Viral hepatitis is defined as inflammation of the liver cells due to viral infection. The burden of liver disease in South Africa is mostly underestimated as viral hepatitis, in particular chronic infection, is a silent and neglected cause of morbidity and mortality. However, the burden of disease i...s likely substantial given the prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis. This burden is further compounded by the lack of screening and access to care and treatment as well as inadequate disease surveillance, human and financial resources.
The National Guidelines for the Management of Viral Hepatitis were developed, with the purpose to:
inform healthcare workers in the public and private sectors about the disease, its epidemiology in South Africa and current methods of diagnosis and therapy
strengthen the healthcare response to viral hepatitis
empower communicable diseases workers and stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding appropriate and cost effective interventions
more
Through the USAID-funded Organized Network of Services for Everyone’s Health (ONSE) Activity, MSH is assisting Malawi’s National Malaria Control Program to provide high-quality malaria services at the facility and community levels in 10 districts, covering nearly a third of the country.
Our ...team in Malawi share recent results on strengthening malaria services through Outreach Training and Supportive Supervision (OTSS).
Designed to provide ongoing support to clinicians, data, and laboratory staff, OTSS combines a standardized checklist with targeted mentorship and supportive supervision to identify areas for improvement and strengthen clinical and diagnostic services in health facilities.
This webinar shares lessons learned on how the application of OTSS, as part of broader quality assurance systems, impacts staff performance and improves the provision and quality of malaria services.
more
This is the fifteenth edition of the lecture notes. They were first published in 1987 as a summary of the material used in the biannual epilepsy teaching weekend organised under the auspices of the UK Chapter of the International League against Epilepsy.
(Lecture series consist of a total of 59 cha...pters. Section one - introduction (chapter 1-2). Section two - basic science (chapters 3-5). Section (chapters 6-16). Section four - differential diagnosis (chapter 17-19). Section five - investigations (chapter 20-24). Section six - medical treatment of epilepsy (chapters 25-35). Section seven - outcome (chapters 36-40). Section eight - special groups (chapters 41-44). Section nine - surgical treatment of epilepsy (chapters 45-49). Section ten - social aspects (chapters 50-56). Section eleven - provision of care (chapters 57-59). All chapters available at: https://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/lecture-notes-0#.Wq-cn8NubIU)
more
Myocardial infarctions are generally clinically classified into ST elevation MI (STEMI) and non-ST elevation MI (NSTEMI), based on changes in ECG. When blood flow to a part of the heart stops or the heart is injured and fails to receive enough oxygen required for its adequate functioning the conditi...on is termed as STEMI or the ‘heart-attack’ in laymen language. Patients with elevated cardiac troponin levels but negative CK-MB who were formerly diagnosed with unstable angina or minor myocardial injury are now reclassified as non-ST-segment elevation Myocardial Infarction (non-STEMI) even in the absence of diagnostic changes.
more
L'OMS a développé une définition de cas clinique de l'état post COVID-19 par la méthodologie Delphi qui comprend 12 domaines, disponible pour une utilisation dans tous les contextes. Cette première version a été élaborée par des patients, des chercheurs et d'autres personnes, représentant... toutes les Régions de l'OMS, étant entendu que la définition peut changer à mesure que de nouvelles preuves apparaissent et que notre compréhension des conséquences de la COVID-19 continue d'évoluer.
L'état post COVID-19 survient chez les personnes ayant des antécédents d'infection probable ou confirmée par le CoV-2 du SRAS, généralement 3 mois après l'apparition de symptômes qui durent au moins 2 mois et ne peuvent être expliqués par un autre diagnostic. Les symptômes courants comprennent la fatigue, l'essoufflement, le dysfonctionnement cognitif mais aussi d'autres et ont généralement un impact sur le fonctionnement quotidien. Les symptômes peuvent être d'apparition récente après le rétablissement initial d'un épisode aigu de COVID-19 ou persister depuis la maladie initiale. Les symptômes peuvent également fluctuer ou rechuter au fil du temps.
more
During the 17 years since Surgical approaches to the urogenital manifestations of lymphatic filariasis was first published, there has been heightened awareness of the physical, economic and emotional burden of the genitourinary manifestations of filariasis. With the impetus to provide better guidanc...e for care of those suffering from LF, this update was both warranted and timely.
At the outset, the Committee noted that barriers continue to exist in care of patients affected by LF-associated morbidity. These barriers include lack of information for patients as well as for many healthcare providers, including general surgeons and others within health systems
This update offers a new consensus of the Committee regarding the staging of hydroceles caused by LF, also known as “filariceles”. It recommends integrating LF surgery with other efforts to strengthen surgical care by assessing health facilities for their surgical readiness using the WHO surgical assessment tool or “SAT”. It also recommends integratinghernia surgery with hydrocele surgery and integrating standards for prevention of surgical site infection (SSI).
