Abstract.A clinical and biologic study was conducted in Morocco to assess the efficiency of antivenom therapy for treating victims of scorpion stings. Epidemiologic and clinical data were collected from 275 patients envenomed by Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus and Buthus occitanus scorpions. Patients received antivenom or other drugs. Blood samples were collected at the time of hospital admission and 1 hr and 3 hr after treatment. Serum venom levels were quantified by using an ELISA. An association was found between clinical signs of envenoming and the level of venom in serum. Patients classified as grade II (moderate envenoming) had higher serum levels of venom level than patients classified as grade I (mild envenoming). At admission to the hospital, the mean venom concentration was not significantly different between the group not treated with antivenom, the group who received 2-5 ml of antivenom, and the group who received 10 ml of antivenom. A significant decrease in serum venom levels and an improvement in the clinical conditions were observed in patients administered 10 ml of antivenom. The lower decrease in serum venom levels in patients who received 2-5 ml of antivenom was due to lower doses of antivenom. No difference in the venom concentration was observed in patients who were not treated with antivenom. The absence of administration of antivenom increased the risk of developing clinical signs at the end of the hospitalization period. However, this risk was much higher when more than 1 hr elapsed between the time of the scorpion sting and the time of hospital admission. The results demonstrate that antivenom is effective in decreasing circulating venom and morbidity. Serotherapy is more efficient when given as soon as possible after envenomation and with adequate quantities of antivenom.In north Africa, as in numerous tropical countries, envenomation by scorpion stings is a major public health problem, particularly in children. [1][2][3][4] The black scorpion (Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus) and the yellow scorpion (Buthus occitanus) are the most dangerous scorpions and are responsible for the majority of stings in Morocco. The epidemiologic data are incomplete, but the number of scorpion stings is estimated to be 40,000 per year in Morocco.Scorpion venoms are a complex biochemical mixture containing numerous neurotoxic polypeptides. 5,6 These polypeptides enhance excitability of nerve and muscle cells in scorpion sting victims and also cause death, particularly in children. 7 The onset of clinical symptoms is rapid (within 5-30 min) following the sting. 8,9 Respiratory failure and cardiovascular manifestations are the usual causes of death. 9-11 The toxicity of A. mauretanicus mauretanicus venom is due to the presence of neurotoxins that are specifically active on sodium and potassium channels. 6,12 The severity of scorpion envenoming and the rapid diffusion of inoculated venom require that appropriate treatment be started as soon as possible after the sting. Most investigators consider a...
Investment in SARS-CoV-2 sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences generated, now exceeding 100,000 genomes, used to track the pandemic on the continent. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries able to sequence domestically, and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround time and more regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and shed light on the distinct dispersal dynamics of Variants of Concern, particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron, on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve, while the continent faces many emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century.
Background: The epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), presents a significant and urgent threat to global health. This alarming viral infection, declared as pandemic by the WHO in February 2020, has resulted millions of infected patients and thousands of deaths around the world. In Morocco, despite the efforts made by the authorities, the SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread and constitutes a burden of morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to describe clinical characteristics of COVID-19 Moroccan patients and to establish the relationship between specific clinical symptoms, namely ageusia and/or anosmia, with these characteristics. Methods: We performed a descriptive, non-interventional cross-sectional study analyzing data from 108 patients admitted to the VINCI clinic, Casablanca (Morocco). The database includes 39 parameters including epidemiological characteristics, anthropometric measurements and biological analyzes. Results: The average of age of the patients was 43.80 ± 15.75 years with a sex ratio of 1:1. The mean body mass index of the patients was 25.54 ± 4.63 Kg/m 2. The majority of patients had, at least, one comorbidity and among 75% symptomatic patients, about 50% had, at least, three symptoms namely, fever (40.7%), cough (39.8%), myalgia (28.7%), and anosmia and/or ageusia (20.4%). From biological analyzes, we noticed lymphopenia and an elevated protein C reactive and lactate dehydrogenases levels in 24.1, 36.1, and 35.2% of patients, respectively. A disturbance in liver function markers
La mise en place en 2005 d’une couverture sanitaire universelle (CSU) au Maroc avec une composante assurance maladie obligatoire (AMO) pour les salariés et un régime d’assurance maladie pour les économiquement démunis (RAMED), devait améliorer l’accessibilité aux services de santé et réduire les iniquités pour 85% de la population marocaine. Douze ans plus tard, plusieurs indicateurs ont montré des effets inattendus. Afin de connaitre le parcours de santé et le rôle de la CSU, nous avons mené une étude qualitative sous forme de 34 groupes de discussions (GD) pour mieux appréhender le vécu, les perceptions et les attentes de la population vis à vis des services de santé. Les résultats ont montré que le parcours de soins était déterminé par deux critères majeurs à savoir la chronicité de la maladie et le type de couverture médicale. Par ailleurs et hormis ces deux critères, le milieu de résidence, l’offre de soins, la qualité de service pourrait expliquer certains comportements de santé.
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