Articles published in MJZ are Open Access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Dental caries and periodontal
diseases are the most common oral diseases
globally. Early control of oral health behaviours is
important because lifestyles acquired during
adolescence are powerful predictors of adult health.
We conducted a study to determine knowledge,
attitude and practices on oral hygiene among
school-going adolescents in Choma district of
Zambia.
Early detection and treatment of eye
diseases in children is critical in combating
childhood blindness. Innovative community-based
strategies such as training of teachers in vision
screening need to be developed for effective
utilisation of the available human resources as well
as to counter the challenges of inequitable
distribution of trained eye health human resources
as well as the limited access of quality eye health
care services to the majority of our population.
Pancytopenia is a haematologic
condition characterised by leukopenia, anaemia and
thrombocytopenia. Pancytopenia is not a diagnosis
and has to be qualified by determination of its cause.
The aetiologies of pancytopenia are diverse, and
study of bone marrow histomorphology via
cytology and histology are key components that
assist in the determination of the underlying cause.
Pancytopenia is encountered regularly in medical
practice in Zambia, however, no studies have been
conducted on pancytopenia to date. This was a
descriptive cross-sectional study done on adult
pancytopenic patients admitted to the medical wards
of the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) over an
eight-month period. The aim of this study was to
determine the histomorphology of the bone
marrows of adult pancytopenic patients admitted to
the UTH.
Processes for selection of candidates
into medical schools vary globally. Knowledge of
the predictive validity of a selection method is
important for policy revision.
Odontogenic cysts are derived from
remnants of odontogenic apparatus entrapped
within jawbones. The diagnosis of cysts is based on
histology features; however, these features are not
clear-cut in many cases, except for a few like OKC
and Calcifying Odontogenic cyst. The knowledge of
the content of these cysts may assist in the
differentiation and diagnosis of the cysts. This study
reviewed the pattern of jaw cysts presentation and
further analyzed the glucose and protein contents of
some odontogenic cysts among them. The findings
from our local environment were compared with
findings globally as regards jaw cysts.
The deficiency of Niacin and/or its precursor amino
acid, Tryptophan can result in a disease called
Pellagra. Isoniazid (INH), a key drug used in
tuberculosis (TB) treatment has been associated
with pellagra particularly in developing nations
where poor nutritional status is highly prevalent
among its people.We report a case of pellagra with
classical dermatological manifestations
(hyperpigmented skin lesions around the neck), on
the face, and external surfaces of the upper limbs) in
a black African HIV negative adult female, on TB
treatment for 11 weeks managed with a combo of
Vitamin B1 - 10mg, Vitamin B2 - 10mg, Vitamin B3
- 45mg, Vitamin B5 - 50mg, Vitamin B6 - 3mg and
Vitamin B12 - 15mcg (Neurobion® Forte) with
noticeable response to the treatment within one
week.
Infants and young children are commonly referred
for medical imaging for suspected aspirated or
inhaled foreign bodies (Fbs). FB aspirations are
potentially life-threatening and immediate
diagnosis and treatment are vital to avert fatalities.
Chest radiography is the first-line imaging method
indicated to evaluate suspected aspirated FB. This
can be supplemented withothermedical imaging
modalities, such as fluoroscopy, computed
tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI). However, the lack of specialised medical
imaging modalities in developing countries
impends timely diagnosis of aspirated FB. We report
a case of a 7-year-old girl with airway metallic FB
not visible on the initial chest radiograph. This case
report highlights the challenges low-income health
institutions are facing in the diagnosing of airway
FBs and other complicated conditions which require
advanced imaging. In the absence of specialised
medical imaging modalities, radiographers and
clinicians should have high indexes of suspicion to
avert deaths. In addition, specialised training of
radiographers in the absence of radio lo gists might
contribute to improved patient outcomes.
Acquired anorectal fistulas are a
severe cause for parental concerns, and they pose
considerable challenges in their management.
Endometriosis poses a significant
burden mainly to women of child bearing age.
