[Knowledges And Practices Of Iron Prescription By The Pediatric Ward In CHU Gabriel Touré Of Bamako, Mali]

GOAL

To assess knowledges and practices on iron prescription in pediatric ward in CHU Gabriel Touré of Bamako, Mali.

TOOLS AND METHODS

It was a prospective and transversal study canied out. We submitted questionnaire and analyzed the case history of to the children aged 1-60 months old who received iron during the study period from 1rstto 30 July 2012. The prescriptators' consent were solicited and obtained at first of all.

RESULTS

Fifty prestators were interviewed among them 10 pediatricians (20%), 31 pediatrics' resident (62 %), 2 generalists physicians (4%), 7 medical student (14%). One hundred 100 were analyzed medical records. More than half of the prestators known the need of iron in children. Thirty percent have received iron at 8 to 10mg/kg. The medication duration wasn't indicating in 92% of patients. In our context prestators well know about meaning and the needs of iron in children bout they're limited on iron food sources and iron storage.

CONCLUSION

The well theorical knowledge on indications and prescription roules on iron in children didn't escape from miss practices in its prescription. Moreover works should analyze the reasons of discrepancies.

[Particularities of early neonatal bacterial infection in the hospital environment of the CHU Gabriel Touré in Bamako]

INTRODUCTION

Early neonatal bacterial infection (ENBI) is a major concern in neonatology. In Mali, no study had addressed this aspect, hence the initiation of this work to study the epidemiological-clinical, biological and bacteriological profile of ENBI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a descriptive longitudinal study that took place from june 27 to september 3, 2016 involving newborns aged ≤ 72 hours hospitalized for ENBI confirmed by blood culture in the neonatology service of the pediatrics department of the Center Hospitalier et Universitaire (CHU) Gabriel Toure in Bamako. The parameters studied were the socio-demographic and obstetrical characteristics of the mothers, the clinical, biological and bacteriological characteristics of newborns infected early.

RESULTS

Of the 324 blood cultures performed, 52 were positive, i.e. an ENBI frequency of 11.04%. The sex ratio was 1.3 with 73.1% low birth weight. On admission, 90.4% of newborns had less than 24 hours of life and 86.5% were births outside the CHU Gabriel Toure. The main clinical signs were hyperthermia or hypothermia and respiratory distress. The main bacteria isolated in blood culture were Staphylococcus aureus (55.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.5%) and Escherichia coli (07.7%). Sensitivity to first-line biantibiotic therapy (ceftriaxone + gentamicin) was low (63.6%) and that of amikacin was better (100%). Half of the newborns infected early died and 19.2% of exeat without medical agreement was recorded.

CONCLUSION

Early neonatal bacterial infection is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. In our context, amikacin could be a better therapeutic alternative.

[Portal cavernoma at child about two observations]

We report two observations of portal cavernoma diagnosed successively in Bamako and Dakar. The first is a 6-year-old male admitted to the service for ascites and abdominal pain. At admission the clinical parameters (weight, height, temperature, cranial perimeter and temperature) were within the norms for age. The clinical examination noted a moderate skin-mucosal pallor, asthenia. The biological assessment returned to moderate normochrome anemia with impaired pancreatic function while renal and hepatic functions were maintained. The abdominal scan performed after two low-contribution abdominal ultrasounds, objected signs in favor of a portal cavernoma with perisplenic and gastric varicose veins. The second is an 8-year-old male child born from an unborn marriage and from a followed pregnancy with premature delivery. His pathological history includes a notion of prematurity that required a stay in neonatology with umbilical catheterization and repeated abdominal pain. He had an acute abdominal episode in March 2015 justifying a surgical hospitalization for suspicion of appendicitis. At admission the clinical parameters (weight, height, temperature, cranial perimeter and temperature) were within the norms for age. The abdominal ultrasound prescribed for this was suggestive of portal cavernoma, later confirmed by abdominal computed tomography.

[Management of patients with Covid 19: analysis of prescription drugs at Gabriel Touré University Hospital]

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020. For case management, Mali has created several treatment sites including the site of the CHU Gabriel Touré.

