title: [Hemorrhoids in Dakar: epidemiological, clinical and endoscopic aspects of 168 cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  haemorrhoidal disease symptoms lead frequently to medical consultation. The aims of our study were to determine its epidemiological, clinical and endoscopic characteristics in Dakar.
  
  
  METHODS
  we conducted a prospective multicentric study in the hospitals and in the private offices with endoscopic unit in Dakar from November 2nd 2003 to July 31 2004. A questionnaire with clinical and epidemiological features was applied to patients who presented haemorrhoid to the endoscopic exam. We included those who accepted the questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We recruited 168 patients. The mean age was 39.6 years. The sex ratio was 1.66 (male to female). The mean duration of symptoms was 6 years (range 1 month - 32 years). The symptoms that lead to medical visit were mainly: rectal haemorrhage (50.5%), anal pain (23.2%), constipation (13.1%) and anal tumefaction (9.5%). At the anamnesis the most frequently symptoms noted were constipation (80.4%), anal tumefaction (74.4%), anal pain (73.8%), rectal haemorrhage (64.9%) and anal pruritus (58.3%). The haemorrhoids were internal in 116 cases and external in 52 cases. According to the endoscopic classification, 35% of patients were at the first stage, 43% at stage II, 18% at stage III and 4% at the stage IV. An anitis was noted in 29.1% cases. We noted as associated lesions 18 fistulas and 15 anal fissures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The epidemiological, clinical and endoscopic characteristics of haemorrhoidal disease in Dakar are similar to those described in medical literature.
authors.affiliation: Service de gastroentérologie, Hôpital Aristide Le Dantec Dakar. daouda.dia@netcourrier.com
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mbengue
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bâ
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Diouf
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bassène
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pouye
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mbaye
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Evra
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moréira-Diop
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology