Our study shows that chronic rheumatic valvular heart disease is the most common cardiovascular diagnosis among patients seen at cardiology clinics of six referral/teaching hospitals in the country, followed by congenital heart diseases. Hypertensive and ischaemic heart diseases also accounted for a significant proportion of the cases. Therefore, strategies directed towards primary and secondary prevention of acute rheumatic fever as well as prevention of risk factors for hypertension and ischaemic heart disease may need to be strengthened.

The incidence of campylobacter enteritis among children visiting the outpatient department of a teaching hospital in north-west Ethiopia was prospectively studied over a period of 12 months from June 1994 to May 1995. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from the stools of 60 children out of 434 investigated by culture (13.8%). The highest isolation rate was found in children aged from 6 to 24 months. The period of peak isolation was September to November. Among children aged 1-5 years, campylobacter was more frequently isolated from those presenting with persistent diarrhoea than from among those with acute illness (OR 2.53; 95% CI: 1.02-6.18). Culture positivity was higher among malnourished children. Our findings demonstrate the important role played by this pathogen in childhood diarrhoeal illness in the area.

IntroductionInfective endocarditis is an infection of the endocardial lining of the heart mainly associated with congenital and rheumatic heart disease. Although it is a rare disease in children, it is associated with high morbidity and mortality; death due to infective endocarditis has been reported to be as high as 26% in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsThis was a retrospective review of routinely collected data from patient records.ResultsA total of 40 children (71% female) with 41 episodes of infective endocarditis admitted to a general paediatric ward in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between 2008 and 2013. Age ranged from 7 months to 14 years, with a median of 9 years (Inter quartile Range: 7-12 years). Rheumatic and congenital heart diseases were underlying risk factors in 49% and 51% of cases respectively. Congestive heart failure, systemic embolization and death occurred in 66%, 12% and 7.3% respectively. Death was associated with the occurrence of systemic embolization (P-value = 0.03).ConclusionRheumatic heart disease was an important predisposing factor for infective endocarditis in Ethiopian children. Late presentations of cases were evidenced by high proportion of complications such as congestive heart failure. A low rate of clinically evident systemic embolization in this study may be a reflection of the diagnostic challenges. High proportion of prior antibiotic intake might explain the cause of significant BCNE. Preventive measures like primary and secondary prophylaxis of rheumatic fever may decrease the associated morbidity and mortality. Early detection and referral of cases, awareness creation about indiscriminate use of antimicrobials, and proper history taking and documentation of information recommended.

BackgroundAmong children diagnosed to have chronic rheumatic valvular heart disease (RHD) in Ethiopia, many have been observed to develop recurrence of rheumatic fever (RF) despite secondary prophylaxis. This study determined the throat culture positivity rate and drug susceptibility pattern of beta hemolytic streptococci (BHS) isolated from children attending a specialized cardiac clinic in Ethiopia.MethodsThroat swabs were collected from 233 children receiving benzathine penicillin injection as secondary prophylaxis for RHD and cultured. The bacterial isolates were characterized using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Drug susceptibility was tested with the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titers were determined using ASO latex reagents.ResultsThe throat culture positivity rate for BHS was 24 % (56/233). Among the BHS bacterial strains isolated, four were characterized as S. pyogenes and another four as S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (Lancefield group A, C and G). All BHS were susceptible to penicillin except one isolate of S. agalactiae. Among 233 children enrolled, 46(19.7 %) showed increased ASO titer. Children who received antibiotic prophylaxis within 2-weeks of last injection had significantly lower BHS throat culture positivity rate than those injected every 4-weeks (p = 0.02). Children who missed at least one prophylaxis within the last 6 months had a higher BHS culture positivity rate than those who did not miss any (p = 0.0003).ConclusionsThe presence of groups A, C and G streptococci in the throat of children under secondary prophylaxis for RHD and increased ASO titer suggests failure of the regimen. This calls for further investigation into the causes of inadequate prophylaxis (including bioavailability of drugs used, optimal duration and patient compliance) and intervention.

Background Ethiopia has a high acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) prevalence, and to our knowledge, there are no data on the status of secondary prevention in children with RHD. This study describes the status of secondary RHD prevention. Methods A multicenter, prospective study was performed on children aged 5–17 years with RHD in Ethiopia. Good adherence was defined as at least 80% completion of benzathine penicillin (BPG) or oral Amoxicillin within the previous year. The primary outcome measure was adherence to prophylaxis, expressed as a proportion. Socio-demographics, severity of RHD, and ARF recurrence were evaluated. Results A total of 337 children with a mean age of 12.9 ± 2.6 years were included. The majority (73%) had severe aortic/mitral disease. Participants were on BPG (80%) or Amoxicillin (20%) prophylaxis. Female sex (P = 0.04) use of BPG (0.03) and shorter mean duration of prophylaxis in months (48.5 ± 31.5 vs. 60.7 ± 33, respectively, P < 0.008) predicted good adherence. Running out of medications (35%), interrupted follow-up (27%), and the COVID-19 pandemic (26%) were the most common reasons for missing prophylaxis. Recurrence of ARF was higher in participants on Amoxicillin compared with BPG (40% vs. 16%, P < 0.001) and in those with poor adherence compared with good adherence (36.8% vs. 17.9%, respectively, P = 0.005). Type and duration of prophylaxis (OR 0.5, CI = 0.24, 0.9, P = 0.02; OR = 1.1, CI = 1.1, 1.2, P = 0.04, respectively), and sex (OR = 1.9, CI = 1.1, 3.4, P = 0.03) were independent predictors of poor adherence. Conclusion Poor adherence is prevalent in Ethiopian children living with RHD. Amoxicillin is a suboptimal option for prophylaxis as its use is associated with lower adherence and a higher rate of ARF recurrence.