PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J M Debonne

Publications and source records attributed to J M Debonne.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Therapeutic alternatives in case of failure of first-line treatment of intestinal helminthiasis in adults].

Development of antiparasite medications over the last 15 years has greatly reduced the number of treatment failures for intestinal helminthiasis. Benzimidazole derivatives, ivermectine, praziquantel and triclabendazole are easy to use, well tolerated and generally curative. First-line treatment are currently so reliable that failure should lead first to investigation of possible "false failure" causes such as misdiagnosis, poor identification of the parasite, inadequate or incorrect treatment, and repeat contamination, before concluding that genuine parasite resistance is involved and that alternative therapy is needed. Nitazoxanide is an alternative treatment for fascioliasis and teniasis. Albendazole can be beneficial for taeniasis and strongyloidiasis. Metronidazole can be effective for fascioliasis. Artemisinine derivatives are useful for schistosomiasis. Combined therapies are necessary for refractory ankylostomiasis.

Albendazole↗

[Exercise-induced dyspnea and hilar enlargement].

We report the case of a 46-year-old man with an uneventful history who was hospitalized for suspected pulmonary embolism. The chest x-ray did not reveal any parenchymatous anomaly but disclosed pseudo-tumoral enlargement of the pulmonary arteries. There was no right ventricular overload at cardiac echography and the pulmonary arterial pressure was normal. Helicoidal angioscan demonstrated aneurismal dilatation of the both pulmonary arteries, complicated by a thrombus on the right. Outcome was favorable with anticoagulation. After ruling out acquired aneurysm, the diagnosis retained was idiopathic aneurysm of the pulmonary arteries.

Aneurysm↗

[Clinical and laboratory features of typhoid fever in Senegal. A 70-case study].

Clinical and laboratory features, complications and treatment were retrospectively studied in 70 patients with bacteriologically documented typhoid fever, treated between January 1995 and June 2002 at Principal Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. Data analysis was done on a global basis as well as comparatively between the 37 children (under 15 years) and 33 adults. Mean age was 16.7 years (range, 1 to 52). The sex ratio was 1.4. Clinical manifestations included fever (97%), headache (50%), vomiting (71%), abdominal pain (54%), diarrhoea (49%), nnd splenomegaly (10%) without statistically significant difference between children and adults. Lyinphopenia was found in 51% of patients and anaemia in 78%. Coexisting illnesses Included malaria in 25.5% (mainly children) and hepatitis (transminases > 10N) in 24%. Complications included cholecystitis in 3 patients, gastrointestinal haemorrhage in 2, peritonitis in one, endocnrditis in one and osteomyelitis in one. Only one patient (HIV-positive) died. The incidence of antibiotic resistance was low, i.e., ainoxicilline: 2%, nalidixic acid: 1% and cotrimoxazole: 8.2%. No multidrug resistance was observed. This study shows that typhoid fever remains a major health problem in Dakar with slow resolution and potential complications. Amoxicililne and chloramphenicol can still be used for first-line treatment of typhoid fever. Little difference was found between children and adults.

Adolescent↗

[HIV associated nephropathy syndrome: a case report in Dakar].

HIV associated nephropathy syndrome ( HIVAN Syndrome ) is a recently identified entity and no study has been done in Senegal. So we report this observation. A 40 years old black patient was admitted for renal oedema syndrome and immunosuppressive signs. The biological investigations noticed a non-pur nephrotic syndrome and severe renal failure. Ultrasonography showed quite normal kidney sizes with hyper echogenicity and dediferenciation. HIV research was positive with 45 CD4 lymphocytes / mm3. This patient had no known causes of nephrotic syndrome ( diabetis, lupus ,amyloidosis.). So the diagnosis of HIVAN syndrome was determined with the clinical features and the bad outcome. We emphasize on the necessity to think about HIVAN in every black patient presenting a quickly progressive non-pur nephrotic syndrome. We expect prospectives studies to describe the clinical signs and the frequency of HIVAN syndrome in Senegal.

AIDS-Associated Nephropathy↗

[DRESS syndrome to allopurinol: a case in Dakar].

We report a case of DRESS syndrome also called drug hypersensitivity reaction occurring a 47 years old Senegalese man who has been taking allopurinol for 3 months. That drug was prescribed for peripheric arthralgias associated to a hyperuricemia. He presented a generalised pruritus, cutaneous lesions, fever and facial oedema. On the biological examens, hyperleucocytosis with hypereosinophilia and hyperlymphocytosis associated to the presence of segmented basophiles. In addition, a hepatic cytolysis and cholestasis were documented. Liver ultrasound was normal. The hemocults were negative. These following serologies have been performed and were negative: hepatitis B and C, Epstein Barr-virus, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, toxoplasma and parvovirus B19. The anti-nuclear and anti-DNA antibodies were negative. A favourable clinical evolution was remarked after allopurinol treatment withdrawal. A desquamation occurred after 6 days and hemogram turned out to the normal as well as the hepatic tests after 2 weeks. The virologic examens performed 2 months later were unremarkable. This case point out the importance of the early diagnosis and quick withdrawal of the drug in order to prevent serious forms leading to the 10% of death.

