PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E K Grunitzky

Publications and source records attributed to E K Grunitzky.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Epidemiologic, clinical, and etiologic features of acute delirious episodes (ADE) in Togo: findings of a hospital survey].

This transverse descriptive epidemiologic study carried out in a hospital setting in Togo over a period of 80 days included a total of 63 patients presenting acute delirious episodes. There were 25 women and 38 men ranging in age from 18 to 45 were included. Most patients were young (20 to 34 years) and presented symptoms comparable to those described elsewhere in France and Africa. However several particularites were noted in this fairly protected traditional rural setting in which delirious episodes are uncommon as compared to urban settings in which such cases are more common due to sociocultural stress, drug addiction, and HIV infection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Psychosocial issues in people with epilepsy in Togo and Benin (West Africa) I. Anxiety and depression measured using Goldberg's scale.

PURPOSE: This study in Togo and Benin, West Africa, was aimed at measuring depression and anxiety among people with epilepsy (PWE). METHODS: This cross-sectional study of 281 adult PWE in Togo and 215 in Benin matched with the same number of controls without epilepsy used Goldberg's anxiety and depression scale. The statistical tests used for comparisons were chi(2) tests, Fisher's exact test, analysis of variance, and Fisher's PLSD test when necessary. RESULTS: PWE in Togo and Benin had significantly higher (P<0.0001) average depression scores (4.4+/-2.1, 4.7+/-2.7) than controls (0.5+/-0.9, 1.4+/-2.4). They also had significantly higher (P<0.0001) average anxiety scores (5.3+/-2.0, 6.2+/-2.1) than controls (2.5+/-1.6, 1.6+/-2.0). In consideration of the thresholds of the scale, the prevalence of possible major anxiety and depression among PWE was also very high compared with controls (P<0.0001). High anxiety and depression scores were, in general, positively correlated with a higher frequency of seizures and lack of treatment. CONCLUSION: Results confirmed the existence of anxiety and depression among PWE in Togo and Benin.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Psychosocial issues in people with epilepsy in Togo and Benin (West Africa) II: quality of life measured using the QOLIE-31 scale.

PURPOSE: This study in Togo and Benin, West Africa, was aimed at measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of people with epilepsy (PWE). METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study among 281 adult PWE in Togo and 215 in Benin matched with the same number of controls without epilepsy, using the Quality Of Life in Epilepsy Scale-31 (QOLIE-31). RESULTS: In Togo and Benin, controls had significantly better HRQOL (80.3+/-7.4, 72.2+/-12.7) than PWE (49.5+/-14.4, 52.1+/-33.4) according to the QOLIE-31 Overall score (P<0.0001). HRQOL was, in general, negatively correlated with a higher frequency of seizures and lack of treatment. CONCLUSION: Results call for specific management of epilepsy in PWE in Togo and Benin to improve their HRQOL.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Comparison of sociocultural attitudes towards epilepsy in Limousin (France), in Togo and in Benin (Africa)].

Sociocultural attitudes continue to have a negative impact on management of epilepsy in many African countries and in a few advanced countries. The purpose of this study was to compare attitudes toward epilepsy in France and two African nations: Togo and Benin. A total of 305 epileptic patients over 18 years of age were interviewed using the same quantitative questionnaire about their beliefs, knowledge attitudes and practices regarding their disease. There were 77 patients from the Limousin region in France, 129 from the rural canton of Nadoba in Togo and 99 from the coastal province in Benin. The frequency of epileptic seizure during the last two years prior to the study was lower in France than in Togo and Benin. The number of people who believed in supernatural causes of epilepsy was higher in Togo and Benin whereas the number of people attributing the disease to social causes (e.g. death and stress) was higher in France. Few epileptic patients in France thought that the disease was contagious whereas many patients in both Togo and Benin still believed that the disease was contagious and that some foods were forbidden. More patients in France than in Togo and Benin were aware of the relationship of epilepsy with alcohol, drug abuse and cerebral injury. Epileptic patients in France were more likely to consult a physician and use medical drugs for the treatment of epilepsy than their counterparts in Togo and Benin. Epileptic patients in Togo often complained of social exclusion. Although sometimes contradictory, these findings support the idea that sociocultural attitudes should be taken into account in the management of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Prevalence of HTLV-1 virus infection in Togo (Kozah prefecture and the University Hospital Center of Lomé].

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Human T cell Leukaemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV1) in a representative population sample, in neurological and non-neurological patients hospitalised in the Lomé teaching hospital in order to study the clinical manifestations of this retrovirus. There was no statistical difference among the three groups concerning the prevalence of HTLV1 respectively (1.2%: 21/1717, 1.8%: 15/828 and 1.6%: 4/244). Spastic paraparesis was the only disease significantly linked to HTLV1 (15.5%: 9/58).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Clinical and epidemiological aspects of traditional therapeutic scarification in epilepsy in Togo].

One of the major problems of epilepsy in Africa are its social implications. Prejudice against the disease is common and epileptics are marginalised. Epilepsy is concealed from all non-family members. The very pronunciation of the word "falling disease" (as epilepsy is called) is taboo, the disease being regarded as supernatural. This unfavourable context introduces considerable bias in hospital and population-based studies. Traditional doctors are consulted by patients especially when they have such a "supernatural" disease. Traditional scarifications are used for the treatment of epileptics in Togo. We examined the skin of 36,000 patients in the neurological department of Lomé's teaching hospital between 1985 and 1995 and conducted a similar, population-based study on about 20,000 inhabitants in the Kloto district of south-western Togo and on 10,000 inhabitants in the Tone district of northern Togo. Interviews with 40,000 traditional doctors revealed that forehead scarifications are characteristic of epilepsy treatment. More than 80% of epileptics have forehead scarifications. When the seizures are rare, scarifications are slim, short (1-3 mm), near the roots of hair on the forehead and concealed; but when they are frequent, known by many people, scarifications are large, long, visible on forehead, the patient showing the sign of his social sentence.. On the skin of epileptics in Togo, is written the diagnosis of his affection. It only needs to look at it.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Traditional tattoos with neurological diseases in Togo].

In Africa, there are two types of health systems: the modern system and the traditional one. Traditional medicine attracts more patients, because it is more financially accessible and corresponds to cultural representations of disease in society. Traditional therapeutic tattoos are not well known by the conventional health system in West Africa, although they are commonly used by traditional healers. We report here our experience of these tattoos. We examined the skin of 36,000 patients in the neurological department of the teaching hospital of Lome from 1985 to 1995. We found three types of tattoos amongst patients. The first are tribal or social tattoos: they are large, homogeneous, located on exposed parts of the body and can be seen easily by others (fig 1: g, h, i), whilst therapeutic tattoos are slight and hidden under clothes and can also be repeated (heterogeneous). The second type of tattoo is one that reveals the patient's pathological history. The third is linked to the motive of consultation. Seventy-five per cent (75%) of patients had traditional therapeutic tattoos. Epilepsy tattoos are slim, located on the forehead (fig 1a); peripheral facial paralysis tattoos are found on the facial nerve (fig 1 b). In cases of peripheral neuropathy, tattoos are symmetrically distributed on hands and legs (fig 1 f). As for medullar compression, the highest tattoos correspond to the level of compression. Studying the localisation, age, and aim of tattoos brings to light their diagnostic, prognostic, and epidemiological interests. Skin can thus reveal itself to medical staff as an open, though coded, medical file. They need only to learn how to read it.

Epilepsy↗
PubMed1998

Peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) and HIV infection in Togo.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HIV in a group of 150 patients with PFP and to study the semiological and evolutive aspect of PFP in patients with or without HIV. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This semilongitudinal study was conducted during 6 years (1990-1995) at the Lomé teaching hospital. Patients consulting for PFP had the HIV test and regular controls. RESULTS: The HIV seroprevalence was 52%. The average age was 31.4+/-8.81 years There was no difference on clinical features between patients with or without HIV infection. Cerebrospinal fluid was normal in patients without HIV infection, but it showed pleiocytosis in patients with HIV infection (87.88%). Of the HIV carriers 14% presented a recurrence. A total of 26.32% of the patients screened in 1990 developed AIDS when followed up. CONCLUSION: Peripheral facial paralysis is frequently associated to HIV infection. An HIV test must be proposed to all patients with PFP in Africa.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1995

[Cerebral toxoplasmosis in a hospital environment in Lomé (Togo)].

The authors report the clinical, serological and neuroradiological results of a study about 23 cases of cerebral toxoplasmosis in the Teaching Hospital of Lome. Response to antitoxoplasmic treatment was rapidly favourable with all patients. Cerebral toxoplasmosis was the inaugural manifestation of AIDS in 20 of the 23 patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Huntington disease in a large family in southern Togo].

We report the clinical manifestations and the family in a large family in Southern Togo in which Huntington's disease is known to exist for the past 6 generations. At present there are 8 patients in this family, 67 members descending from patients. This family study adds further information to our knowledge of Huntington's disease among black Africans.

Female↗
PubMed1993

Lack of association between peripheral neuropathy and HTLV-I infection in west Africa. Epidemiological, serological and nerve biopsy study.

