Recurrent Paradoxical Tuberculosis with Chest Wall Abscess and Optochiasmatic Tuberculoma

New-onset clinical or radiological symptoms in a patient with tuberculosis pose diagnostic treatment challenges, which can be due to treatment failure, disease relapse, or paradoxical response. We describe an adolescent case of recurrent paradoxical response complicating tuberculous meningitis. The first paradoxical tuberculosis presented as chest wall abscess, which was complicated by uniocular, gradually progressive, painless loss of vision after 6 months.

Paragonimus and paragonimiasis in West and Central Africa: unresolved questions

Paragonimiasis, human lung fluke disease, is a foodborne anthropozoonosis caused by the trematodes assigned to Paragonimus and is regarded by the World Health Organization as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD). The life cycle of this medically important parasite centres on a complex freshwater biological community that includes two intermediate hosts: a mollusc and a decapod, usually a brachyuran. Although there is a perception that the biology, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of Paragonimus is well understood, in reality, this is not the case, especially in Africa. Much remains unknown concerning the life-cycle of the parasite, its transmission, the current epidemiology of the disease, diagnosis and the effectiveness of treatment. Furthermore, cases of paragonimiasis may be misdiagnosed as resistant tuberculosis (TB) because of the similar pulmonary symptoms and no remission after anti TB therapy. The endemic foci of human paragonimiasis in Africa have been reported mainly in the forest zones of Upper Guinea (Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast) and Lower Guinea (Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon). Despite the perceived medical importance of paragonimiasis, relatively little attention has been paid to this NTD since its discovery in Africa in the 1960s. This review focuses on the current understanding of the life cycle and transmission of Paragonimus in Africa, discusses its diagnosis and public health importance and highlights many outstanding gaps in the knowledge that still exist for this NTD.

Community-based treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: early experience and results from Western Kenya

BACKGROUND

In the light of the 2010 World Health Organization estimation of 650 000 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) globally, the need to develop, implement and scale up MDR-TB treatment programs is clear. The need is greatest and urgent in resource-poor countries, such as Kenya, with a high TB burden and an anticipated rise in reported cases of MDR-TB with increasing access to drug susceptibility testing.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the set-up of a community-based program, early clinical outcomes, challenges and possible solutions.

SETTING

The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (Moi Hospital) catchment areas: Western and North Rift Provinces, Kenya.

DESIGN

Program description and retrospective chart review.

RESULTS

An MDR-TB team established a community-based program with either home-based DOT or local facility-based DOT. Following referral, the team instituted a home visit, identified and hired a DOT worker, trained family and local health care professionals in MDR-TB care and initiated community-based MDR-TB treatment. In the first 24 months, 14 patients were referred, 5 died prior to initiation of treatment and one had extensively drug-resistant TB. Among eight patients who initiated community-based DOT, 87% underwent culture conversion by 6 months, and 75% were cured with no relapse after a median follow-up of 15.5 months. Multiple challenges were experienced, including system delays, stigma and limited funding.

CONCLUSION

Despite multiple challenges, our model of an MDR-TB team that establishes a community-based treatment system encircling diagnosed cases of MDR-TB is feasible, with acceptable treatment outcomes.