title: [Spondylodiscitis at a hospital outpatient clinic in Lome, Togo].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This investigation was carried out to determine the frequency and features of spondylodiscitis in patients attending the Tokoin University Hospital Center in Togo.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of patients examined in the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic over a 17-year period was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 14,708 patients examined during the study period, 222 (1.5%) presented spondylodiscitis. There wire 108 women and 114 men with a mean age of 38 years. The mean duration of symptoms was 6 months. Spondylodiscitis was related to presumptive tuberculosis in 169 patients (76.1%). The most common locations were the lumbar (56.8%) or thoracic (21.6%) spine. It was associated with a pulmonary location in 39 patients (17.6%). In addition to underdevelopment and poor hygiene in most patients, risk factors for spondylodiscitis included HIV infection (n=23), alcoholism (n=27), diabetes mellitus (n=7), and sickle cell anemia (n=7). Response to medical treatment was favorable in 197 patients (88.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spondylodiscitis is still a frequent reason for seeking medical care in Black Africa.
authors.affiliation: Service de rhumatologie, CHU-Tokoin de Lomé. Togo.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oniankitan
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bagayogo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fianyo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koffi-Tessio
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kakpovi
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Tagbor
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Houzou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mijiyawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015299:Discitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014037:Togo / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents