Editorial: Non-communicable diseases are reaching epidemic proportions: evidence from low and middle income countries

Infections and non-communicable diseases that just refuse to go away What is new in HIV/AIDs and hepatitis?Here we discuss the latest information on the above subject. Tanzanian workers report a knowledge gap among attendees on of antenatal care clinics. (PMTCT), especially at primary health care facilities. 1 This is disappointing because a lot of effort and resources have been invested in PMTCT. But they are not alone. South African authors have found that while traditional healers play a key role in the diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections including HI/AIDS, they have serious shortcomings especially poor diagnosis. 2 Testing for HIV remains a very important strategy for HIV prevention in South Africa especially for young people. Over 50% of the youth reported that they had had an HIV test with females more likely to test than males. 3 This is timely because work in Lesotho has shown that health workers attribute HIV/AIDS to changing lifestyles and demographic profiles. 4 In fact family dynamics in adherence to HAART has been studied by Nigerian workers. 5 Most of the respondents were adherent and attributed this to care and support they received from their families. In a related article, Ugandan authors report on knowledge, attitude and barriers to condom use among female sex workers and truck drivers among whom the risk of HIV remains high. 6 They conclude that condom use is still hampered by socioeconomic and relationship factors.Co-infection of HIV and hepatitis B among children on HAART has hardly been reported from Africa. Work from Nigeria shows a prevalence of 6%. Co-infected children were more likely to have low CD4 counts. 7 Outcome of patients on HAART remains poor with a very high mortality of 21% reported from Uganda is a cause for concern. 8 The main causes were opportunistic infections, malignancy and AZT associated anemia. Dyslipidaemia and dysglycaemia are serious problem among patients on HAART. Ghanaian authors have found that HAART was associated with lipodystrophy and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. 9 Hepatitis remains a big challenge in Africa. The prevalence of hepatitis B antigemia (HBsAg) among pregnant women was 6.6% consistent with reports from elsewhere in Africa 10 .

Section: Nodding Syndrome (Ns) Still An Enigmamentioning

confidence: 99%

Editorial: Infections and non-communicable diseases that just refuse to go away

Tumwine¹

2014

Garlic and onion sensitization among Saudi patients screened for food allergy: A hospital based study

Almogren¹,

Shakoor²,

Adam³

2013

Background: Detection of specific IgE antibodies against food materials indicates allergic sensitization. Some very widely consumed foods materials such as garlic and onion have rarely been investigated for their allergenic potential. Objectives: To assess the presence of garlic and onion specific IgE antibodies in patients investigated for food allergy. Methods: Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) results of 108 patients with clinical suspicion of food allergy who were specifically screened for garlic and onion specific IgE antibodies along with other food allergens were analyzed retrospectively at King Khalid University Hosptial between January 2008 and April 2009. This group of patients included 73 males and 35 females with mean age 27+13.2 years. Estimation of garlic and onion specific IgE antibodies was performed by radioallergosorbent test (RAST) using Pharmacia ImmunoCAP 250 analyzer. Results: Out of the 108 patients 15 (13.8%) had garlic and onion specific IgE antibodies in their sera. Garlic specific IgE antibodies with the RAST scores between one to four were present in 14 and onion specific IgE were detected in 13 patients. For garlic specific IgEs majority of patients (08) had RAST score of one (0.35-0.69 kU/L) and for onion specific IgE antibodies seven patients had RAST score of two (0.70-3.49 kU/L). Among these patients 12 (80%) were found to have coexisting specific IgE antibodies against garlic and onion. Conclusion: The presence of garlic and onion specific IgE antibodies in a sizeable number of patients indicate sensitization and allergenic potential of these food materials.

Camel-related pancreatico-duodenal injuries: A report of three cases and review of literature

Abu‐Zidan

Af²,

Mousa³

et al. 2013

Background: Human pancreatico-duodenal injuries caused by camels are extremely rare. Objective: We report three patients who sustained camel-related pancreatico-duodenal injuries and review the literature on this topic. Results: A 32-year camel caregiver was kicked by a camel which then stepped on his abdomen trying to kill him. The patient's abdomen was soft and lax. CT scan of the abdomen showed free retroperitoneal air. Laparotomy revealed a complete tear of the anterior wall of the second part of duodenum which was primarily repaired. A 40-year camel caregiver was directly kicked into his abdomen by a camel. He developed traumatic pancreatitis which was treated conservatively. A 31-year-old male fell down on his abdomen while riding a camel. Abdominal examination revealed tenderness and guarding. Abdominal CT Scan showed complete transection of the neck of the pancreas which was confirmed by laparotomy. The patient had distal pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen. All patients were discharged home in good condition.Conclusion: These cases demonstrate the misleading presentation of the camel-realted pancreatico-duodenal injuries and their unique mechanism of injury.