RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is common in eastern Africa, but disease presentation varies considerably. Most patients have single or few NCC-typical lesions in their brain but some present with a large number of lesions. We present three patients with positive antibody-based serology for Taenia solium cysticercosis screened at the Vwawa district hospital, Mbozi district, southern Tanzania, in whom extensive NCC was confirmed by neuroimaging. CASE PRESENTATIONS: Patient 1 was a 55-year-old female from the tribe Malila smallholder farmer who has had four generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizures over a period of 11 years and one episode of transient left hemiparesis one year before seizure onset. The patient also reported monthly to weekly episodes of severe, progressive, unilateral headache. The computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain showed 25 NCC lesions of which 15 were in the vesicular stage. Patient 2 was a 30-year-old male from tribe Nyha mechanic who reported monthly episodes of moderate to severe, progressive, bilateral headache, but no epileptic seizures. The CT scan showed 63 NCC lesions of which 50 were in the vesicular stage. Patient 3 was a 54-year-old female from the tribe Malila smallholder farmer who suffered from frequent generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizures with potential signs of focal seizure onset. She also reported weekly to daily episodes of severe, progressive, unilateral headache. The CT scan showed 29 NCC lesions of which 28 were in the vesicular stage. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical presentation of NCC with multiple brain lesions varies considerably ranging from few epileptic seizures and severe headache to severe epilepsy with frequent epileptic seizures. Individuals with neurological signs/symptoms that may be due to NCC, based for example on epidemiological criteria or serological evidence of cysticercosis, are recommended to undergo neuroimaging before anthelminthic treatment is considered.
Asunto(s)
Cisticercosis , Epilepsia , Neurocisticercosis , Masculino , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Neurocisticercosis/diagnóstico , Neurocisticercosis/diagnóstico por imagen , Tanzanía , Encéfalo/patología , Convulsiones/etiología , Cefalea/etiologíaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Neurocysticercosis is common in regions endemic for Taenia solium. Active-stage neurocysticercosis can be treated with antiparasitic medication, but so far no study on efficacy and safety has been conducted in Africa. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study on treatment of neurocysticercosis in Tanzania between August 2018 and January 2022. Patients were initially treated with albendazole (15 mg/kg/d) for 10 days and followed up for 6 months. Additionally in July 2021, all participants who then still had cysts were offered a combination therapy consisting of albendazole (15 mg/kg/d) and praziquantel (50 mg/kg/d). Antiparasitic treatment was accompanied by corticosteroid medication and anti-seizure medication if the patient had experienced epileptic seizures before treatment. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients were recruited for this study, of whom 17 had a complete follow-up after albendazole monotherapy. These patients had a total of 138 cysts at baseline, of which 58 (42%) had disappeared or calcified by the end of follow-up. The median cyst reduction was 40% (interquartile range 11-63%). Frequency of epileptic seizures reduced considerably (p < 0.001). Three patients had all active cysts resolved or calcified and of the remaining 14, eight received the combination therapy which resolved 63 of 66 cysts (95%). Adverse events were infrequent and mild to moderate during both treatment cycles. CONCLUSION: Cyst resolution was unsatisfactory with albendazole monotherapy but was very high when it was followed by a combination of albendazole and praziquantel.
Asunto(s)
Antihelmínticos , Quistes , Neurocisticercosis , Humanos , Neurocisticercosis/tratamiento farmacológico , Neurocisticercosis/complicaciones , Neurocisticercosis/parasitología , Albendazol/efectos adversos , Antiparasitarios/efectos adversos , Praziquantel/efectos adversos , Tanzanía , Estudios Prospectivos , Quistes/inducido químicamente , Quistes/complicaciones , Quistes/tratamiento farmacológico , Convulsiones/tratamiento farmacológico , Convulsiones/inducido químicamente , Convulsiones/complicaciones , Antihelmínticos/efectos adversosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Most malaria deaths occur in rural areas. Rapid progression from illness to death can be interrupted by prompt, effective medication. Antimalarial treatment cannot rescue terminally ill patients but could be effective if given earlier. If patients who cannot be treated orally are several hours from facilities for injections, rectal artesunate can be given before referral and acts rapidly on parasites. We investigated whether this intervention reduced mortality and permanent disability. METHODS: In Bangladesh, Ghana, and Tanzania, patients with suspected severe malaria who could not be treated orally were allocated randomly to a single artesunate (n=8954) or placebo (n=8872) suppository by taking the next numbered box, then referred to clinics at which injections could be given. Those with antimalarial injections or negative blood smears before randomisation were excluded, leaving 12 068 patients (6072 artesunate, 5996 placebo) for analysis. Primary endpoints were mortality, assessed 7-30 days later, and permanent disability, reassessed periodically. All investigators were masked to group assignment. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered in all three countries, numbers ISRCTN83979018, 46343627, and 76987662. RESULTS: Mortality was 154 of 6072 artesunate versus 177 of 5996 placebo (2.5%vs 3.0%, p=0.1). Two versus 13 (0.03%vs 0.22%, p=0.0020) were permanently disabled; total dead or disabled: 156 versus 190 (2.6%vs 3.2%, p=0.0484). There was no reduction in early mortality (56 vs 51 deaths within 6 h; median 2 h). In patients reaching clinic within 6 h (median 3 h), pre-referral artesunate had no significant effect on death after 6 h or permanent disability (71/4450 [1.6%] vs 82/4426 [1.9%], risk ratio 0.86 [95% CI 0.63-1.18], p=0.35). In patients still not in clinic after more than 6 h, however, half were still not there after more than 15 h, and pre-referral rectal artesunate significantly reduced death or permanent disability (29/1566 [1.9%] vs 57/1519 [3.8%], risk ratio 0.49 [95% CI 0.32-0.77], p=0.0013). INTERPRETATION: If patients with severe malaria cannot be treated orally and access to injections will take several hours, a single inexpensive artesunate suppository at the time of referral substantially reduces the risk of death or permanent disability. FUNDING: UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO/TDR); WHO Global Malaria Programme (WHO/GMP); Sall Family Foundation; the European Union (QLRT-2000-01430); the UK Medical Research Council; USAID; Irish Aid; the Karolinska Institute; and the University of Oxford Clinical Trial Service Unit (CTSU).
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Antimaláricos/uso terapéutico , Artemisininas/uso terapéutico , Malaria Falciparum/tratamiento farmacológico , Malaria Vivax/tratamiento farmacológico , Servicios de Salud Rural/organización & administración , Administración Rectal , Adolescente , Adulto , Antimaláricos/administración & dosificación , Artemisininas/administración & dosificación , Artesunato , Niño , Preescolar , Personas con Discapacidad/estadística & datos numéricos , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Malaria Falciparum/complicaciones , Malaria Falciparum/mortalidad , Malaria Vivax/complicaciones , Malaria Vivax/mortalidad , Masculino , Placebos/administración & dosificación , Supositorios , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
This study was carried out in Ilala and Kinondoni Municipalities in Tanzania to explore the perceptions of Tuberculosis (TB), and treatment seeking behaviour, among patients attending healthcare facilities. The study was conducted in four randomly selected health facilities providing directly observed treatment (DOT). Exit interviews were administered to 69 randomly selected TB patients. The mean age of the respondents was 33.2 years (range = 11-72 years). Forty-six (66.7%) of the patients had primary school education. Fifty-nine (84.1%) patients had good knowledge on the transmission of TB. Majority (75%) of the respondents were of the opinion that the incidence of TB was on the increase and this was mainly associated with HIV/AIDS epidemic. All respondents knew that TB was a curable disease if one complies with the treatment. Sixty-four (60%) respondents had good knowledge on the correct duration of tuberculosis treatment. The median duration before seeking treatment from a health facility was 1.5 months. The majority of the patients 47 (68%) visited public health facilities for treatment as their first action. Overall, 83.8% (57/68) respondents said females comply better with treatment than male patients. The majority of the respondents lived within a walking distance to a healthcare facility. Only 18.8% (13/69) had to spend an average of US$ 0.2-0.3 as travel costs to the healthcare facility. Most of the respondents (57.8%) said they were well attended by service providers. Half (21/42) and 59.3% (16/27) of the males and females, respectively, mentioned good patient-service provider relationship as an important reason for satisfaction of the service (chi2 = 0.57, df = 1, P > 0.005). Twenty-nine (42%) of respondents were of the opinion that female TB patients conformed better to treatment than males and a similar number thought that both of them equally conformed to treatment. Findings from this study indicate that a large population in urban settings are aware that health facilities play a major role in TB treatment. In conclusion, there is a need to further explore how this information could potentially be used to enhance early seeking of appropriate services among TB patients in the era of rapid urbanization. Strategies in the control of TB and other diseases should focus on advocacy in seeking appropriate care.
Asunto(s)
Aceptación de la Atención de Salud , Cooperación del Paciente , Tuberculosis/tratamiento farmacológico , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Distribución de Chi-Cuadrado , Niño , Femenino , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Humanos , Incidencia , Entrevistas como Asunto , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Satisfacción del Paciente , Tanzanía/epidemiología , Tuberculosis/epidemiología , Tuberculosis/transmisión , Población UrbanaRESUMEN
This study was carried out in Ilala and Kinondoni Municipalities in Tanzania to explore the perceptions of Tuberculosis (TB); and treatment seeking behaviour; among patients attending healthcare facilities. The study was conducted in four randomly selected health facilities providing directly observed treatment (DOT). Exit interviews were administered to 69 randomly selected TB patients. The mean age of the respondents was 33.2 years (range= 11-72 years). Forty-six (66.7) of the patients had primary school education. Fifty-nine (84.1) patients had good knowledge on the transmission of TB. Majority (75) of the respondents were of the opinion that the incidence of TB was on the increase and this was mainly associated with HIV/AIDS epidemic. All respondents knew that TB was a curable disease if one complies with the treatment. Sixty-four (60) respondents had good knowledge on the correct duration of tuberculosis treatment. The median duration before seeking treatment from a health facility was 1.5 months. The majority of the patients 47 (68) visited public health facilities for treatment as their ?rst action. Overall; 83.8(57/68) respondents said females comply better with treatment than male patients. The majority of the respondents lived within a walking distance to a healthcare facility. Only 18.8(13/69) had to spend an average of US$ 0.2-0.3 as travel costs to the healthcare facility. Most of the respondents (57.8) said they were well attended by service providers. Half (21/42) and 59.3(16/27) of the males and females; respectively; mentioned good patient-service provider relationship as an important reason for satisfaction of the service (?2 =0.57; df=1; P0.005). Twenty-nine (42) of respondents were of the opinion that female TB patients conformed better to treatment than males and a similar number thought that both of them equally conformed to treatment. Findings from this study indicate that a large population in urban settings are aware that health facilities play a major role in TB treatment. In conclusion; there is a need to further explore how this information could potentially be used to enhance early seeking of appropriate services among TB patients in the era of rapid urbanization. Strategies in the control of TB and other diseases should focus on advocacy in seeking appropriate care