This study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infections among schoolchildren and investigate the associations between H. pylori seropositivity and existence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Methods. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted during a period from January to December 2012 at Kassala state, east of Sudan. Schoolchildren from different primary schools were enrolled in the study. Sociodemographic characteristics and gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded from each child. A rapid immunochromatographic test was performed for the detection of H. pylori IgG antibodies. Data on patient demographic characteristics, clinical diagnosis, and findings of H. pylori infection were analyzed by simple descriptive statistics. Results. Among 431 schoolchildren, H. pylori seropositivity was found to be 21.8%. The majority of children (79; 84%) had BMI below the normal range. The most frequent symptoms associated with H. pylori infections were nausea (25.5%), followed by gastric pain (24.5%) and heart pain (20.2%). There were statistically significant differences in H. pylori seropositivity between boys and girls (p = 0.003). Conclusions. The prevalence of H. pylori infection among schoolchildren in Kassala city has been documented. Although the majority of the disease was associated with several gastrointestinal symptoms, the role of infection in the etiology of abdominal symptoms needs further investigations.
The efficacy and safety of oral artesunate+sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (AS+SP) (4 mg/kg AS for 3 consecutive days+25 mg sulfadoxine on Day 0) in the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni infections were compared with those of praziquantel (PZQ) (40 mg/kg) among infected schoolchildren (46 in each study arm) in eastern Sudan. The cure rate at 28 days was 58.6% in the AS+SP group and 100% in the PZQ group (P<0.001). While drug-related adverse effects (headache, dizziness, nausea and diarrhoea) were not significantly different between the two groups, significantly more children suffered abdominal pain in the PZQ group than in the AS+SP group (P=0.001). Thus, AS+SP has poor efficacy in the treatment of S. mansoni compared with PZQ.
Background: All over the world 2.6 billion people per year are at risk of Plasmodium vivax malaria, 56% of all malaria cases outside Africa are due to Plasmodium vivax, also about 70-80 million malaria cases per year worldwide are due to Plasmodium vivax. To the best of our knowledge, there is no epidemiological study assessing the prevalence of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Sudan. Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at Kassala state, eastern Sudan. Thick and thin blood films were prepared from capillary blood sample from two thousand, eight hundred and seven febrile patients. The slides were stained with Giemsa and screened for the presence of malaria parasites and parasite species. Stained blood films were examined microscopically with (X100) oil immersion lens. Results: Plasmodium vivax was detected in 41 blood samples (1.5 %) when examined microscopically. Most of them 28 (1.0 %) were Rashieda tribe (p value = 0.03). Conclusion: The prevalence of Plasmodium vivax malaria was low in our study area comparing with the neighbor countries like Ethiopia. More researches can be performed in this area where Plasmodium falciparum is predominant.
Abstract Background Pregnant women are more susceptible to severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria, which can lead to poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Few data exist on the epidemiology of severe P. falciparum malaria in pregnant women. A hospital-based study was carried out to assess the pattern of severe P. falciparum malaria among pregnant women at the Kassala and Medani maternity hospitals, which are located in areas of unstable malaria transmission, in eastern and central Sudan, respectively. Pre-tested questionnaires were used to gather socio-demographic, clinical and obstetrical data. Suitable tests were performed for clinical and biochemical investigations. Results Among 222 pregnant women diagnosed with malaria at the two hospitals, 40 (18.0%) women at mean (SD) gestational age of 29.3 (6.7) weeks fulfilled one or more of the WHO criteria for severe P. falciparum malaria. These were hypoglycaemia (14; 35.5%), severe anaemia (12; 30%), hypotension (10; 25%), jaundice (9; 22.5%), cerebral malaria (6; 15%), repeated convulsions (4; 10%), hyperparasitaemia (4; 10.0%) and more than one manifestation (9; 22.5%). While the mean (SD) presenting temperature was significantly lower for women presenting with hypoglycaemia [38.2(0.6) versus 38.8(0.7) °C, P = 0.04], other clinical and biochemical characteristics were not significantly different among women with different manifestations of severe P. falciparum malaria. Conclusion Preventive measures for pregnant women such as insecticide-treated bednets and chemoprophylaxis may be beneficial in areas of unstable malaria transmission. Early detection and prompt treatment of severe malaria, especially in pregnant women with hypoglycaemia, are needed.
