Ferrellsims8110
y should be established.
Data on the coinfection of malaria and COVID-19 is highly limited especially in Africa due to the novel nature of the pandemic COVID-19. Malaria and COVID-19 share striking similarities in their symptoms. A cross-sectional randomized study was conducted to investigate the role of sex in the coinfection of malaria and COVID-19 as well as some associated factors in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Ethical approval was obtained from the Rivers State Health and Ethics Committee before the commencement of this study, and the study was conducted at the COVID-19 Treatment Center Medical Laboratory, Rivers State, Nigeria. Intravenous blood samples from three hundred randomly selected consenting study participants were examined for
species using Giemsa microscopy, while pretested questionnaires were used to obtain data on sex, risk factors, and symptoms. All data generated were analyzed statistically using the Chi-square test with a
< 0.05 value considered significant.
All study participants had
species (100% prevalence) with varying parasite loads, and
.
was the only species observed. JAK inhibitor Study participants (irrespective of sex) with low and high parasitaemia had the highest and least prevalence, respectively (
> 0.05). Male study participants experienced more symptoms than females (
> 0.05) except for sore throat which had an equal value among males and females. Travel history was the only risk factor that showed significant association with sex, and males had a higher value than females (
< 0.05).
Malaria and COVID-19 are major public health issues in Nigeria; more researches on these diseases especially in epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine production are vital.
Malaria and COVID-19 are major public health issues in Nigeria; more researches on these diseases especially in epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine production are vital.Vigorous achalasia is an oesophageal disorder with clinical and radiological characteristics of classic achalasia and diffuse oesophageal spasm. It is a rarely reported variant. A 60-year-old gentleman presented with complaints of difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation and chest pain for the past 10 years. His symptoms persisted despite the use of proton pump inhibitors. On endoscopy and barium swallow, the diagnosis of vigorous achalasia was confirmed. It is a rare variant of classic achalasia usually misdiagnosed as diffuse oesophageal spasm.
Increasing demand for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has contributed to extended patient waiting times worldwide. This is particularly true in resource-limited environments, prompting this institutional workflow analysis.
To determine the 'pre-' and 'post-scan' times for normal-hour MRI studies conducted at a tertiary-level, public-sector South African hospital and to assess any association with demographic details, patient characteristics, anatomical site and scan parameters. A secondary objective was determination of the average daily MR 'down' time.
A prospective descriptive study stratifying MRI workflow into 'pre-scan', 'scan', 'post-scan' and 'down' times. During 'pre-' and 'post-scan' times patients occupied the scanner whilst staff performed tasks indirectly contributing to image acquisition. During 'down' time no patient occupied the MRI room. 'Pre-' and 'post-scan' times were compared with demographic details, patient characteristics, anatomical site and study parameters, utilising correlation analysis or analysis of variance (ANOVA).
A total of 223 patients (
= 223) underwent 286 investigations in the 23-day review period. Seventy per cent of routine working time was utilised in image acquisition. The 'pre-' and 'post-scan' times together accounted for 19% and 'down' time for 11% of working time. Prolonged 'pre-' and 'post-scan' times were independently associated with age less than 12 years, anaesthesia, sedation and immobility (
< 0.01 in all cases). The longest median combined 'pre-' and 'post-scan' time by anatomical site (cholangiopancreatography, 2146 min) was more than six times the shortest (pituitary fossa, 311 min).
A critical analysis of magnetic resonance 'pre-' and 'post-scan' times can provide valuable insights into opportunities for enhanced service efficiency.
A critical analysis of magnetic resonance 'pre-' and 'post-scan' times can provide valuable insights into opportunities for enhanced service efficiency.
People living with HIV (PLWH) face new challenges such as accelerated ageing and higher rates of comorbidities including cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases as they age.
To profile the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly patients receiving HIV care at Newlands Clinic (NC), Harare, Zimbabwe, as of 01 October 2019.
A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using clinic data. All patients who were 50 years and older on 01 October 2019 were enrolled. Descriptive statistics (medians, interquartile ranges [IQRs] and proportions) were used to describe patient demographic and clinical characteristics.
Out of 6543 patients undergoing care at NC, 1688 (25.8%) were older than 50 years. The median duration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) was 10.9 years (IQR 7.1-13). Over 90% of all patients had an HIV viral load below 50 copies/mL. Women were more likely than men to be overweight and obese (32% and 25% vs. 18% and 7%, respectively). Hypertension (41.2%), arthritis (19.9%) and chronic kidney disease (11.6%) were common comorbidities differently distributed based on sex. The most common malignancy diagnosed in women was cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (68% of cancer burden in women) and Kaposi sarcoma was the leading malignancy in men (41% of cancer burden in men). link2 Nearly 20% of patients had at least two chronic non-communicable comorbidities and 5.6% had at least three.
