title: [Idiopathic thrombopenic purpura in a child in black Africa: a case report in Togo].
abstract: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpurea (ITP) is an autoimmune disease that occurs frequently in Europe and the US, but has rarely been described in Africa. Case report. An 8-year-old girl was admitted for cutaneous and mucosal bleeding. She had a low platelet count (11 x 10(9)/l). ITP was suspected and the diagnosis was confirmed by bone marrow examination. Corticosteroid treatment was effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the second case reported in Togo since 1982. The diagnosis of the disease is straightforward, so the lack of cases reported in central Africa suggests that the disease is rare in this region. The rarity of the disease may be due to genetic or environmental factors, or it may simply be that physicians overlook this disease when making their diagnosis. Corticosteroids are now the preferred treatment for ITP because of the risk of transmitting Creutzfeldt-Jacob's disease by intravenous administration of immunoglobulin. Splenectomy is the ultimate treatment for chronic forms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unlike other diseases, the diagnosis and treatment of which require methods unavailable in parts of Africa, ITP treatment, as currently practiced in countries of the northern hemisphere, is within the reach of most African countries. Further studies are required to determine the true frequency of the disease in central Africa.
authors.affiliation: Service de pédiatrie, CHU de Lomé-Tokoin, Togo.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gbadoé
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Messie
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Atakouma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vovor
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tatagan-Agbi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Késsié
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vilmer
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Assimadi
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013256:Steroids; D014037:Togo
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D013256:Steroids
vernacular_title: Le purpura thrombopénique idiopathique de l'enfant en Afrique noire: à propos d'un cas au Togo.