Browsing by Author "Abongo, Grace"

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    Characterising Childhood Blackwater Fever and Its Clinical Care at Two Tertiary Hospitals in Eastern Uganda
    (Research Square, 2021) Paasi, George; Ndila, Carolyne; Okiror, William; Namayanja, Cate; Okalebo, Benard Phelan; Abongo, Grace; Alaroker, Florence; Abeso, Julian; Kasoro, Andrew; Okello, Francis; Olupot, Peter Olupot
    In eastern Uganda, reports suggest that cases of Blackwater Fever (BWF) are on the rise. We summarise the base-line characteristics and routine care available to patients with BWF presenting at two tertiary hospitals in Eastern Uganda prior to the Phase I/II trial on use of paracetamol for acute kidney injury in children with BWF (PARIST; ISRCTN84974248). This was a retrospective descriptive study for the period January – December 2018 for children admitted with a clinical diagnosis of BWF at Mbale and Soroti Regional Referral Hospitals in Eastern Uganda. Data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, routine in-patient care and outcomes were abstracted using a customised study proforma and analysed using STATA. We obtained 9578 admission records during the study period, of which 1241 (13.0%) were admitted with a diagnosis of BWF. The median age was 60 months (IQR 36–90). Male: female ratio was 1.5:1. More cases of BWF 682/1241 (55.0%) were in children > 5 years compared to 559/1241 (45.0%) ≤ 5 years [95%CI (0.41–0.59); P = 0.0002]. The common symptoms included fever 1109/1241 (89.4%), vomiting 599/1241 (48.3%) and abdominal pain 494/1241 (39.8%). Conversely, the common signs recorded were clinical pallor 742/1241 (59.8%), clinical jaundice 369/1241 (29.7%), fever 332/1241 (26.7%) and prostration 231/1241 (18.6%). In addition, abdominal tenderness was documented in 120/1241 (9.7%), splenomegaly in 122/1241 (9.8%) and hepatomegaly in 86/1241 (6.9%). Case records with BWF were more in the second half of the year with a peak in the months of July and September. 510/1241 (41.1%) were treated with antimalarial drugs mainly parenteral Artesunate 501/510 (98.2%). 660/1241(53.2%) of the patients were managed with antibiotics mainly parenteral ceftriaxone 616/660 (93.3%). There were 426/1241 (34.3%) patients who received blood transfusion during admission. Clinicians used steroid treatment in 388/1241 (31.3%), mainly parenteral hydrocortisone 370/388 (95.4%).BWF accounted for 13% paediatric hospital admissions in the region. It was predominant in children > 5 years of age. It typically presents with passing dark urine, fever, abdominal pain, clinical jaundice and pallor. Locally there are no treatment guidelines for BWF. These data provide background data useful for future studies on BWF in the region.
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    Characterising Demographics, Knowledge, Practices And Clinical Care Among Patients Attending Sickle Cell Disease Clinics In Eastern Uganda
    (Wellcome Open Research, 2020) Olupot, Peter Olupot; Wabwire, Ham; Ndila, Carolyne; Adong, Ruth; Ochen, Linus; Amorut, Denis; Abongo, Grace; Okalebo, Charles B.; Akello, Sarah Rachael; Oketcho, Joy B.; Okiror, William; Asio, Sarah; Odiit, Amos; Alaroker, Florence; Nyutu, Gideon; Maitland, Kathryn; Williams, Thomas N.
    In Uganda to date, there are neither established registries nor descriptions of facility-based sickle cell disease (SCD) patient characteristics beyond the central region. Here, we summarize data on the baseline clinical characteristics and routine care available to patients at four clinics in Eastern Uganda as a prelude to a clinical trial.Between February and August 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients attending four SCD clinics in Mbale, Soroti, Atutur and Ngora, all in Eastern Uganda, the planned sites for an upcoming clinical trial (H-PRIME: ISRCTN15724013). Data on socio-demographic characteristics, diagnostic methods, clinic schedules, the use of prophylactic and therapeutic drugs, clinical complications and patient understanding of SCD were collected using a structured questionnaire.Data were collected on 1829 patients. Their ages ranged from 0 to 64 years with a median (IQR) of 6 (3-11) years. 49.1% of participants were male. The majority (1151; 62.9%) reported a positive family history for SCD. Approximately half knew that SCD is inherited from both parents but a substantial proportion did not know how SCD is transmitted and small numbers believed that it is acquired by either transfusion or from other people. Only 118/1819 (6.5%) participants had heard about or were using hydroxyurea while 356/1794 (19.8%) reported stigmatization. Participants reported a median of three (IQR 1-4) hospital admissions during the preceding 12 months; 80.8% had been admitted at least once, while 14.2% had been admitted more than five times. Pain was the most common symptom, while 83.9% of those admitted had received at least one blood transfusion.The majority of patients attending SCD clinics in Eastern Uganda are children and few are currently being treated with hydroxyurea. The data collected through this facility-based survey will provide background data that will be useful in planning for the H-PRIME trial.