AIMS

The objective of the study was to analyse drug prescriptions for the COVID-19 treatment at the CHU Gabriel Touré.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective and descriptive study from April to September 2020. Drug prescriptions and hospital records were used to collect data. Prescriptions and hospital records were used to collect data.

RESULTS

A total of 29 patients were hospitalized. The median age was 44 years, 75.90% of patients had at least one pathology associated with COVID-19. The number of prescriptions was 333 comprising 870 lines of prescriptions including 33.21% for standard treatments, and 66.79% for associated pathologies. with 86.23% available at the Hospital Pharmacy. Chloroquine, dosed at 250mg, was administered at 500mg twice a day. The national guidelines from the treatment of COVID-19 recommends 200mg of chloroquine in two doses. Vitamin C was prescribed for all patients although not included in the national guidelines. The class of drugs for the blood and blood-forming organs was the most prescribed (31.49%). The average cost of treatments was 65,602 ± 106,858 FCFA with a maximum of 567,860 FCFA. An evaluation of prescriptions in other treatment sites is necessary.

[Socio-demographic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of adolescents treated and followed for HIV infection at the Hospital Gabriel Toure paediatric center]

HIV infection is a chronic infectious disease requiring long-term management and regular follow-up of patients.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study was to describe the socio-demographic, clinical, biological and therapeutic aspects of adolescents treated and followed for HIV infection at the Hospital Gabriel Toure paediatric center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 01/01/2001 to 31/12/2017, the medical records of children followed for HIV infection until adolescence were analyzed. It was a descriptive and analytical retrospective study.

RESULTS

One thousand five hundred and fourteen patients received antiretroviral treatment and 587 were still in follow-up on 31 December 2017, including 393 adolescents (sex-ratio = 1.2). The median age was 14.25 years and 55.1% of children had lost at least one parent. HIV serology was positive among mothers in 61.7% of cases (n=342), and 63% of them were on ARVs. Sixty-eight per cent of children were WHO Stage III or IV at the time of ART initiation. The median age at onset of ART was 53 months (26-96 months). The combination of 2 nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) with a non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) was used in 89% of patients. The median CD4 count before ARV treatment was 438/mm3. The average duration of follow-up under treatment was 9.8 ± 3.4 years. Fifty-one percent of adolescents had undetectable viral load. There was a correlation between the initiation of a second line of treatment and treatment failure (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The adherence of adolescents to ARV treatment requires the implementation of innovative strategies to improve the therapeutic success rate.

[Management of Acute Malnutrition in Children in a Sahelian Secondary Hospital]

Malnutrition among children under five is a major public health problem in low-income countries, and contributes significantly to mortality in this age group. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical profile of malnourished children at the Nara hospital in north of Mali.

METHOD

It was a retrospective and descriptive study, from 01/01/2016 to 31/12/2016. Children aged 6 months to 59 months admitted for acute malnutrition were included.

RESULTS

Four hundred and sixty-one children had malnutrition, representing 15% of consultations and 50% of hospitalizations. The median age was 26 months (2 months-93 months). The sex ratio was 0.92 (M = 222, F = 239). Nineteen percent of the patients had progressive weaning (n = 90), and it was brutal in 371 patients (80%). The distribution of patients according to the Z-score was as follows: Z-score <-1 (n = 15, 3%), Z-score <-2 (n = 46, 10%), Z-score <-3 (n = 400, 87%). Mean MUAC was 105 mm (99mm-124mm). Hypoglycemia was noted in 45% (n = 204). The marasmus cases accounted for 80% (n = 367) kwashiorkor 10% (n = 48). The mixed form of malnutrition accounted for 10% (n = 46). The disease associated with malnutrition were pneumonia (n = 219, 47%), malaria (n = 115, 25%) and gastroenteritis (n = 68, 15%). The F75 milk was administered predominantly for 3 months in 93% of cases. For phase 2 of treatment, Plumpy Nut and F100 milk were respectively administered in 88% and 12%. The nutritional recovery rate was 95% (n = 435). Five percent of the patients died (n = 26). Pneumonia was the cause of death in 85% of cases. The cure rate for marasmus and kwashiorkor cases was respectively 94% and 93%.