Historically, endometriosis was thought to be of low
prevalence among African women. However, recent
studies have documented an increased prevalence
than previously thought. This study aimed to
determine the distribution and characteristics of
endometriotic lesions among Nigerian women.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of
death in women worldwide. Imaging and
radiographers play an important role in the diagnosis
and treatment of breast cancer. With the increase in
demand and a shortage of radiologists in the UK,
consultant breast radiographers were introduced to
perform some roles previously performed by
radiologists. However, there is a scarcity of research
to assist other countries, such as Zambia, who are
planning to extend the role of radiographers.
Persons living with HIV (PLWH) are more likely to develop hypertension and cardiovascular disease than the HIV-negative population. The new hypertension guidelines by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) lowered the definition of hypertension from systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) of ≥140/90mmHg to ≥ 130/80, respectively. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and factors associated with hypertension in PLWH in Livingstone using the new hypertension diagnostic criteria.
Road traffic injuries (RTI) are a major
public health problem and contribute significantly
to the global burden. The aim of this study was to
assess the frequency of RTIs in children and to
determine their socio-demographic and lesional
characteristics.
Spinal haemangioblastomas are rare
benign but potentially devastating vascular tumours.
They may occur sporadically or as a component of
Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. There is a dearth
of information about these tumours among
Nigerians. This study aims to evaluate the clinical
profile and outcome of surgery as well as the
challenges of management of these tumours in a
resource-limited country.
Adverse drug reactions continue to pose a global risk in the fight against HIV. In an attempt to attain the end AIDS pandemic by 2030, newer drugs are being formulated with better efficacy and fewer side effects. However, these new drugs still have Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs), which may affect adherence and compliance. We present a rare case of Tenofovir Alafenamide (TAF) induced alopecia of a Zamb i a n teenager in the context of pharmacovigilance as a tool to identify ADRs, which may or may not have been identified during clinical trials. This is a wake-up call to all health care workers to identify and report ADRs and use the established channels to affect policy change.
There is evidence that
multidisciplinary healthcare teams can provide
better quality of care and treatment outcomes
compared to that delivered by individuals from a
single health discipline. The project on which this
article is based applied the interprofessional
education model to university pre-licensure health
students in the management of chronic care
conditions in Zambia.
There is a relative dearth of data for
immunohistochemical characteristics of breast
carcinomas in cancer registries of Nigeria and some
parts of Africa. A descriptive hospital based study,
done over a year, involving three hospitals in Uyo
rendering breast cancer care.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in men globally. The most common sites of metastasis include the bone, lymph nodes, lungs, liver, pleura, and adrenal glands. A 65-year- old Zambian man presented with neck swelling for 3 months with mild lower urinary tract symptoms. He reported that the swelling was fast growing, painless and with no history of trauma. On examination, Trosier's sign was present. Histology report following a lymph node incision biopsy demonstrated Adenocarcinoma. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) was also positive. A follow up prostate biopsy found adenocarcinoma Gleason 8. This case highlights the need for a high index of suspicion in older, male patients presenting with unexplained neck swelling and no known history of prostatic adenocarcinoma.
Unwanted pregnancies among young
women is a growing reproductive health concern.
Correct and consistent use of contraception will stop
this ugly trend while emergency contraception (EC)
can also be viewed as a 'second chance method' in
preventing unwanted pregnancies and unsafe
abortions. The aim of this study is to assess the
knowledge and practice of emergency contraception
among Nigerian male undergraduates as they are
known to have risky sexual behaviours.
The Medical Journal of Zambia (MJZ) is a peerreviewedquarterly journal intended for the publication of papers from all specialities ofmedicine (Internal medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynaecology) and their subspecialities, basic science, public health, social medicine and medical politics. The journal also welcomes contributions from experienced individuals describing the way they deal with particular problems (i.e. intended to pass on the art of medicine).
Primary open-angle glaucoma in Zambia has an earlier age of onset and appears to be more clinically severe. Myocilin mutations are associated with primary open angle glaucoma in multiple popuations Therefore, we investigated the role of myocilin gene mutations in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in a Zambian population.
Articles published in MJZ are Open Access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
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