Allopurinol↗

Retreatment with interferon and ribavirin vs interferon alone according to viraemia in interferon responder-relapser hepatitis C patients: a prospective multicentre randomized controlled study.

Low pretreatment viral load has consistently been shown to be an independent predictor of sustained response (SR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. We assessed the efficacy of interferon (IFN) plus ribavirin vs IFN alone in low viraemic patients (<2 millions copies/mL) who had relapsed to a previous course of IFN and the efficacy of 24 vs 48 week combination therapy in high viraemic patients. Two hundred and ninety-seven patients were randomly assigned to one of the four regimens after stratification on pretreatment viral load. All patients received IFN-alpha2b (6 million units thrice weekly for 24 weeks and 3 million units thrice weekly for 24 weeks). Patients with low viraemia received either IFN-alpha2b alone for 48 weeks (R1: 42 patients) or IFN-alpha2b plus ribavirin (600 mg/day) for 24 weeks and IFN-alpha2b alone for the next 24 weeks (R2: 48 patients). Patients with high viral load received either IFN-alpha2b plus ribavirin for 24 weeks and then IFN-alpha2b alone for the next 24 weeks (R3: 104 patients) or IFN-alpha2b plus ribavirin for 48 weeks (R4: 103 patients). In low viraemic patients the rate of SR was 37.7% in group R1 and 59.6% in group R2 (P < 0.05). In high viraemic patients, the rate of SR was 44.7% in group R3 and 51.4% in group R4 (P: NS). Thirty-one patients discontinued treatment (10.4%) without difference regarding treatment regimen. In the regimen using ribavirin we found no difference in terms of SR between patients receiving a dose of ribavirin below 10.6 mg/kg/day (55%) or over 10.6 mg/kg/day (58%). Histological improvement occurred in 70.2% of patients regardless of the regimen. Logistic regression showed that genotype 2 and 3, Knodell score <6 and alanine aminotransferase pretreatment level >3 x upper limit of normal were significantly and independently correlated with SR. In low viraemic patients who relapsed to a previous IFN treatment, combination therapy using high-dose IFN and low-dose ribavirin is better than high-dose IFN alone. In high viraemic patients there was no benefit in increasing the duration of combination therapy from 24 to 48 weeks. In this study, it was found that low dose of ribavirin can be used safely and there is no effect of ribavirin dose on SR.

Adult↗

[Epidemiology and prognosis of childhood injuries in Dakar, Senegal].

The impact of accidental injury on childhood morbidity and mortality in Africa is underestimated. The frequency and severity of accidents is high. This retrospective study includes 381 children (3% of admission) between the ages of 0 and 15 years hospitalized for accidental injury at the Principal Hospital in Dakar, Senegal, between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2000. The annual incidence of childhood injury doubled over the 4-year study period. Mean age was 48 months and the M/F sex ratio was 1.7. The causes were trauma (n = 184) due to domestic accidents (n = 109 including 91 falls) or road accidents (n = 75), poisoning (n = 129 including 38 caustic soda burns), foreign body aspiration or ingestion (n = 30), burns (n = 18), and miscellaneous accidents (n = 20). Most fatalities (9%) were due to road accidents and falls. Rapid uncontrolled urbanization and problems of displaced rural populations in adapting to city living may account for the high frequency of falls from high buildings and road accidents. As in industrialized countries road accidents, though not the most frequent, are the most lethal. Lack of emergency services accounts for severity. Vigorous information campaigns and prevention action will be needed to lower the high morbidity and mortality of childhood injury in developing countries.

Accidental Falls↗

[Listeria disease. The first 2 cases reported at the Principal Hospital of Dakar].