CONCLUSION

Acute malnutrition remains frequent in the Sahelian environment. Better knowledge of mothers about weaning and dietary diversification will improve the nutritional status of children.

Childhood brain tumors in Mali

to assess epidemiologic and clinical aspects of childhood brain tumors in Mali. a retrospective, descriptive study of children aged 0-15 years with brain tumors, conducted in the pediatrics department of the Gabriel Touré University Hospital Center in Bamako, Mali, from January 31, 2007 to December 3, 2012. In all, 41 cases of brain tumors were recorded during this period (mean: 5.5 years old; range: 1-12 years). Brain tumors were most frequent in the children aged 2-5 years (53.7%) and among boys (53.7%). Late stage at presentation was relatively frequent (34.1%) with a mean time to diagnosis of 10 months. Features of elevated intracranial pressure were the most frequent mode of revelation of primary tumors (26.8%). Supratentorial tumors accounted for 83% of the cases, and gliomas were most frequently (29.3%) identified on computed tomography. Only five patients underwent surgical tumor removal. A broader study including the other hospitals in Bamako could help to assess more accurately the epidemiology of pediatric brain tumors in Mali.

[Accidental household poisoning of the child at the Gabriel Toure university hospital center in Bamako]

INTRODUCTION

Household accidental child poisonings are frequent pediatric medical emergencies in developing countries.

OBJECTIVE

To study the epidemiological, etiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of acute accidental domestic poisoning in children aged 0 to 15 years admitted to the pediatric emergency department of Gabriel Toure.

METHOD

This was a prospective, descriptive study that ran from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. All patients aged 0 to 15 years admitted to pediatric emergencies for acute intoxication were included.

RESULTS

A hundred cases of acute accidental poisoning were collected. Children under five accounted for 94%. The majority of mothers was housewives and had custody of children (83%). Forty-nine percent of the mothers were unschooled. The place of storage of the product was indoor in 96% of cases. The product was taken by the child himself (88%). A gesture at the scene of the accident was reported in 68% of cases, the ingestion of milk (72%) and water (10%) were the first acts used. The hospital was the first resort (72%). The time between taking the product and admission to hospital was 1 to 5 hours in 58% of cases. Vomiting (37 cases), agitation (17 cases) and respiratory distress (16 cases) were the most common symptoms. Domestic products (48%) followed by drugs (33%) ranked first among the families of poisons. Caustic soda (18%) and bleach (17%) were the most commonly found intoxication products. The evolution was good with a cure without sequelae (93%).

CONCLUSION

Accidental acute intoxications to household products are common in Mali. The hospital admission deadline is still long; the actions taken by patients at the accident site often aggravate their states but are largely done by the parents before the use of health care.

[Congenital Hypothyroidism: 2 observed cases at the Gabriel Toure University Hospital of Bamako, Mali]

We report two observations of congenital hypothyroidism diagnosed in 2011 in the university hospital of Gabriel Toure in Bamako. The first occurred in a male infant of 40 days, admitted for respiratory distress and anterior compressive cervical swelling. Although his neonatal period occurred without any medical particularity, family medical history revealed the presence of unexplored goiter in three paternal uncles. Neurological examination was normal with the presence of constipation. A cervical-thoracic scan showed a homogeneous and symmetric hypertrophy of thyroid lobes with a compression of the trachea. The dosage of thyroid hormones confirmed hypothyroidism (FT4 = 1.6 pmol/l, TSH = 60 µUI/ml). After one month of treatment using Levothyroxine, 10 mg/kg, there was a drastic improvement of respiratory distress, a regression of goiter and normalization of thyroid hormones. At six months of life he had no goiter and psychomotor development was normal. The second case occurred in a male infant of 2 years, from an area of endemic goiter. Puffiness of the face without lower limb edema, constipation, and delayed independent walking were the reasons for consultation. On examination, we noted the absence of goiter, large anterior fontanel with facial dysmorphism (lunar facies, hypertelorism, flat nose, macroglossia) and infiltration of the skin more marked in the face with cold extremities. He required support to sit. The thyroid function tests confirmed hypothyroidism (FT4 = 72 nmol/l, FT3 = 0.40 nmol/l, TSH > 60 µUI/l). Under levothyroxine, there was normalization of thyroid hormones after one month of treatment and disappearance of the skin infiltration. At six months of treatment he had acquired independent walking. Mental prognosis remains to be evaluated. These cases confirm the necessity of routine neonatal diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

[Knowledge and practices regarding iron prescription by medical staff of the pediatric ward in the Gabriel Touré university hospital of Bamako, Mali]

GOAL

To assess knowledge and practices on iron prescription in the pediatric ward of the Gabriel Touré university hospital of Bamako, Mali.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out from the 1st to 31st July 2012 in the service. We presented the participants with a questionnaire and analyzed the medical files of children aged 1-60 months old who received an iron prescription. Each prescriber's consent was solicited and obtained prior to the study.

RESULTS

Fifty prescribers were interviewed, among them 10 pediatricians (20%), 31 pediatrics' residents (62%), 2 generalist physicians (4%), 7 medical student (14%); and 100 medical records were analyzed. More than half of the prescribers were aware of the need of iron in children, with 42% knowing about iron reserves. 8% of prescribers knew that iron absorbed through food was heme iron or non-heme iron. Thirty percent of patients received iron at a dose of 8 to 10mg/kg. Length of treatment was not indicated in 92% of patients.

CONCLUSION

In our context, sufficient theoretical knowledge and of children's iron need did not exclude bad prescription practices. Future studies should analyze the reasons of behind this discrepancy.

Preliminary evaluation of children treated with metronomic chemotherapy and valproic acid in a low-income country: Metro-Mali-02

BACKGROUND

Metronomics is defined by the combination of metronomic chemotherapy and drug repositioning. Since off-patent chemotherapeutic drugs can be used and given the low toxicity profile of this approach, metronomics appears to be an invaluable alternative to bring affordable targeted therapies in low-income countries.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to report on the preliminary efficacy and safety of a metronomic vincristine/cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/valproic acid regimen given to children with refractory cancer of various tumor types or with a very advanced disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective, single-center study evaluated the use of a metronomics protocol, consisting of a first cycle of weekly vincristine 1.5 mg/m2 (days: 1, 8, 15 and 22), daily cyclophosphamide 25 mg/m2 (days: 1-21), twice weekly methotrexate 15 mg/m² (days: 21-42) and daily valproic acid (30 mg/kg/d) followed by a 1-week break. For the following cycles, vincristine was administrated only at week 1 and 5 of the cycle. This treatment was proposed to children with refractory disease and patients who were not eligible for the protocols available in the hospital. Adverse events were determined through laboratory analyses and investigator observations.

RESULTS

From January 2010 to January 2011, 7 children (mean age: 5.4 ± 3 years old) were treated. Most frequent diagnosis was retinoblastoma. Two partial responses were observed in patients with neuroblastoma and retinoblastoma. These two patients are alive with stable disease at last follow-up (6 and 26 months, respectively) after stopping treatment.

CONCLUSION

Metronomics allows treating patients with advanced or refractory or relapsing disease and the introduction of targeted treatments in low-income countries. The potential of metronomics in children and young adults living in middle- and low-income countries warrants further larger studies.

[Mothers knowledges, attitudes and practices on female genital excision in Bamako]

AIM

In Mali society, female excision is a cultural practice. Despite the awareness campaigns, it affects nearly 85% of the female population (EDSM IV). This study was initiated to assess the knowledges, attitudes and practices of mothers about female circumcision.

METHOD

We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional study from June 1 to July 31, 2011, in the Department of Pediatrics of the teaching hospital of Gabriel Touré, Bamako, regarding the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers related to the female excision.

RÉSULTS

We interviewed 224 mothers. The prevalence of female circumcision was 73%. In 72.7% of cases, the area affected by the mutilation was unknown to the mother. Nearly seventy percent (69.6%) of mothers thought that female circumcision had advantages only and should even be mandatory (74.6%). Female circumcision was associated with tradition, and it would be a religious obligation for 65%, and 21.4% of mothers, respectively. More than half of the girls were circumcised before their first year (76.3%) and 26.3% in the neonatal period. The majority of mothers were against a law banning the practice of female circumcision (54%). Ninety five percent of mothers reported that they would renew the experience of female circumcision.

CONCLUSION

Female circumcision remains a well-established practice. Policies to fight against female circumcision are faced to very deep beliefs.

[Reasons for hospitalisation of hiv-infected children in pediatric service of the Gabriel Toure teaching hospital, Bamako]

PURPOSE

The aim of our study was to determine the reasons of hospitalization of HIV-infected children in our context and to identify factors associated with mortality in the course of hospitalization.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Our study took place in the department of pediatrics of the Gabriel Touré Teaching Hospital. It involved all the children hospitalized between March 1st and August 31st, 2010 to whom an infection with HIV was diagnosed before or during the hospitalization.

RESULTS

Thirty seven HIV-infected children were hospitalized. The average age at admission was 46,9 months and the sex ratio was 0,76. HIV infection was discovered during the hospitalization for 29 children (78,4%). Fifteen children were orphan of at least a parent. The medical pathological history include sickle cell disease (2 cases) and tuberculosis (1 case). The great majority (91,9%) were at WHO stage 3 or 4. The main AIDS-defining events were severe malnutrition (73%) and pneumonia (45,9%). They were followed by bacterial infections (21,6%) and malaria (13,5%). An anemia was found at 85,7 % of the children.

CONCLUSION

Efforts must be made for early diagnosis and management of pediatric's HIV infection.

[Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 12 cases in Mali]

INTRODUCTION

Data about childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood malignancy in industrialized countries, are scarce in African publications. The purpose of this prospective, unicentric study were to assess the socio-demographic, clinic and laboratory characteristics of the children treated for lymphoblastic leukemia in our pediatric oncology unit in Gabriel Touré Teaching Hospital in Bamako, Mali.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study includes all children between 1 and 15 years old treated for cytologically documented acute lymphoblastic leukemia from January 1, 2007 to September 30, 2009.

RESULTS

A total of 12 cases including 8 boys and 4 girls (sex ration, 2) were treated during the study period. Mean age was 92 months. Age was less than 4 years old in 2 cases. 5 (41,7%) were between 5 and 9 years in 5 (41.7%) and between 10 to 15 years in five. At the time of presentation, 9 patients (75%) were in a cachectic state; 10 had lymphadenopathies, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly; and 2 had neurological involvement. The delay for definitive diagnosis was 5 months in 4 cases (33,3 %) and less than 5 months in the remaining cases. Initial white blood cell count was more than 50 000/mm3 in 10 cases and less less than 50 000/mm3 in 2 cases. All patients were treated using the LAL GFAOP protocol including LAL1 in 6 cases, LAL2 in 5 and LAL3 in 1. Treatment complications were included 6 undocumented infections in 6 cases, hemorrhage in 2 and severe anemia in 4. Four patients died. At 5 years follow-up, overall survival rate was 66,7%.

CONCLUSION

A multicentric study including a greater number of children is needed to increase understanding of the characteristics of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in sub-Saharan Africa.

[Problems of neonatal transfer to the pediatric service of the CHU Gabriel Touré of Bamako]

Neonatal morbidity and mortality is a real concern in our context. Several factors including the organization of the reference contribute to it. Our work was aimed at studying the conditions of newborns transfer of the towards the service of pediatrics of teaching hospital Gabriel Touré.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Our study proceeded from October 15th, 2006 to January 15th, 2007 in the unit of neonatology of the service of Pediatrics of the CHU of the Hospital Gabriel Touré. It was a cross sectional and descriptive study. All the newborns referred by a health structure were included.