Patients (n = 1166) with various neurological disorders hospitalized in Dakar, Abidjan, Lomé and Ouagadougou were examined prospectively over a 42-month period. Seropositivity for HTLV-I alone was found to be 1.8%, which is comparable to that estimated for the general population in Africa. Eighteen of the patients with TSP and only 5 with PN were HTLV-I positive, but co-infections were found in 30-40% of cases. Discrete and unspecific lesions were observed on light and electron microscopic examination of peripheral nerve biopsies from 11 patients. Since spastic paraparesis emerges as the disorder containing the largest number of HTLV-I-positive individuals, it may be premature to conclude that HTLV-I is a causal agent in PN. Nevertheless, their rarity and the frequency of retroviral co-infections distinguish these cases of African HTLV-I-associated myelopathy from comparable cases observed in other parts of the world.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Pituitary abscess, treated by medication].

Pituitary abscesses are rare. The case reported here concerns a 28-year old African. Gradual development of diplopia over 6 months was the first clinical manifestation. Three months later this development had reached a more severe and infectious context, with complete right ophthalmoplegia, meningitis and coma (GCS = 9). CT scan showed an image in favour of a pituitary abscess with suprasellar extension, associated with thrombophlebitis of the cavernous sinus. An antibiotic therapy consisting of cefotaxime and metronidazole administered for 1 month, and netilmicin for 15 days succeeded in controlling the infectious syndrome. This resulted in cure of visual disorders, reduction in size of the CT scan image and reconstruction of the pituitary sella which had been destroyed. The diagnosis of pituitary abscess should be made when confronted with an infectious syndrome (unexplained fever, repeated meningitis). CT does not recognize the nature of the hypophyseal mass it shows: necrosis of a pituitary adenoma, giant aneurysm or craniopharyngioma may mimic local infection. Surgery confirms the diagnosis and is regarded as the best treatment. The patient's life is threatened when meningitis is present, and the functional prognosis is poor when recovery from visual disorders is compromised due to late diagnosis. In this paper a comparative analysis of the clinical course of the disease and therapeutic data in our patient is presented and compared with other reported cases.

Abscess↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sexual behavior, knowledge and attitudes to AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases of students at the University of Benin (Togo)].

Many studies have shown that in Africa, particularly in Togo, the 20- to 29-year-old age group is the age group most frequently affected by AIDS. This age group accounts for 84% of the students of the University of Benin. We studied students, most of the age group thought to be most at risk, investigating sexual behavior, knowledge and attitudes to AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The level of knowledge about the problems of AIDS and STDs was similar for both sexes and for all ages and levels of education of the students. Students had a reasonable knowledge of AIDS, particularly concerning the transmission of HIV (88.6% of students aware), risk behavior (80.8%), AIDS treatment (57.0%) and more general information about HIV (49.4%). They were poorly informed about the transmission (42.9%) and complications (0.69%) of other STDs. Most students had positive attitudes towards HIV issues, particularly the use of preventive measures (3.41 in 5) and the acceptance of infected individuals (3.98 in 5). However, few had seriously considered that AIDS and STDs might impact on their own sex lives (1. 84 in 5) and some were even fatalistic concerning HIV infection. The students were highly sexually active, having intercourse a mean of 31 times per year. Their sexual behavior depended on age and sex. The 15- to 19-year-olds preferred occasional partners. They had sexual intercourse 1 to 3 times per month and used condoms 10 to 20% of the time. The 20- to 29-year-olds had multiple partners. They had sexual intercourse 3 to 5 times per month and used condoms more than 30% of the time. Students over the age of 30 had many partners in addition to their regular partner. They had sexual intercourse 5 to 10 times per month and used condoms 0 to 20% of the time. Significantly more women than men had high-risk sexual behavior (40. 5% of men claimed to regularly use condoms, versus only 22.7% of the women and 11.9% of the women accepted anal penetration versus only 8. 4% of men). The general assumption is that students, who have a high level of education, should be well informed concerning AIDS and STDs and should therefore have positive attitudes and responsible sexual behavior. This study demonstrates that the assumption bears no resemblance to reality. The students were aware of the way in which HIV is transmitted and of what construes risky behavior, but there was nonetheless a high frequency of high-risk behavior (e.g. multiple sexual partners, anal and oral sex, homosexuality, intravenous drug use). The behavior of the students was not significantly different from that of young people living on the streets of Lomé. There were significant relationships between knowledge and attitudes and between some types of sexual behavior and knowledge. However, there was no correlation between attitudes and behavior. The education of young people should focus on both the prevention of AIDS and STDs and on facing up to these diseases.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