The webpage provides detailed information about asbestosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. It outlines various asbestos-related diseases, including benign and malignant pleural conditions as well as lung cancer. Asbestosis is described as a diffuse fibrotic disease of lung tissue... resulting from prolonged and intense exposure to asbestos fibers, progressing slowly over time. The page covers the causes, risk factors, and pathology of the disease, highlighting different types of asbestos fibers and their effects on the lungs. It also discusses symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and potential complications, such as the increased risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Preventive measures and recommendations for those affected are also included.
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The article analyzes the prevalence and risk factors of chronic respiratory diseases, focusing on sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights that environmental exposures, such as biomass fuel usage and air pollution, significantly contribute to respiratory health issues in the region. The research underlines... the limited healthcare infrastructure, insufficient diagnostic tools, and the need for comprehensive data collection to better understand the burden of respiratory diseases. The authors advocate for targeted public health interventions, improved access to healthcare, and policies aimed at reducing exposure to risk factors to mitigate the prevalence of respiratory conditions.
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This publication provides recommendations for the management of critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 being treated in intensive care units (ICUs) in the Americas. These clinical practice guidelines provide evidence-informed recommendations for identifying markers and mortality risk factors in... critically ill patients, as well as infection control, sample collection, supportive care (respiratory and hemodynamic), pharmacological treatment, early rehabilitation, diagnostic imaging use, prevention of complications, and discharge requirements. The recommendations are for all health care staff caring for patients in emergency departments and ICUs. These guidelines are also intended for use by decisionmakers and government entities involved in the management of patients with COVID-19 in ICUs in the Region of the Americas.
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Heart failure (HF) is a global public health concern with disproportionate socioeconomic, morbidity and mortality burden on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This review summarises contemporary data on the demographic and clinical characteristics, aetiologies, treatment, economic burden and ...outcomes of HF in LMICs. Patients with HF in LMICs are younger than those from high-income countries (HICs) and present at advanced stages of the disease. Hypertension, ischaemic heart disease (IHD), cardiomyopathy (CMO), and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are the leading causes of HF in LMICs. The contribution of infectious diseases to HF remains prominent in many LMICs. Most health facilities in LMICs lack adequate diagnostic tools for HF, and the use of evidence-based medical and device therapies is suboptimal. Further, HF in LMICs is associated with prolonged hospital stay and high in-hospital and one-year mortality. Finally, HF has profound economic impact on individual patients who, mostly, have no health insurance, and on societies where patients are young, comprising those who have the greatest potential to contribute to economic productivity.
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Considérations pour l’assouplissement des mesures sociale et de sante publique (MSSP), y compris le verrouillage dans les États membres de l’Union Afrique
En réponse aux premiers cas de maladie à coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) signalés sur le continent, de nombreux États membres de l'Union a...fricaine ont rapidement mis en œuvre des mesures sanitaires et sociales (PHSM) à grande échelle. Ces mesures visaient à réduire la transmission et le nombre de nouveaux cas signalés, à protéger les populations les plus vulnérables et à laisser aux pays le temps de mettre en place des services de soins de santé et de diagnostic essentiels. Si ces actions rapides ont permis aux États membres de gagner du temps, les répercussions socio-économiques négatives se font largement sentir, et les pays étudient actuellement la meilleure façon d'assouplir ces mesures tout en continuant à gérer l'épidémie.
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HAT diagnosis relies on laboratory techniques because clinical signs and symptoms are unspecific. Serodiagnostic tests exist only for Tbg and are based on the detection of specific antibodies, thus they are not confirmatory of infection. With the current low disease prevalence, the positive predicti...ve value of serological tests is particularly low. Field-applicable tools include the card agglutination test for trypanosomiasis (CATT) used mainly in active screening by specialized mobile teams, and the rapid diagnostic tests that are more suitable for individual testing at point-of-care. Confirmation of Tbg infection requires microscopic examination of body fluids necessitating specific training. The best performing methods are laborious and reach 85–95% diagnostic sensitivity when performed by skilled personnel.
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HAT diagnosis relies on laboratory techniques because clinical signs and symptoms are unspecific. Serodiagnostic tests exist only for Tbg and are based on the detection of specific antibodies, thus they are not confirmatory of infection. With the current low disease prevalence, the positive predicti...ve value of serological tests is particularly low. Field-applicable tools include the card agglutination test for trypanosomiasis (CATT) used mainly in active screening by specialized mobile teams, and the rapid diagnostic tests that are more suitable for individual testing at point-of-care.
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Timely detection of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection cases is crucial to interrupt the spread of this virus. We assessed the required expertise and capacity for molecular detection of 2019-nCoV in specialised laboratories in 30 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries. Thirty-...eight laboratories in 24 EU/EEA countries had diagnostic tests available by 29 January 2020. A coverage of all EU/EEA countries was expected by mid-February. Availability of primers/probes, positive controls and personnel were main implementation barriers.