RESULTS

We included 760 referred newborns out of 1072 neonatal admissions which means a frequency of reference of 71%. In 91.6% of the cases, the newborn were referred on the very day of their birth. Prematurity (29%), perinatal anoxia (24%), respiratory distress (13.9%) were the main reasons for reference. In no case, the service of pediatrics was contacted in advance by the referring health agent. More than half of the cases (58.6%), the public transport was used. Ambulance car transported 17.4% of the newborns. All the newborns came held in the arms of a member of their family. The referring agent was a physician in 70.3% of cases. Hypothermia was found for all the newborns (759/760) when being received. More half of the newborns (56.4%) had a small weight at birth and the quarter (25.8%) was resuscited. Lethality was 32%. Mother illiteracy, small weight at birth, the outborn birth were factors related to neonatal mortality.

CONCLUSION

In our context, the reduction of neonatal morbidity and mortality has to go through an improvement of the reference system.

[Treatment of sickle cell pain]

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the efficiency of the treatment of pain by analgesic according to World Health Organization (WHO).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We made a descriptive and analytic study in majors sickellers in pain crisis admitted in the service of paediatric of the hospital Gabriel Touré Bamako from January 2005 to January 2006. The efficiency of the treatment by painkiller was evaluated at second hour and at the 24 hour.

RESULTS

Our study concerned 70 children with major of sickle cell of both sexes and aged from 6 to 15 years in pain crisis. In 87.1% pain disappeared with painkillers palier I (paracetamol) and 12.9% had necessitated to pass to palier II (buprenorphine) an 64.3% our patients the pain disappeared in a period less than 12 hours with an average of 3 hours against only 35.7% soothed in a period more than 12 hours with average of 64 hours 3 minutes. Pain from the head and limbal region were the most sensible to the treatment.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of pain by palier according to who is efficient in children sickeller.

[Maxillofacial location of Burkitt's lymphoma in children treated at the University Hospital Center in Bamako, Mali: a 24-case series]

Burkitt's lymphoma was first described in Africa where it remains one of the most common malignant tumors in children. To our knowledge there have been no large series describing Burkitt's lymphoma involving the maxillofacial area or any other location in Malian children. The purpose of this retrospective single-center study was to describe clinical, laboratory, and therapeutic findings in children treated for maxillofacial Burkitt's lymphoma in the Oncology Unit of the Gabriel Touré Pediatric Hospital in Bamako, Mali from January to December 2006. A total of 38 cases of Burkitt's lymphoma were diagnosed during the study period. This series includes 24 children (63.2%) under the age of 15 years in whom diagnosis of previously untreated maxillofacial Burkitt's lymphoma was confirmed by cytology. All patients were treated using the GFA 2005 protocol for Burkitt's lymphoma. There were 17 boys and 7 girls (sex ratio of 2.4). In all cases the disease was advanced, i.e. stage III in 87.5% and stage IV in 12.5%. Following three cycles of Endoxan in association with 3 injections of metothrexate and hydrocortisone, complete remission was observed in 37.5% and 16.6% were lost from follow-up. Treatment complications after 6 cycles included hematologic toxicity in 71.5% and alopecia in 100%. Most patients (70.8%.) presented no infectious episode. Follow-up examination at one year showed that 29.2% of patients remained in complete remission. Despite limited resources for treatment and surveillance, the survival rate in our series of patients treated for advanced stage Burkitt's lymphoma was about 30%. It is likely that a strategy based on an information campaign to enhance the awareness and knowledge of parents, training of medical and paramedical staff, and improvement of management facilities could further reduce mortality due to Burkitt's lymphoma in Malian children.

[Morbidity and mortality in the pediatric service at Gabriel Toure's University Hospital in Mali]

The aim of this work was to study morbidity and mortality before implementing the setting up of the pediatric service of Bamako. Involved in the study were all the children hospitalized during 12 months that is a total of 2000 cases among which 57.3% boys and 42.8% girls. Our study indicated that only 25% of children (509/2000) were referred. The most encountered pathologies were : malaria 898 (44.9%), ARI 528 (26.4%), diarrhea 224 (11.2%), malnutrition 269 (13.4%) and anemia 239 (11.9%). Mortality rate in hospital was 7.1 % and the main causes of deaths were : malaria (23.9% of death cases), diarrhea (20.4%) and malnutrition (31.7%). Thus we have recorded 8.3% of deaths for a period of resort beyond 3 days, compare to 3.3 % for a resort of less than 24 hours. (x² = 8.10, p= 0.017 ). The pediatric service operated as a center for first contact. In the framework of the establishment of this project, organizational efforts should allow to receive only referred cases.

[Treatment of childhood cancer in Africa. Action of the Franco-African childhood cancer group]

The childhood cancer survival rate is currently 75% in industrialized countries. Rates in developing countries are much lower. The Franco-African Childhood Cancer Group (French acronym, GFAOP) was founded in 2000 with aim of reducing this unfavorable situation in Africa. The GFAOP has developed two forms of action. The main form consists of organizing two- to twelve-month training sessions for physicians and nurses in France and Morocco. The other form involves assessing the feasibility of modern treatment protocols for various cancers in Africa. The first feasibility trials were carried out on nephroblastoma and Burkitt's lymphoma in 12 pilot units in North Africa, West Africa, and Madagascar. In the first study from 2001 to 2005 we treated 306 cases of Burkitt's lymphoma using French LMB protocols adapted to the African setting and achieved a survival rate of 61%. A second study started in 2005 using Endoxan alone achieved a highly satisfactory survival rate of 73% for neuroblastoma in all stages except bilateral. Altogether from 2001 to 2007 more than 1000 cases of nephroblastoma and Burkitt's lymphoma were treated in African hospitals by African doctors and nurses. No patients were transferred to Europe. The GFAOP supplied drugs when necessary and took care of most travel expenses. African and French doctors worked together on protocol design, trial management, and data analysis. These promising results show that the latest therapeutic techniques can be used to treat childhood cancer in Africa by adapting the protocol to conditions in developing countries. Sanofi-Aventis Laboratories in association with the International Union against Cancer has launched a major campaign to improve Pediatric Oncology in developing countries. Projects in four GFAOP units are being financed through this campaign. In 2006 the GFAOP began assessment of two new treatment protocols, i.e., one for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the other for Hodgkin's disease. Two other projects are being planned, i.e., one for treatment of retinoblastoma and the other for treatment of some types of brain tumors.

[Blackwater fever in children during cerebral malaria: 3 case reports in Bamako]

BACKGROUND

Blackwater fever is a rare but serious form of malaria in children. Diagnosis relies on clinical symptoms and on the color of the urines.

OBJECTIVES

To describe blackwater fever in children, a disease whose prevalence seems to be increasing.

METHOD

We report 3 cases of blackwater fever observed in our institution.

RESULTS

In 2 cases, acute renal insufficiency with oligoanuria was observed. In all the 3 cases, treatment with quinine was stopped and replaced by injectable artemether. Evolution was dependent on renal function, and included in 1 patient neurological sequels consisting in aphasia.

CONCLUSION

Blackwater fever is a severe affection whose diagnosis should be evoked using the color of urine. Evolution is usually favorable in the pediatric population, when adequate care can be provided.

[Acute accidental poisoning in children at the pediatrics service of the Gabriel Touré hospital]

The accidental intoxications constitute more and more a serious problem among young children in the developing countries because of their frequency and difficulties for taking care of those victims. The objective of our work was to study acute intoxications among children in order to determine the frequency, to identify the products in question and to determine the impact of those accidents in the future life of the victims. The study was carried out in the Paediatric Service of the CHU Gabriel Touré from January 2001 to June 2002. We enrolled 89 children from 0 to 15 years of age. Information on our patients was recorded on investigational questionnaire and completed with data from their entry and hospitalization records. Among 8237 children hospitalized during the study period, 89 of them had acute intoxication i.e. 1.08%. Children less than five years of age were more frequent with 85.4% with a male prevalence of 61.8%. Antimalarial drugs and petroleum were the most accused products. Administration of milk and provoked vomiting were the attitudes and practices of the entourage of the victims when intoxication occurs. The evolution was favourable in 67.2% of the cases with a hospital lethality of 13.7%.