Infectious diseases seen in a primary care clinic in Leogane, Haiti.
All diseases diagnosed in a primary healthcare clinic situated in Leogane, Haiti, were recorded prospectively during a 7-month period. Among the patients in this cohort, 2,821 of 6,631 (42.6%) presented with an infectious disease. The three most common syndromes among the patients presenting with infections were respiratory tract infections (33.5%), suspected sexually transmitted diseases--mostly among females with recurrent disease (18.1%)--and skin and soft tissue infections, including multiple cases of tinea capitis (12.8%). Of the 255 patients presenting with undifferentiated fever, 76 (29.8%) were diagnosed with falciparum malaria. Other vector-borne diseases included 13 cases of filariasis and 6 cases of dengue fever. Human immunodeficiency virus infection was diagnosed in 19 patients. Four cases of mumps were detected among unimmunized children. A large proportion of these infections are preventable. Concerted efforts should be made to create large-scale preventive medicine programs for various infectious diseases.
IsraAid Primary Health Clinic, Leogane, Haiti. a_neuberger@rambam.health.gov.il
Ami
A
Neuberger
Shiri
S
Tenenboim
Miri
M
Golos
Racheli
R
Pex
Yonah
Y
Krakowsky
Marnina
M
Urman
Spencer
S
Vernet
Eli
E
Schwartz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002648:Child; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult