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Outbreaks of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X meningococcal (MenX) infections in the African meningitis belt caused by isolates of clonal complex (CC) 181, including an outbreak in 2006 in Niger and [...]

This article discusses the emergence of dengue fever in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, based on a cluster of three cases in a tourist group returning to Florence, Italy. The spread of dengue fever is a growing concern, with an increase in vector diffusion leading to autochthonous cases in Europe. Prompt detection of imported cases is crucial for appropriate management and public health measures. Travel medicine providers should be aware of the current circulation of dengue fever in tourist locations like Sharm El-Sheikh and provide adequate pre-travel advice. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of epilepsy with Tonic–Clonic (TC) seizures in rural areas of the Bolivian Gran Chaco and to evaluate the usefulness of telemedicine in this context. Methods: The study was carried out in the Isozo Area, southern‐eastern Bolivia. Twenty‐five rural communities with a population of 8258 inhabitants were included in the survey. Trained community‐health workers administered a validated single screening question to the householders (stage I). A second face‐to‐face questionnaire was administered to each positive subject (stage II). At stage II subjects were also screened using the smartphone app "Epilepsy Diagnosis Aid". Subjects screened positive at stage II underwent a complete neurological examination to confirm the diagnosis (stage III). Due to the COVID‐19 lockdown, some subjects have been evaluated through a digital platform (Zoom®). Results: One‐thousand two‐hundred and thirteen interviews were performed at stage I, corresponding to a total screened population of 6692 inhabitants. Thirty‐eight screened positive were identified at stage I and II and of these, 28 people with epilepsy were identified, giving an overall prevalence of 4.2/1000 (95% CI 2.6–5.7). Prevalence rate steeply increased with age reaching a peak of 7.9/1000 in the population aged 20–29 years without significant differences between women and men. For almost 50% of the screened positive subjects, confirmation of epilepsy by a neurologist at stage III was achieved through simple videoconsultation. After a simultaneous awareness campaign, 22 self‐reported PWE requested a consultation and, among them, 11 had a diagnosis of epilepsy confirmed. Significance: This study shows a prevalence estimate close to those reported for LMIC. Simple videoconsultation and specific apps may be valuable tools in epidemiological research. Awareness campaigns are important allies for a full case identification, particularly in contexts where higher rates of stigma are recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Follow up CT scan performed 1 month after treatment conclusion showed complete resolution of GGOs in Patient 1 and Patient 3, and significant improvement in Patient 2. In immunocompromised hosts, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can span from asymptomatic to severe life-threatening disease. Patient 1 A 62-year-old Caucasian male with non-Hodgkin lymphoma on anti-CD20 therapy with obinutuzumab developed mild SARS-CoV-2 infection in December 2021, reporting fever, cough and myalgia. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Schistosomiasis can lead to severe irreversible complications and death if left untreated. Italian and European guidelines recommend serological screening for this infection in migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, studies on clinical and economic impact of this strategy in the Italian and European settings are lacking. This study aims to compare benefits and costs of different strategies to manage schistosomiasis in migrants from SSA to Italy.Methods: A decision tree and a Markov model were developed to assess the health and economic impacts of three interventions: a) passive diagnosis for symptomatic patients (current practice in Italy); b) serological screening of all migrants and treating those found positive; c) presumptive treatment for all migrants with praziquantel in a single dose. The time horizon of analysis was one year to determine the exact expenses, and 28 years to consider possible sequelae, in the Italian health-care perspective. Data input was derived from available literature; costs were taken from the price list of Careggi University Hospital, Florence, and from National Hospitals Records.Results: Assuming a population of 100 000 migrants with schistosomiasis prevalence of 21·2%, the presumptive treatment has a greater clinical impact with 86.3% of the affected being cured (75.2% in screening programme and 44.9% in a passive diagnosis strategy). In the first year, the presumptive treatment and the screening strategy compared with passive diagnosis prove cost-effective (299 and 595 cost/QALY respectively). In the 28-year horizon, the two strategies (screening and presumptive treatment) compared with passive diagnosis become dominant (less expensive with more QALYs) and cost-saving.Conclusion: The results of the model suggest that presumptive treatment and screening strategies are more favourable than the current passive diagnosis in the public health management of schistosomiasis in SSA migrants, especially in a longer period analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma. Schistosoma haematobium causes urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS), a chronic disease characterized by pathology of the urogenital tract leading to potentially severe morbidity for which the treatment is poorly standardized. We conducted a survey in TropNet centres on the clinical presentations and management strategies of complicated urogenital schistosomiasis (cUGS). Methods We reviewed the clinical records of patients seen at TropNet centres over a 20-year timespan (January 2001–December 2020). Case definition for cUGS included the presence of urogenital cancer, obstructive uropathy, kidney insufficiency of all grades and female or male genital involvement leading to infertility. Collected data included demographic information, patient category (traveller or migrant), imaging data, microbiological data (serology results and presence/absence of eggs in urine), histological features and outcome at last visit recorded. Results Eight centres contributed with at least one case. Overall, 31 patients matched the inclusion criteria. Sub-Saharan Africa was the most likely place of infection for included patients. Median age was 30.6 years (range 21–46, interquartile ranges, IQR 27–33). Most patients (28/31, 90.3%) were males. Hydronephrosis was the most frequent complication, being present in 18 (58.1%) patients, followed by cancer, present in 5 patients (16.1%); 27 patients (87.1%) required surgical management of some sort. Use of praziquantel varied across centres, with six different regimens employed. Discussion Very few cases of cUGSs were found in our survey, possibly indicating underdiagnosis of this condition. Hydronephrosis was the most frequently observed urogenital complication, and most patients required invasive procedures. Infection by S. haematobium can result in considerable morbidity, resulting in clinically challenging presentations requiring a multidisciplinary approach. As such, development of common protocols for early diagnosis and treatment is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]