Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023 March 29; Volume 3 (Issue 3); e0001644.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pgph.0001644
Thurtle N, Kirby KA, Greig J, Bil K, Dargan PI, et al.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023 March 29; Volume 3 (Issue 3); e0001644.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pgph.0001644
Mother-to-child-transmission of lead via the placenta is known to result in congenital lead toxicity. Between 2010 and 2021, Médecins Sans Frontières and other stakeholders responded to a severe lead poisoning outbreak related to artisanal gold mining in Northern Nigeria. Extensive environmental remediation occurred following outbreak identification; source control efforts are ongoing within the community. We aimed to describe the prevalence of congenital lead poisoning in this cohort and analyse the association between neonatal blood lead concentration (BLC) and medium-term lead-related outcomes during the study period. Children enrolled in the lead poisoning programme between July 2010 and 25 January 2018 who had a screening BLC at ≤4 weeks of age were included. For time-to-event analysis, medium-term outcomes were classified as lead-related (death from lead encephalopathy, and/or met chelation threshold) and non-lead-related (non-lead-related death, on programme no chelation, exit from programme without chelation). Cox regression analysis and ROC analysis were performed. 1468 children were included. All-cause mortality 2.3%; geometric mean neonatal BLC 13.7 μg/dL; ‘lead-related death or treatment’ 19.3%. For every doubling in neonatal BLC, there was an almost 8-fold increase in adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for the composite lead-related outcome (p<0.001). A neonatal BLC ≥ 15.0 μg/dL had 95% sensitivity for identifying children who went on to have the composite outcome (with specificity 67%; positive likelihood ratio 2.86). Congenital lead poisoning predicts ongoing exposure in this population, even after environmental remediation. This suggests a complex, early, multidisciplinary approach to source control and exposure management is required when elevated neonatal BLC is observed in lead poisoning clusters in low-and-middle-income contexts.
Conference Material > Poster
Chiopris G, Hilbig A, Crucitti T, Lim CAE, Abdo Z
MSF Paediatric Days 2024. 2024 May 3; DOI:10.57740/mHkaHKgJNw
Journal Article > ResearchAbstract Only
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2009 September 1; Volume 103 (Issue 9); 949-951.; DOI:10.1016/j.trstmh.2009.01.022
Tourdjman M, Srihawong R, Soy TK, Touch S, Hul S, et al.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2009 September 1; Volume 103 (Issue 9); 949-951.; DOI:10.1016/j.trstmh.2009.01.022
An outbreak investigation was conducted during February-March 2005 to determine the cause of several sudden deaths occurring in Pailin Province, Cambodia. Sixty-seven patients presented with non-febrile poisoning-like symptoms and 15 died of coma, including 53% children under 10 years old. Symptoms included sore throat (92%), sore lips (73%), swollen tongue (54%) and gastrointestinal signs (41%). A plant locally called prik was the source of poisoning (97.0 vs. 28.7%, odds ratio 74.3, P<0.001). Patients may have confused the edible Melientha suavis Pierre with Urobotrya siamensis Hiepko, both from the Opiliaceae family. This was the first report of Urobotrya poisoning and its clinical manifestations.
Journal Article > Case Report/SeriesFull Text
Oxf Med Case Reports. 2021 February 15; Volume 2021 (Issue 2); omaa137.; DOI:10.1093/omcr/omaa137
Sharma NC, Nin-Gonzalez R
Oxf Med Case Reports. 2021 February 15; Volume 2021 (Issue 2); omaa137.; DOI:10.1093/omcr/omaa137
Unintentional ingestions are a common form of poisoning in children worldwide. Organophosphates are commonly used in households worldwide and are a common cause of childhood poisonings. This case report describes an unintentional ingestion of a child in East Africa. A thorough patient history and a high index of suspicion are needed in recognizing an organophosphate poisoning. Prompt patient stabilization and treatment improve outcomes. Neurologic sequela may occur and thus patient follow-up is recommended.
Conference Material > Poster
Mayas A, Mohammed N, Taher S, Al-Zubairi T, Al-Hideri T
MSF Paediatric Days 2024. 2024 May 3; DOI:10.57740/swoqOwtFxx