title: [Etiology of splenomegaly in children in the tropics. 178 cases reviewed at the university hospital center of Abidjan-Cocody (Ivory Coast)].
abstract: Discovery of an enlarged spleen in a child requires steps to identify the etiology. One hundred and seventy-eight patients seen over a four-year period (1985-1988) at the Cocody Teaching Hospital were reviewed. The incidence of splenic enlargement among pediatric inpatients was 1.6%. Males (n = 106) were more often affected than females (n = 72). Slightly over half the children (54.49%) were 0 to 5 years of age. The main clinical presenting features were fever (90%), anemia (72%), a decline in general health (36.50%), enlargement of the liver (33.50%), jaundice (26.50%), and enlarged lymph nodes (7%). Type II of Hackett's classification accounted for most cases (61.80%), followed by Type III (14%). Main etiologies included malaria (53%), salmonella infections (15%), sickle cell anemia (14%), schistosomiasis (9%), AIDS (3%), and thalassemia (2%). Malignancies (leukemia, lymphoma) were relatively infrequent. More than one etiology was found in 13 cases. The distribution of etiologies by age group was determined and a strategy for investigating children with splenic enlargement in tropical countries was developed.
authors.affiliation: CHU, Abidjan-Yopougon, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Timite-Konan
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kouame
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Konan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amon-Tanoh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oulai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andoh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toure
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Assi-Adou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*
vernacular_title: Etiologie des splénomégalies de l'enfant en milieu tropical. A propos de 178 cas colligés au CHU d'Abidjan-Cocody (Côte d'Ivoire).