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Biomedical subjects

T Seboxa

Publications and source records attributed to T Seboxa.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Epidemiological features of severe paediatric malaria in north western Ethiopia.

Malaria remains a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, yet our knowledge of the epidemiology of malaria in terms of patterns of mortality and morbidity is limited. To examine the clinical and epidemiological presentation of severe life-threatening malaria in Humera, north western Ethiopia studies were conducted among the childhood population in the community, those presenting to out-patient facilities and those admitted to the district hospital. The overall P. falciparum parasite rate among children aged 0-9 years resident within the area was only 12% confirming the low level of endemicity in this area. P. vivax infections were present in 5% of children. Between July 1993 and June 1994 peak out-patient presentation with Plasmodium falciparum coincided with the rains with over 50% of cases occurring between August and October whilst P. vivax infections were predominant during the hot, dry months. Malaria was an important cause of paediatric admission to the local district hospital with an estimated 4.7% of the at-risk childhood community warranting intensive clinical management each year. Case fatality rates were high and the clinical spectrum of severe disease indicated a preponderance of cerebral malaria cases. In addition, respiratory distress was a feature in 12% of the malaria admissions. The suggestion that the coexistence of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax may serve to reduce the severe clinical consequences of P. falciparum malaria is not supported by these observations.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Treatment of louse-borne relapsing fever with low dose penicillin or tetracycline: a clinical trial.

A clinical trial was conducted in order to evaluate the efficacy of procaine penicillin and tetracycline, respectively, in the treatment of louse-borne relapsing fever. 184 patients (160 men, 24 women) admitted to the Gondar hospital during the rainy season 1992 were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups: procaine penicillin 100,000 (PP100), 200,000 (PP200) or 400,000 (PP400) international units (IU) intramuscularly (i.m.), or tetracycline 250 mg per os (TTC, p.o.). All drugs were given as single doses. The overall case fatality rate was 3.3%. Frequency of relapses, Jarisch-Herxheimer-like reactions (JHR) and deaths were significantly different between patients treated with TTC and those treated with PP100. Relapses occurred most often in the group receiving the lowest dose of penicillin (46%), and decreased with increasing dosage of penicillin; none of the patients treated with TTC had a relapse. Occurrence of JHR showed the opposite pattern: whilst 2 (5%) patients treated with PP100 developed a JHR, 16 (29%) in the PP200 group, 10 (31%) in the PP400 group, and 27 (47%) in the TTC group developed a JHR. As mortality is linked to severe JHR, and most relapses are clinically mild and easily treated, these results speak in favour of using low-dose penicillin to initiate the treatment of relapsing fever.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Byssinosis and other respiratory disorders among textile mill workers in Bahr Dar northwest Ethiopia.

The prevalence of byssinosis and other respiratory symptoms were studied among 433 workers who were occupationally exposed to cotton dust in Bahr Dar Textile Mill. One-hundred-one nonexposed workers living in the same geographical area were included as controls. All of the subjects completed the British Medical Research Council Questionnaire. Pulmonary function tests were administered on a vitalograph spirometer before starting the shift for all subjects, and after at least four hours of exposure for exposed subjects. Among the cotton dust exposed workers, byssinotics behaved distinctly and showed the maximum acute and chronic changes in pulmonary functions. The overall prevalence of byssinosis was 45.5%. The highest prevalence was found in carding (57.9%) and in ring frame (57.1%) operatives and the lowest in weaving preparatory section (32.1%). Unlike bronchial asthma, chronic cough and chronic bronchitis were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in cotton dust exposed subjects compared with controls. The mean measured values of ventilatory capacity (FEV1 and FVC) are to a significant extent reduced in the exposed groups compared with controls (p < 0.01). In view of the above findings, preventive measures are of paramount importance in minimizing the prevalence of byssinosis and other respiratory disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Byssinosis and tuberculosis among textile mill workers in Bahar Dar, Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1991 on 433 workers of a cotton mill in Bahar Dar, northern Ethiopia. The study consisted of symptom evaluation using a standardized questionnaire, lung function tests, chest x-ray, and measurement of dust concentration in the various work areas. A hundred non-exposed hospital workers were included as control group. The overall prevalence of byssinosis among the exposed subjects was 45.5%, being highest among carding (57.9%) and ring frame workers (57.1%). Lower prevalences were found in weavers (36.7%) and those working in the preparatory unit (32.1%). Chronic bronchitis occurred in 48.8% of workers in the carding section, and in none of the control group. Bronchial asthma occurred in 11.5% of workers in the carding and ring frame sections, and in 28.6% of the workers in the waste section. Twelve per cent of the control group had bronchial asthma. Tuberculosis was prevalent in 5.3% of the mill workers and in 2.1% of the control group. Ventilatory capacity (FEV1 and FVC) was significantly reduced in the exposed workers (p < 0.05). The study revealed that the prevalence of byssinosis and other respiratory disorders was extremely high among the cotton mill workers. In view of the above findings preventive measures deserve a high priority.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Attitude of medical students to future practice characteristics.

