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Abstract Background Malaria and tuberculosis are co-endemic in many developing countries. However their associations are rarely reported. Yet, it has been suggested that a pathological process may link the two diseases. Case presentation A 20-year-old female patient was admitted in the internal medicine service of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital for uncomplicated malaria. She was previously treated for autoimmune hemolytic anaemia using prednisone at 5 mg per day. Clinical examination showed swelling in front of the sternoclavicular joint. She presented with fever and headache. Thick smear from blood revealed trophozoites of P. falciparum at parasite density of 52,300 parasites/μl. The Ziehl–Neelsen stained smear showed the presence of acid-fast bacilli from the fluid puncture of the swelling. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was further isolated in culture. The diagnosis of falciparum malaria co-infection with sternoclavicular tuberculosis was posed. The patient was treated successfully using antimalarial drugs subsequently followed by multidrug antitubercular therapy. Conclusion Interactions between malaria and tuberculosis need to be largely and prospectively investigated and appropriate treatment should be undertaken.

La localisation cervicale de la tuberculose est rare et peut prendre l'apparence d'un cancer du col utérin. La présentation pauci-symptomatique et l'évolution insidieuse sont à l'origine d'un retard diagnostique. Les symptômes communément rencontrés sont non spécifiques, ce qui contribue au retard thérapeutique et majore le risque d'infertilité qui reste la séquelle quasi inéluctable. Nous rapportons un cas de tuberculose du col utérin dont le diagnostic de prime abord n'a pas été évident. En effet une patiente a été adressée à notre département pour suspicion de cancer du col utérin. Le diagnostic de suspicion de cancer a été alors retenu devant un col qui saignait au contact avec une tomodensitométrie abdomino-pelvienne en faveur d'une tumeur du col utérin. Une biopsie de confirmation histologique a été indiquée. On a retrouvé à l'examen anatomopathologique, un granulome épithélio-giganto-cellulaire avec nécrose caséeuse, compatible avec une tuberculose cervicale. La recherche d'un terrain était négative. Un traitement antituberculeux instauré a conduit à la guérison. Retenue souvent sur la base d'éléments présomptifs, la décision diagnostique et thérapeutique de tuberculose du col cervicale reconnait la place de l'examen anatomopathologique.

Background: Access to injectable uterotonics for management of postpartum haemorrhage remains limited in Senegal outside health facilities, and misoprostol and oxytocin delivered via Uniject have been deemed viable alternatives in community settings. We aimed to compare the efficacy of these drugs when delivered by auxiliary midwives at maternity huts. Methods: We did an unmasked cluster-randomised controlled trial at maternity huts in three districts in Senegal. Maternity huts with auxiliary midwives located 3–21 km from the closest referral centre were randomly assigned (1:1; via a computer-generated random allocation overseen by Gynuity Health Projects) to either 600 μg oral misoprostol or 10 IU oxytocin in Uniject (intramuscular), stratified by reported previous year clinic volume (deliveries) and geographical location (inland or coastal). Maternity huts that had been included in a previous study of misoprostol for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage were excluded to prevent contamination. Pregnant women in their third trimester were screened for eligibility either during community outreach or at home-based prenatal visits. Only women delivered by the auxiliary midwives in the maternity huts were eligible for the study. Women with known allergies to prostaglandins or pregnancy complications were excluded. The primary outcome was mean change in haemoglobin concentration measured during the third trimester and after delivery. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01713153. Findings: 28 maternity hut clusters were randomly assigned—14 to the misoprostol group and 14 to the oxytocin group. Between June 6, 2012, and Sept 21, 2013, 1820 women were recruited. 647 women in the misoprostol group and 402 in the oxytocin group received study drug and had recorded pre-delivery and post-delivery haemoglobin concentrations, and overall 1412 women delivered in the study maternity huts. The mean change in haemoglobin concentrations was 3·5 g/L (SD 16·1) in the misoprostol group and 2·7 g/L (SD 17·8) in the oxytocin group. When adjusted for cluster design, the mean difference in haemoglobin decreases between groups was not significant (0·3 g/L, 95% CI −8·26 to 8·92, p=0·71). Both drugs were well tolerated. Shivering was common in the misoprostol group, and nausea in the oxytocin group. Postpartum haemorrhage was diagnosed in one woman allocated to oxytocin, who was referred and transferred to a higher-level facility for additional care, and fully recovered. No other women were transferred. Interpretation: In terms of effects on haemoglobin concentrations, neither oxytocin nor misoprostol was significantly better than the other, and both drugs were safe and efficacious when delivered by auxiliary midwives. The programmatic limitations of oxytocin, including short shelf life outside the cold chain, mean that misoprostol could be more appropriate for community-level prophylaxis of postpartum haemorrhage. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

La paralysie périodique hypokaliémique thyrotoxique est une complication rare de l´hyperthyroïdie. Plus souvent rapportée chez les sujets asiatiques, elle est peu décrite dans la population noire. Son mécanisme peu élucidé, serait liée à une hyper activité de la pompe Na+/K+. Nous présentons deux cas de cette affection survenant chez des sujets noirs africains. La présentation clinique était identique chez les deux malades. Elle était faite d´une paralysie musculaire proximal des membres inférieurs. Cette paralysie était associée à une hypokaliémie sévère et survenait chez des patientes suivis pour maladie de Basedow sans autre pathologie associée. L´évolution a été rapidement favorable sous supplémentation potassique. Le traitement de l´hyperthyroïdie a permis d´éviter les récidives. Ces observations montrent l´importance d´évoquer le diagnostic de paralysie périodique hypokaliémique thyrotoxique malgré la rareté dans la population noire africaine.

Les auteurs rapportent l'observation d'une maladie périodique diagnostiquée à l'aide de placards érysipélatoïdes récidivants et persistants sous antibiothérapie. L'interrogatoire, les tests génétiques et l'évolution favorable sous colchicine ont permis d'asseoir le diagnostic.