Abstract Background There have been few published reports on severe Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria among adults in Africa. Methods Clinical pattern/manifestations of severe P. falciparum and P. vivax (according to World Health Organization 2000 criteria) were described in adult patients admitted to Kassala Hospital, eastern Sudan. Results A total of 139 adult patients (80 males, 57.6%) with a mean (SD) age of 37.2 (1.5) years presented with severe P. falciparum (113, 81.3%) or P. vivax (26, 18.7%) malaria. Manifestations among the 139 patients included hypotension (38, 27.3%), cerebral malaria (23, 16.5%), repeated convulsions (18, 13.0%), hypoglycaemia (15, 10.8%), hyperparasitaemia (14, 10.1%), jaundice (14, 10.1%), severe anaemia (10, 7.2%), bleeding (six, 4.3%), renal impairment (one, 0.7%) and more than one criteria (27, 19.4%). While the geometric mean of the parasite count was significantly higher in patients with severe P. vivax than with severe P. falciparum malaria (5,934.2 vs 13,906.6 asexual stage parasitaemia per μL, p = 0.013), the different disease manifestations were not significantly different between patients with P. falciparum or P. vivax malaria. Three patients (2.2%) died due to severe P. falciparum malaria. One had cerebral malaria, the second had renal impairment, jaundice and hypoglycaemia, and the third had repeated convulsions and hypotension. Conclusions Severe malaria due to P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria is an existing entity among adults in eastern Sudan. Patients with severe P. falciparum and P. vivax develop similar disease manifestations.
Objective: To investigate the accuracy of malaria diagnosis among pregnant women admitted in Medani Maternity Hospital, Central Sudan during June-October 2009 and to investigate the antimalarials prescribed in this setting. Methods: Socio-demographic characteristics and obstetrics history were gathered using pre-tested questionnaires. The finger prick blood samples were collected from pregnant women who admitted as malaria case after an initial microscopic test done by general microscopists for malaria diagnosis. The antimalarial treatment prescribed by treating doctor was inquired for. Results: Only 21 (8.6%) out of 243 pregnant women admitted as malaria case after an initial microscopic test done by general microscopists for malaria were found to have blood film positive. There was no significant difference in the specificity of the microscopy accuracy between those who have been investigated in the private and governmental sector, 15/193 (8.2%) vs. 6/60(10%), (P＞0.05). Quinine infusion was the prescribed drug in this setting. Conclusions: There is a very poor specificity of malaria microscopy in pregnant women admitted to Madani Maternity Hospital. Quinine was the drug received. Malaria control programme should interfere urgently to change this situation.
Objective: Migraine is one of the most frequent disabling neurological conditions and very bad headache with a major impact on the patient's quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Prednisolone in treating migraine. Methods: A cross sectional, hospital-based study was conducted. All patients (1020) were received Prednisolone 0.5 mg/kg/day for 7 days followed by tapering by 1 tablet (5 mg) every 7 days. The patients were followed minimally for six months after receiving treatment. Results: All patients responded to the treatment and all their associated symptoms disappeared. We think this approach is the best one for treating migraine. Conclusion: We think that our approach is the best one in treating migraine, so our recommendation is to use steroids (Prednisolone tablets, in a dose of 0.5 mg / kg/day for 7 days, followed by tapering by 1 tablet (5 mg) every 7 days) as a protocol for the treatment of migraine. The individual dose adjustment is required in certain cases. From this study we conclude that, firstly we can say we have got the answer of the big question: what is migraine. Secondly, we think we present a nice explanation of the vascular phenomenon associated with migraine. Number third, we introduce new common symptom associated with migraine. Lastly we introduce new and effective treatment for migraine.
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