Infection disease due to Listeria monocytogenes, which is a ubiquitous positive Gram bacillus to the essentially alimentary transmission, listeriosis happens on patients presenting an immunodeficiency. The authors report the two first cases of listeriosis diagnosed at Hopital Principal de Dakar. The first case was observed on a 73 years old man, hospitalised for a feverish coma scored at 9 using Glasgow scale, with neither meningitis syndrome, nor sign of neurological localisation. The analysis of the RLC reveals a hypercytosis at 126 GB/mm3, with prevailing neutrophile polynuclears, a hyperproteinorachia at 3.2 g/l. The culture of the RLC was sterile but the blood culture showed the presence of L. monocytogenes. The other paraclinical tests has revealed a glycaemia at 2.45 g/l, an imporant hepatic cytolisis with ASAT at 13 N and ALAT at 20 N. The patient was also presenting a cerebromeningitis and hepatic listeriosis on a diabetic field. The second case was observed on a 58 years old patient admitted for headaches, fever and an important degradation of the general state with an emaciation of 17 kg in 5 months. The physical screening revealed a bad general state, a fever at 38 degrees 2 and was without other particularity. The analysis of the RLC showed a hyperproteinorachia at 1.35 g/l with neither hypercytosis nor germ at the culture. Haemoculture isolated Listeria monocytogenes. HIV serology was positive. CD4 were counted to 61/mm3. and the viral charge was at 110.000 copies / mm3. The patient was presenting a Listeria monocytogenes at meningo-encephalitis on HIV-1 field. stade B of the CDC classification. This ubiquitous anthropozoonosis should be searched through early haemocultures before antibiotherapy. in case of long lasting fever, endocarditis, meningo-encephalitis, localised infections on children. pregnant women, diabetic persons, and people infected with HIV and some others presenting immunity troubles.

Aged↗

[Acute infectious diarrhea: current treatment and perspectives].

Acute infectious diarrhea is a worldwide public health problem. In developing countries it remains a major cause infant mortality despite therapeutic progress, especially with regard to the efficacy of oral rehydration, during the last two decades. Mortality in industrialized countries is much lower and generally stable. In most cases, acute diarrhea is a self-limiting illness that resolves with or without symptomatic treatment in a few days. In view of the high frequency and generally benign course of diarrheal diseases, management must emphasize a cost-effective approach with selective use of available diagnostic methods. The initial approach should be based on the patient's history, physical examination, and risk factors to identify infections that require more specific measures. The purpose of this report is to review currently available drug therapies and to describe treatment guidelines for adolescents and adults with uncompromised immune systems. Early rehydration is still the mainstay of treatment. Use of "etiological" treatment using antimicrobial or antiparasitic agents depends on the severity of disease and risk factors.

Acute Disease↗

[Neisseria meningitidis and meningitis].

Meningococcal meningitis epidemics can occur anywhere in the world. However this risk is particularly high during the dry season in the sub-Saharan zone of Africa known as the Lapeyssonnie meningitis belt. This area characterized by hyperendemicity that regularly gives rise to epidemics. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis has made possible identification and monitoring of the progression of virulent clones of Neisseria meningitidis strains in the world. Monitoring is now possible by multilocus sequence typing and data bank on the Internet. Vaccination is a major prophylactic modality. The usefulness of plain group A plus C polysaccharide vaccines is limited because of poor effectiveness in young children who constitute the highest risk group. During epidemics, mass vaccination should be carried out as early as possible according to the state of alert defined for the area. More recent conjugate vaccines against group A and C, which are effective in young children and provide long-term protection by induction of immunologic memory, may allow routine vaccination in the future. Although clinical signs are often apparent, not all cases are diagnosed by clinical examination unless gravity is taken into account. Untreated the disease is always fatal. The only hope of survival is early institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy (even prior to hospitalization). Several strains resistant to chloramphenicol have been reported and the number of strains with reduced sensitivity to penicillin is rising constantly. Although treatment remains feasible, the existence of resistant forms raises the need to monitor the sensitivity of meningococci using standardized of antibiograms.

Adult↗

[Hepatitis C in tropical areas].

The tropical features of hepatitis C have not yet been fully elucidated due to the scarcity of data. However it has been estimated that two-thirds of the infected population lives in tropics. The most heavily affected regions are Africa, China, and southeast Asia with prevalence rates of 5.3, 3.0, and 2.4 p. 100 respectively. In several countries mostly in Africa, prevalence rates range from 5 to 10 p. 100 or higher. Age is a major risk factor for infection. The classic transmission modes, i.e., blood transfusion and intravenous drug use, do not account for these high prevalence rates. Another mechanism could be parenteral injection under unsafe conditions. The most widespread genotypes in tropical areas are genotypes 1, 2, and 3. Other genotypes can be encountered locally including genotype 4 in black Africa and Egypt, genotype 6 in southeast Asia, and genotypes 1 and 3 in India. The association of hepatitis C with chronic liver disease has been the focus of several studies, mainly in Africa. The seroprevalence of virus C ranges from 2 to 55 p. 100 in cases of chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis and from 0 to 47 p. 100 in cases of hepatocellular cancer. Hepatitis C could be the underlying cause of 33 to 50 p. 100 of chronic liver diseases not linked to virus B. It is observed more often in patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis than cancer in which virus B is dominant. Infection by both virus is rare without liver disease but is more frequent in patients with cancer than chronic non-tumoral liver disease.

Africa↗