The update revises recommendations for standard procedures and processes, offers an algorithm for diagnosis (including the use of ultrasound) and discusses postoperative care. It recommends collecting data using the staging and grading system described by Capuano and Capuano along with other metrics for public health management of LF.
A multifaceted approach has therefore been recommended to coordinate public health outreach with national surgical planning and local health systems to include supporting partners such as nongovernmental organizations. Surgical camps with mobile teams, as well as training of personnel at DCP3 “first level” or WHO Level II hospitals (depending on region and resources), have important roles for reducing LF morbidity.
more
The document lists the components of various cholera kits designed for managing cholera outbreaks. It includes items for rehydration therapy (e.g., oral rehydration salts and IV fluids), medications, sanitation supplies, diagnostic tools, and logistical materials such as cholera beds and water purif...ication systems. These kits aim to support healthcare providers in treating patients, preventing the spread of the disease, and maintaining hygiene in affected areas.
more
The "Cystic Fibrosis Fact Sheet" by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute provides an overview of cystic fibrosis (CF), a chronic and often fatal genetic disorder affecting the respiratory and digestive systems. The document outlines the causes, genetic inheritance patterns, and symptoms of ...CF, which include thick mucus buildup, respiratory issues, and digestive problems. It also discusses diagnostic methods, such as the sweat test and genetic testing, and highlights current treatment approaches focused on symptom management, including chest therapy, medications, and potential gene therapy. The fact sheet emphasizes patient and family education to improve quality of life and support coping strategies.
more
Ce guide sur la tuberculose résistante est un outil pratique destiné à aider les agents de santé à prendre en charge le malade du point de vue clinique et opérationnel en mettant l’accent sur la décision thérapeutique, la mise en œuvre et le suivi du régime court de 9 mois pour le traite...ment de la tuberculose multirésistante. L’Union Internationale Contre la Tuberculose et les Maladies Respiratoires (L’Union) est en première ligne pour la lutte contre la tuberculose depuis près de 100 ans et s’engage dans les aspects les plus innovants du diagnostic et de la prise en charge de la tuberculose.
more
Technical report
This manual aims to provide information about the methods for investigating outbreaks of hepatitis E, and measures for their prevention and control. In addition, the manual gives information about the causative agent – known as the hepatitis E virus (HEV) – its epidemiology..., clinical manifestations of the disease and diagnosis.
more
Journal of Clinical TB and other Mycobacterial Diseases
uberculosis (TB) in the gastrointestinal tract or peritoneum is an uncommon condition in clinical practice. Its rarity, combined with its nonspecific presentations, makes this kind of extrapulmonary tuberculosis difficult to diagnose as it can... mimic other inflammatory or malignant conditions. Delays in treatment and frequent misdiagnosis can lead to hazardous complications. In countries like Ecuador where the disease is endemic, TB should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patients who present with nonspecific abdominal symptoms. In these scenarios, laparoscopy can be an invaluable tool when used with sufficiently high clinical awareness and adequate training.
Case presentation
We present the case of a 37-year-old female patient from Ecuador with a 1-year history of abdominal pain, nausea, intermittent vomits, night sweats, and weight loss. After clinical evaluation and a laparoscopic intervention, abdominal TB was detected and promptly treated. Antituberculosis chemotherapy was initiated, and the patient successfully reco
High clinical awareness is imperative when approaching abdominal TB due to its wide spectrum of clinical symptoms and its rarity. Early detection and prompt treatment are critical to minimize the possibility of hazardous complications.
more
The product of all this work is the Standard Treatment Guideline and Essential Medicines List of Common Medical Conditions in the Kingdom of Swaziland. These systematically developed statements are designed to assist practitioners in making decisions about appropriate treatment for specific clinical... conditions. They are meant to reflect expert consensus based on a review of current and published scientific evidence of acceptable approaches to diagnosis, man-agement, or prevention of specific conditions.It is enlightening to note that section A of the document contains the STG, and effort has been made to have the conditions commonly encountered in Swaziland classified according to systems. Written in simple, clear language, each section consists of a short definition followed by common symptoms and signs of the disease or condition and then management (pharmacological and nonpharmacological)
more
Antibiotic Stewardship (AS) is a coordinated program that promotes the appropriate use of antimicrobials to improve patient outcomes, reduce microbial resistance, and decrease the spread of multi-drug resistant organisms. In clinical settings, stewardship activities focus on measuring and improving ...how antibiotics are prescribed by clinicians and used by patients. Improving antibiotic prescribing involves implementing effective strategies to modify prescribing practices to align them with evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management.