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Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes to humans. The word ‘chikungunya’ means 'that which bends up', an allusion to the posture of the suffering patients. The most common clinical form associates fever, arthralgia and rash. Recovery is the usual outcome but chronic arthr...itis is not rare. Diagnostic tests are available but there is no antiviral treatment. The disease is notifiable at EU level.
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Ade et al. BMC Health Services Research (2016) 16:5
Background: In the “Centre National Hospitalier de Pneumo-Phtisiologie” of Cotonou, Benin, little is known about
the characteristics of patients who have not attended their scheduled appointment, the results of tracing and the
possible b...enefits on improving treatment outcomes. This study aimed to determine the contribution of tracing
activities for those who missed scheduled appointments towards a successful treatment outcome.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out among all smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients
treated between January and September 2013. Data on demographic and diagnostic characteristics and treatment
outcomes were accessed from tuberculosis registers and treatment cards. Information on those who missed their
scheduled appointments was collected from the tracing tuberculosis register. A univariate analysis was performed
to explore factors associated with missing a scheduled appointment
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L’orthopoxvirose simienne, aussi connu sous les noms de variole du singe ou monkeypox, est une zoonose causée par l'orthopoxvirus simien et reconnue comme l'infection à orthopoxvirus la plus importante depuis l'éradication de la variole.
Ce cours offre aux personnel de santé publique et aux a...gents de santé des informations approfondies pour comprendre l'épidémiologie, les modes de transmission, la présentation clinique, le diagnostic et le traitement de la variole du singe, ainsi que les stratégies nécessaires pour la prévention, Ce cours offer aussi des suggestions pour mener une enquête et mettre en oeuvre une réponse efficace à une flambée de variole du singe.
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The aim of the register is to support rapid evidence synthesis by all systematic review producers, including Cochrane's work on Rapid Reviews in response to COVID-19. The register helps systematic reviewers prioritize topics, identify available evidence, and produce urgently needed reviews for front...-line health professionals, public health policymakers, and research teams developing new therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventive interventions for COVID-19.
The new COVID-19 Study Register will be continually updated with human studies on COVID-19. More background information about the register can be found here: https://community.cochrane.org/about-covid-19-study-register
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Infection prevention and control practices need to be implemented to guarantee the safety of healthcare workers and patients in healthcare settings, it is fundamental to prevent cross contamination and containment of spread of COVID 19. As of the day of this publication, the following precautions ar...e recommended for the care of patients with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19: - For any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19: standard + contact + droplet precautions. -For any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 and Aerosol Generated Procedure: standard + contact + airborne precautions. - The results of the application of this evaluation tool, in addition to other tools, will provide an overview regarding compliance with the activities of prevention and control of infections associated with provision of care in acute healthcare services in a health setting, without making judgments about the individual risk of patients, nor on particular cases. By its nature, this tool is only an external diagnostic to support IPC professionals and managers to assess the gaps and take corrective measures. To provide a tool for assessment of infection prevention and control practices in isolation areas in acute healthcare settings in the context of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These recommendations are preliminary and subject to review as new evidence becomes available.
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In response to the first cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported on the continent, many African Union Member States implemented large-scale public health and social measures (PHSM) rapidly. These measures were aimed at reducing transmission and the number of new cases being reported, p...rotecting the most vulnerable populations, and allowing time for countries to ramp up critical healthcare and diagnostic services. While these quick actions bought time for Member States, the negative socio-economic impacts are being felt widely, and countries are now exploring how best to ease these measures back while still managing the outbreak.
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The World Health Organization's malaria fact sheet provides an overview of malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It highlights that malaria is preventable and curable, yet remains a significant glo...bal health challenge. Key statistics from 2023 indicate an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 deaths worldwide, with the WHO African Region bearing the majority of this burden. The fact sheet details transmission methods, symptoms, at-risk populations, diagnostic approaches, treatment options—including the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs)—and preventive measures such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). It also discusses the impact of malaria on vulnerable groups like children under five and pregnant women, and outlines WHO's global response strategies aimed at reducing malaria incidence and mortality rates.
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L’article du Manuel MSD en français sur le paludisme offre un aperçu détaillé de cette maladie parasitaire grave causée par des protozoaires du genre Plasmodium, transmis par les piqûres de moustiques Anopheles. Il décrit les différentes espèces responsables, les mécanismes d’infection..., les symptômes cliniques comme la fièvre et l’anémie, ainsi que les méthodes de diagnostic et les options thérapeutiques, notamment les traitements antipaludiques. Le texte s’adresse aux professionnels de santé et fournit des informations actualisées sur la prise en charge, la prévention et les complications possibles du paludisme.
