonian female university students who should therefore be educated on the advantages of the black skin and the harmful effects of SW.

Background/Objectives: There is little data on the profile and magnitude of scabies in sub‐Saharan African prisons. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of scabies in prisons of the west region of Cameroon.Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional study from March to August 2014, and consecutively recruited volunteer detainees of three randomly selected prisons in the West Region of Cameroon. The diagnosis was based on clinical findings after assessment by two experienced and well‐trained dermatologists.Results: We enrolled 755 prisoners, 17 (2%) of whom were women. Their mean age was 32 ± 12 years. There were 242 cases (32%) of scabies, with significantly more cases in the most crowded prison (P < 0.0001). Men were significantly more affected than women (P = 0.004) and the prevalence of scabies significantly decreased when the level of education increased (P < 0.0001). In addition to a low level of education (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.90; P < 0.0001), sharing clothes/bedding (aOR 2.72; P < 0.0001) and the number of detainees per cell > 10 (aOR 1.89; P = 0.002), but not age, duration of incarceration, number of baths/week and washing/week, were independent drivers of scabies occurrence.Conclusion: Almost one‐third of prisoners suffered from scabies in our prisons. A low educational level, the sharing of clothes/bedding and number of detainees/cell > 10 were independent determinants of the disease. Urgent measures must be undertaken to reduce the burden of scabies in our prisons.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing and pruritic inflammatory skin disease whose management remains unclear to most non-dermatologists. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of the medical staff regarding AD in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This was a cross-sectional study conducted from January to April 2014 in 20 health facilities located in Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon. All medical staff who provided their consent were included in the study. A score was established for each of the KAP categories, and subsequently grouped into 4 classes considering a score <50, 50-<65, 65-<85 or ≥85%, respectively. We enrolled 100 medical personnel, 62% of whom were females. Overall, the level of knowledge on AD was moderate (65%). Allergy was the main cause of AD, stated by 64% of participants. Only 43% personnel cited the genetic cause. Asthma was mentioned by 78% as an associated pathology. Regarding attitudes, the majority (84%) thought that AD is equally common among Black and Caucasian populations; 42% of participants believed that evolution is favorable when appropriate medical treatment is prescribed. These attitudes were considered wrong (64%). Similarly, the general level of practice was inadequate: 50%. Levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices of the medical staff regarding AD were poor, implying that management of this condition is non optimal in our setting.

Background: The dearth of Cameroonian data on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) prompted this study which aimed to assess the impact of AD on QoL of affected children and adolescents as well as their families, and seek existence of psychiatric comorbidity (depression and anxiety). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from February to May 2015 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Patients aged 0-16 years, diagnosed with AD by a dermatologist, and whose parents/guardians had given consent were included. Standardized scores and scales were used to assess the severity of the disease, the QoL of patients and families, as well as the presence of depression or anxiety. Results: A total of 53 children were recruited. The median age was 60 months. There were 23 cases of severe AD, 21 of moderate AD and 9 of mild AD. QoL was impaired in 94.3% of cases, moderate in 20 subjects, high in 8 patients and extreme in 2 patients. QoL of the family was impaired in 88.7% of cases, moderate in 16 and high in 7 families. The higher the severity of AD, the more QoL of patients was impaired (r=0,475; p<0.0001), as well as that of families (r=0,365; p=0.007). Alteration in patients’ QoL was linked with that of families (r=0.527; p<0.0001). There were 5 teenagers with mild depression, 2 with mild anxiety, and 1 with moderate anxiety. Conclusion: AD alters the QoL of children and their families.