more
The Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship provides a framework for antibiotic stewardship for outpatient clinicians and facilities that routinely provide antibiotic treatment. This report augments existing guidance for other clinical settings. In 2014 and 2015, respectively, CDC release...d the Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs and the Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes. Antibiotic stewardship is the effort to measure and improve how antibiotics are prescribed by clinicians and used by patients. Improving antibiotic prescribing involves implementing effective strategies to modify prescribing practices to align them with evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management.
more
Cryptococcal disease, particularly cryptococcal meningitis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV with advanced HIV disease. It is estimated that it is responsible for nearly 19% of AIDS-related mortality, second only to tuberculosis. Rapid screening, diagnosi...s and linking to appropriate treatment are critical actions national programs must take to reduce the burden of disease.
WHO in 2022 introduced updated guidelines for diagnosing, preventing, and managing cryptococcal disease among adults, adolescents and children living with HIV. This policy brief provides a summary of the key recommendations, clinical considerations, and also stresses the importance of ensuring access to life-saving antifungals. There is an urgent need for countries to scale-up management for not just cryptococcal meningitis, but address cryptococcal disease in the context of a package of care for advanced HIV disease as recommended by WHO.
more
Le cancer du col de l’utérus et le cancer du sein constituent de véritables problèmes de santé publique en raison de leur fréquence. A titre d'exemple, environ 275 000 femmes meurent chaque année d’un cancer du col de l’utérus dans le monde et la plupart de ces décès surviennent dans ...des pays à revenu faible (90%) car le diagnostic est souvent fait à des stades avancés de la maladie.
more
Ce guide qui s’adresse à tous les prestataires de soins impliqués dans la prise en charge des enfants, peut être utilisé aussi bien au niveau des structures sanitaires publiques que privées.
Son objectif général est d’améliorer la prise en charge de la tuberculose de l’enfant au Sé...négal et plus spécifiquement de :
• renforcer le dépistage précoce des cas de tuberculose infantile
• proposer une approche standardisée de diagnostic et de traitement de la tuberculose de l’enfant
• proposer une approche standardisée de gestion des cas contacts de tuberculose
• améliorer la prise en charge de la co-infection TB/VIH et de la tuberculose multirésistante de l’enfant
more
Schistosomiasis is a public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and South America. It is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) - a group of diseases and conditions that affect particularly low-income populations, worldwide.
Last year, WHO laun...ched a new road map for 2021-2030 that aims to end the suffering from NTDs by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The road map specifically targets the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem, globally.
This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations in the following areas: prevalence thresholds, target age groups and frequency of PC, establishment of WASH and snail control activities to support control and elimination of schistosomiasis, diagnostic tests for the assessment of schistosomiasis infection in animal reservoirs, in snail hosts, and in humans.
more
Sous ce rapport, le DPPD santé 2014 – 2016, premier du genre, va poursuivre les objectifs suivants : (i) Réduire le fardeau de la morbidité et de la mortalité maternelles et infanto juvéniles ; (ii) Accroître les performances du secteur en matière de prévention et de lutte contre la malad...ie ; (iii) Renforcer durablement le système de santé ; (iv) Améliorer la gouvernance du secteur de la santé et (v) Améliorer les conditions socio-économiques des groupes vulnérables. Après avoir décliné la place du secteur dans l’économie nationale, l’articulation des stratégies sectorielles avec les politiques nationales et la mission du secteur, le document se présente comme suit : le premier chapitre dresse les orientations stratégiques du secteur avec un diagnostic, les résultats de développement du secteur et une définition des Objectifs stratégiques. Au deuxième chapitre la programmation opérationnelle à moyen terme sera définie avec une présentation des Programmes et la budgétisation à moyen terme. Enfin, le troisième chapitre évoquera le dispositif de suivi-évaluation du DPPD.
more
The Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework is a World Health Assembly resolution adopted unanimously by all Member States in 2011. It brings together Member States, industry, other stakeholders and WHO to implement a global approach to pandemic influenza preparedness and response. The Frame...work includes a benefit-sharing mechanism called the Partnership Contribution (PC). The PC is collected as an annual cash contribution from influenza vaccine, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical manufacturers that use the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). Funds are allocated for: (a) pandemic preparedness capacity building; (b) response activities during the time of an influenza pandemic; and (c) PIP Secretariat for the management and implementation of the Framework.
more