The Rise of AI: How Artificial Intelligence is Revolutionizing Infectious Disease Control

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has proven to be an effective tool in predicting, detecting, and mitigating the spread of infectious diseases, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The technology is increasingly playing a role in preventing future health crises by predicting outbreaks, identifying high-risk areas, and aiding in vaccine development. AI can track and trace infected individuals and identify potential hotspots, help reduce the spread of infectious diseases, and monitor patient symptoms, enabling healthcare professionals to provide effective treatment.

The first Helicobacter pylori-induced Guillain-Barré syndrome in Sudan

Key Clinical Message

This case report highlights the role of Helicobacter pylori infection in the development of GBS. Healthcare providers should consider H. pylori in their differential diagnosis for patients with neurological syndromes.

Astract

We report the first known case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) associated with Helicobacter pylori infection in Sudan. This case highlights the role of H. pylori infection in the development of GBS. It also emphasizes the importance of wide screening of different endemic infections for patients with neurological syndromes for early detection and improves the case management in resource-limited settings like Sudan. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms of H. pylori-inducing neurological disorders.

Delayed cerebellar ataxia induced by Plasmodium falciparum malaria: A rare complication

Key Clinical Message

In endemic areas, malaria-induced cerebellar ataxia should be suspected in patients presenting with neurological disorders including slurred speech, tremors, and a sense of imbalance and dizziness while walking. Healthcare providers should be aware to properly investigate and early detect and manage infections associated with the development of cerebellar ataxia to improve the case management and clinical outcome cost-effectively.

Abstract

Here, we report the clinical manifestations, investigations, and outcomes of a patient developed delayed cerebellar ataxia following a malaria infection: an unusual complication of the disease. This report highlights the diagnostic challenges in a country endemic with several infectious diseases, yet it has a limited diagnostic and surveillance capacity.

The First Case of Fusarium falciforme Eumycetoma in Sudan and an Extensive Literature Review about Treatment Worldwide

Eumycetoma is an infectious disease caused by various fungal pathogens. The disease is characterised by black and pale-yellowish grain discharge. In this communication, we report a case of eumycetoma with a pale grain foot-eumycetoma caused by Fusarium falciforme. The patient presented at the outpatient clinic of the Mycetoma Research Centre in Sudan. The causative agent was initially misidentified as Aspergillus nidulans based on its seemingly similar histopathological appearance. However, sequencing the internally transcribed spacer region of the extracted grain confirmed infection with Fusarium falciforme. Although the patient received Itraconazole and underwent surgical excision, the disease was recurrent. To our knowledge, this is the first report on Fusarium falciforme causing eumycetoma in Sudan, indicating the expansion of the geographical distribution of this pathogen. This calls for raising the awareness of healthcare providers and improving the diagnostic and surveillance systems in at-risk areas to improve the case management and reduce the threat of further spread. Considering the potential impacts of F. falciforme infection including threatening the global health, food security, and ecosystem balance, as well as loss of biodiversity and negative socioeconomic changes in endemic countries, we recommend the implementation of an integrated transdisciplinary One Health strategy for the prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases including F. falciforme.

Cutaneous tuberculosis of the foot clinically mimicking mycetoma: A case report

Key Clinical Message

In a resource-limited setting such as Sudan, where diagnostic and surveillance capacities are limited and several dermal diseases with similar clinical presentation are endemic, further precautious must taking into account.

Abstract

Cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB) is a rare infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Atypical clinical presentations of CTB may resemble other skin neglected diseases. For definitive diagnosis, we require a holistic diagnostic approach including clinical examination and deployment of laboratory investigations including microbial culture, histopathological, and molecular examinations of the proper samples per test. In this communication, we report a case of CTB that was initially misidentified clinically as mycetoma.

Sudden emergence and spread of cutaneous larva migrans in Sudan: A case series calls for urgent actions

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a self-limiting dermatosis parasitic disease that is caused by zoonotic hookworm mainly infects cats, dogs, and accidentally humans. The disease affects hosts through the invasion and the migration of the hookworm larva into top layers of the skin. The disease occurs in tropical and subtropical regions; where people commonly are infected when sitting or barefoot walking on places contaminated with feces of infected cats or dogs. Due to self-limiting nature of the disease, the exact burden and prevalence are commonly underestimated. In this communication, we investigated all cases presented to the skin-diseases outpatient clinic' at the reference hospital of Tropical Diseases Medicine in Khartoum state between January 2019 and January 2021. This is the first-ever a case series report of cutaneous larva migrans in Sudan. We identified 15 cases of CLM presented with rash (100 %), redness of skin (67 %), and only adults were presented with larva crawling under their skins (27 %). Infection sites were (53 %) leg, (40 %) foot, only 7 % showed abdominal infection. The majority of patients were children or young adults, 47 % of them are ≤5 year-old, male to female ratio is 2.75:1. Duration of infection was one to three weeks and all patients fully recovered after treatment with albendazole. This urges for One Health interventions including deworming cats and dogs, improving water, sanitation, and hygiene, community-engagement and raising awareness in area with risk of infection.