A high burden of comorbidities was observed amongst HIV-positive elderly patients receiving ART. Age-appropriate monitoring protocols must be developed to ensure optimum quality of care for elderly HIV-positive individuals.
A high burden of comorbidities was observed amongst HIV-positive elderly patients receiving ART. Age-appropriate monitoring protocols must be developed to ensure optimum quality of care for elderly HIV-positive individuals.
Although the association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and mucocutaneous diseases has been well studied within South African specialist centres, there is limited data from district-level hospitals. Available data may, therefore, fail to reflect the prevalence and full spectrum of dermatoses seen in people living with HIV (PLWH).
To determine the prevalence and spectrum of dermatoses seen in PLWH.
We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study of 970 PLWH (men and women, ≥ 18 years old) accessing care at Karl Bremer Hospital, a district-level hospital located in the Western Cape province, South Africa, between 01 September 2016 and 28 February 2017.
The prevalence of mucocutaneous disease in this sample was 12.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11-0.15). Non-infectious dermatoses comprised 71.0% of the disorders. Pruritic papular eruption (20.0%) and seborrheic dermatitis (6.0%) were the most common non-infectious dermatoses. Tinea corporis (8.0%) and oral candidiasis (6.0%) were the most prevalent infectious dermatoses. There was no significant association between skin disease category (infectious or non-infectious dermatoses) and patient demographics (gender and ethnicity) or HIV-disease characteristics (CD4+ cell count, viral load and duration of antiretroviral therapy [ART]).
This study provides valuable scientific data on the prevalence and spectrum of mucocutaneous disease in PLWH attending a South African district-level hospital. Prospective studies conducted in other district-level centres across the country are required to determine the lifetime prevalence and spectrum of dermatoses in PLWH in the ART era.
This study provides valuable scientific data on the prevalence and spectrum of mucocutaneous disease in PLWH attending a South African district-level hospital. Prospective studies conducted in other district-level centres across the country are required to determine the lifetime prevalence and spectrum of dermatoses in PLWH in the ART era.
Accidental falls could have severe and far-reaching consequences for older adults, their families and society at large. Healthcare practitioners' (HCPs) perspectives on fall risk factors in older adults could assist in reducing and even preventing falls. Currently, no universal tool exists for this purpose. The World Health Organization's globally accepted International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was used.
This study aimed to (1) describe the perspectives of HCPs on fall risk factors in older adults in South Africa and (2) link these factors to the ICF.
Eighteen HCPs participated in two focus groups.
Using a qualitative research design, an inductive thematic analysis allowed for the identification of important themes, which were linked to the ICF.
The factors mentioned by participants were categorised into 38 themes, which were linked to 142 ICF codes, of which 43% (
= 61) were linked to the Body Function category, 23% (
= 32) to the Environmental Factors category ability to execute mobility activities. Combining HCPs' perspectives with other stakeholders and with literature provides a holistic picture of fall risk factors in older adults.
South African maternity care guidelines stipulate that post-natal patients can be discharged within 6 h after delivery, provided that the condition of mothers and neonates do not require medical, surgical or obstetric attention. Hence in many instances post-natal care is rendered at home by traditional birth attendants (TBAs). Traditional birth attendants play a crucial role in the care of women during pregnancy, birth and puerperium within communities.
To explore and describe the experiences of TBAs during the provision of post-natal care to mothers and their neonates in order to make recommendations to improve the quality of post-natal care delivered at home.
The community hall of a selected rural traditional community was used as a setting for data collection.
A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design was used. Three focus groups were held with 26 TBAs whom were purposively selected. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
The study confirmed two categories that included lack of supportive working relationships between TBAs and midwives and lack of respect of TBAs, by post-natal women.
It is evident that the TBAs experienced negative experiences. Therefore, initiation of teamwork, empowerment and confidence development are crucial to improve the working experiences of TBAs during the provision of post-natal care. Quality post-natal care might reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates. Teamwork between TBAs and midwives might be initiated. link3 Continuity of care for post-natal women might be improved.
It is evident that the TBAs experienced negative experiences. Therefore, initiation of teamwork, empowerment and confidence development are crucial to improve the working experiences of TBAs during the provision of post-natal care. Quality post-natal care might reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates. Teamwork between TBAs and midwives might be initiated. Continuity of care for post-natal women might be improved.