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La page « Paludisme » du Centre de collaboration nationale des maladies infectieuses (CCNMI) offre une synthèse complète sur cette maladie parasitaire transmise par les moustiques Anopheles. Elle aborde les causes, les symptômes similaires à ceux de la grippe, les complications possibles, ...ainsi que les méthodes de diagnostic et les options thérapeutiques. De plus, elle traite de la déclaration obligatoire des cas au Canada et des mesures de surveillance en place. Cette ressource s'adresse aux professionnels de la santé publique canadienne, en fournissant des informations essentielles pour la gestion et la prévention du paludisme.
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módulo del conjunto de evaluaciones de la capacidad de los servicios de salud en el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19: orientaciones provisionales, 12 de mayo de 2021; La herramienta de evaluación de la continuidad de los servicios sanitarios esenciales: Herramienta de evaluación de instalacion...es puede ser utilizada por los países para evaluar rápidamente la capacidad de los centros de salud para mantener la prestación de servicios sanitarios esenciales durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Puede ayudar a alertar a las autoridades y a otras partes interesadas sobre los casos en que la prestación y utilización de los servicios puede requerir modificaciones y/o inversiones. Esta herramienta de evaluación abarca los siguientes aspectos de los servicios sanitarios esenciales
personal sanitario (número, ausencias, infecciones por COVID-19, gestión del personal sanitario, formación y apoyo)
gestión financiera y obstáculos;
prestación y utilización de los servicios (cierre de centros, cambios en la prestación de servicios, campañas de comunicación con la comunidad, cambios en la utilización de los servicios y estrategias de recuperación);
capacidades de CIP (protocolos, medidas de seguridad, directrices y disponibilidad de equipos de protección personal (EPP) para el personal)
la disponibilidad de terapias, diagnósticos y suministros, y la disponibilidad de vacunas; y
la prestación de servicios de atención primaria COVID-19.
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These consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services (HTS) bring together existing and new guidance on HTS across different settings and populations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) first released consolidated guidelines on HTS in 2015, in response to requests from Member States, national pr...ogramme managers and health workers for support to achieve the United Nations (UN) 90–90–90 global HIV targets – and specifically the first target of diagnosing 90% of all people with HIV. In 2016, based on new evidence, WHO released a supplement to address important new HIV testing approaches – HIV self-testing (HIVST) and provider-assisted referral.
Since the release of 2015 and 2016 HTS guidelines, new issues and more evidence have emerged. To address this, WHO has updated guidance on HIV testing services. In this guideline, WHO updates recommendation on HIVST and provides new recommendations on social network-based HIV testing approaches and western blotting (see box, next page). This guideline seeks to provide support to Member States, programme managers, health workers and other stakeholders seeking to achieve national and international goals to end the HIV epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
These guidelines also provide operational guidance on HTS demand creation and messaging; implementation considerations for priority populations; HIV testing strategies for diagnosis HIV; optimizing the use of dual HIV/syphilis rapid diagnostic tests; and considerations for strategic planning and rationalizing resources such as optimal time points for maternal retesting
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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global human, animal, plant and environment health threat that needs to be addressed by every country. The impacts of AMR are wide-ranging in terms of human health, animal health, food security and safety, environmental effects on ecosystems and biodiversity, and ...socioeconomic development. Just like the climate crisis, AMR poses a significant threat to the delivery of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The response to the AMR crisis has been spearheaded through the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance (GAP-AMR), developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015, in close collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and formally endorsed by the three organizations’ governing bodies and by the Political Declaration of the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on AMR in 2016. In 2022, the three organizations officially became the Quadripartite by welcoming the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) into the alliance “to accelerate coordination strategy on human, animal and ecosystem health”.
The aim of the GAP-AMR is to ensure the continuity of successful treatment with effective and safe medicines.
Its strategic objectives include:
• improving the awareness and understanding of AMR;
• strengthening the knowledge and evidence base through surveillance and research;
• reducing the incidence of infection through effective sanitation, hygiene and infection prevention measures; optimizing the use of antimicrobial medicines in human and animal health; and
• developing the economic case for sustainable investment that takes account of the needs of all countries and increasing investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and other interventions.
With the adoption of the GAP-AMR, countries agreed to develop national action plans (NAPs) aligned with the GAP-AMR to mainstream AMR interventions nationally. Individually, the Quadripartite took action to advance AMR interventions in their respective sectors. FAO adopted a resolution on AMR recognizing that it poses an increasingly serious threat to public health and sustainable food production, and developed an AMR action plan to support the resolution’s implementation. For its part, WOAH developed a strategy on AMR aligned with the GAP-AMR, acknowledging the importance of a One Health approach to AMR. Similarly, more recently, UNEP’s governing body, the United Nations Environment Assembly, recognized that AMR is a current and increasing threat and a challenge to global health, food security and the sustainable development of all countries, and welcomed the GAP-AMR and the NAPs developed in accordance with its five overarching strategic objectives
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