In November 1990, 14.5% of the 271 medical students of the Gonder College of Medical Science (G.C.M.S.), Gonder, Ethiopia, were of peasant background. Only 10.2% of the 271 expressed willingness to serve for more than two years in the rural areas after graduation, and, of those not willing, a higher proportion (15.5%) were from the main towns than from rural areas (1.2%). Specialty choice of senior students showed obstetrics-gynaecology, other specialties such as dermatology, internal medicine and surgery as the most preferred career goals. In addition, 67.2% of the students agreed that there is a greater need for physicians in rural than urban settings, agreement being six times more frequent by Clinical Year I students than interns (referent group). Among twelve personal and professional variables suggested, continuing education, schools for children, and private practice were considered better in urban than in rural areas. The study has important implications for medical education.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Histological examination of blood vessels in peripheral gangrene among patients with sporadic outbreak of ergotism.

During the academic year 1985-1986 at Gondar College of Medical Sciences Hospital gangrenous ergotism was clinically diagnosed in seven patients (5 males, 2 females) ranging in age from 20 to 45 years. Amputation and subsequent histological examination of the blood vessels revealed occluded tibial arteries by acute thrombosis without cellular reaction or inflammatory lesion of the arterial wall in 3 patients. Endangitis with organized arterial thrombosis and focal recanalization of the vessels was noted in the remaining four patients. The smaller arterial branches including the dorsal pedal artery appeared to be contracted with knobby projections into the lumen. The latter was occluded by chronic, organized thrombosis in all patients. The present finding indicates that thrombosis and its organization could be another pathogenic factor in the development of gangrene due to ergotism, which is a histological picture similar to that of thrombangitis obliterans.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Type and frequency of gynecological tumors in the Gondar region of Ethiopia].

The present work was done to examine the type and frequency of benign and malignant gynecological tumors in patients treated during the 5 years period from 1982 to 1986 in the Gondar College of Medical Sciences. The different pathohistological findings were compared with the history and chief complaints of the patients. A total number of 208 patients with benign and of 93 patients with malignant tumors could be analyzed. In the group of benign tumors we observed most frequently breast tumors (25.5%), endometrial and cervical polyps (24.5%), and myoma uteri (23.1%). Patients with benign ovarian tumors were treated in 40 (19.2%) cases. In the group of malignant tumors we have seen breast carcinomas (31.2%) and cervical carcinomas (34.4%) most frequently followed by the endometrial (13.0%) and ovarian (11.8%) neoplasms. Comparison with the data of the literature has shown that the mean age of our patients is lower and the number of women with advanced carcinomas is higher than in other reports.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Anthrax in Ethiopia.

Twenty-seven patients with cutaneous anthrax were identified over a three-year period at Gondar College of Medical Sciences in North Central Ethiopia. Nine patients who delayed seeking medical care presented with severe symptoms and three patients died. Eighteen patients were clustered within four families in which an attack rate of 32% occurred. Ninety-three percent of patients could trace their disease to exposure to the products of a specific diseased animal. Characteristics of anthrax in Ethiopia include a known exposure to diseased animals, occurrence within families, frequent treatment by local healers, and high morbidity and mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Peak expiratory flow in normal Ethiopian children and adults in Addis Ababa.

The peak expiratory flow rate was determined using the Wright peak flow meter in normal Ethiopian children and adults residing in Addis Ababa (altitude 2500 m). The sample studied was of 84 boys, 69 girls (4-17 years) and 177 men, 148 women (18-70 years). Normality was determined by history alone. Linear multiple regression analysis was used to construct prediction equations that depended upon height and age. The results serve as reference values specifically for Ethiopians residing at altitude. Comparison of the PEFR values determined in 47 Caucasians (22 males, 27 females) working in Addis Ababa, with those from a group of Ethiopians matched for age and height indicated that the mean PEFR was significantly greater in the Caucasians by 7.3% in males and by 8.2% in females.

Adolescent↗