Albinism in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects in Mbujimayi, Kasai Oriental

Abstract

Albinism is a genetic mutation that affects the production of melanin in the skin, hair and eyes, making people with albinism vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation, with a greater susceptibility to skin cancer. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) access to care for people with albinism remains difficult. The province of Kasai Oriental is reported to have a large number of people with albinism and no local documentation has been provided to date. The objective of this pilot study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of albinism, which will enable the development of programs to prevent albinism-related complications in Mbujimayi, Kasai Oriental. This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted in the town of Mbujimayi, capital of the province of Kasai Oriental, among people with albinism over a period of 7 days. Dermatological and ophthalmological diagnoses were essentially clinical. A total of 77 people with albinism of both sexes, most of them under 30 years of age, from all over the town were seen in consultations. Regarding albinism-related diseases, we observed basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas in identical proportions. In general, 78% of the people with albinism seen were at their first medical visit for a dermatological examination and only 4.2% of the people with albinism applied sunscreen. The present study revealed a not negligible frequency of albinism with a presence of pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions and a low rate of dermatological medical visits. This confirms the difficult access to medical care and information, justifying this very low photoprotection.