Hypertension is a major and fast-growing public health problem in Africa. We determined the prevalence of hypertension and assessed the levels of awareness, treatment and control in Guinea. A cross-sectional study based on a stratified cluster random sampling was conducted. In all, 2491 adults (1351 women) aged 15-64 years were selected and screened during September-December 2009. Hypertension (systolic (and/or diastolic) blood pressure ⩾140 (90) mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medications) and diabetes mellitus (fasting capillary glucose ⩾110  mg dl(-1) or use of antidiabetic medications) were determined. Logistic regressions were used to investigate the determinants of hypertension. The mean body mass index was 22.4  kg m(-2) (s.d.=4.5). The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was, respectively, 29.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 29.8-30.0) and 3.5% (95%CI 3.4-3.5). The prevalence of hypertension was 29.4% (29.3-29.5) in men and 30.4% (30.4-30.6) in women. The prevalence was 62.5% in the 44-64 years age group. Overall, 75.8% of hypertensive participants were undetected before the survey and 34.9% of those aware of their hypertensive status were receiving treatment, of whom 16.3% were at target control levels. Age, education, diabetes and obesity were the main factors associated with hypertension. There was a high prevalence of hypertension among the adults in Guinea, but with low awareness, treatment and control rates. Urgent response is needed in the form of integrated and comprehensive action targeting major non-communicable diseases in the country.

In the current Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, health care workers (HCWs) are on the frontline of the response. The study aimed to report on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Conakry HCWs. A cross-sectional survey was done among HCWs from the two national hospitals and at the communal hospitals in Conakry, using a standardized questionnaire. Demographic, knowledge, attitudes and practices data of the respondents were recorded and analyzed. Respondents (n = 525) were mainly physicians (43.0%) or nurses (36.8%). Over 90% of HCWs cited the three major clinical signs of EVD. Only 68% knew the correct concentration of Javel water that is advised for hand washing. This was known by 69.4% of nurses, 59.0% of residents, 69.5% of physicians, 100% of pharmacists and 60.9% of midwifes (P = 0.35). The EVD transmission risk in the ward was estimated as probable for 70.6% and very probable for 24.0% of HCWs. Eighty-four percent of all respondents estimated their knowledge on EVD insufficient and 97.1% reported that they either need specific training on EVD or enhance their knowledge. This study underlines the low level of knowledge, attitude and perceptions regarding EVD prevention despite the high incidence and mortality of this disease.

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Cardiac myxoma is one of the primary intracardiac tumours. We report the case of a left atrial myxoma in a 26-year-old female patient admitted for investigation of dyspnoea. Echocardiography led to the diagnosis of a giant hypermobile myxoma prolapsing into the left ventricle. The patient died before being evacuated for surgical treatment.

Introduction: The aim of this study was therefore to provide a detailed description of the dermatological conditions presented by prisoners and to determine their determining factors in the largest detention center in Guinea. Material and methods:This work took place in the central house of Conakry. It is a penitentiary establishment built at the beginning of the 20th century for a theoretical capacity of three hundred people. Its occupancy rate in 2013 was 377%, reflecting saturation. From April 1 to 17, 2013, we conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study that included all prisoners with one or more dermatosis and who agreed to participate in the study. For each inmate, the different types of dermatosis were identified. The frequency of the shower, the use of soap for the shower, the change of clothes and the sanitation of the cells were analyzed by the Chi2 of Pearson at the threshold of 5%. The study was authorized by the prison authorities. Results: One thousand one hundred and thirty-one detainees were examined; 320 had dermatosis, a prevalence of 27.3%. They were 292 men and 28 women with an average age of 30 years and extremes of 15 and 70 years. Infectious dermatosis were the most represented, with 247 cases (77.2%) with a predominance of scabies in 146 inmates, and dermatophytis in 58 inmates. Non-infectious dermatosis accounted for 22.8% of dermatosis with a predominance of contact eczema noted in 27 patients. One hundred and eighty-nine (59%) patients showered irregularly, 62% did not use soap for the shower, 51% irregularly changed their clothes after showering, 70 % of the cells were irregularly cleaned. Seventy-five percent of patients had never had a dermatological consultation. We found a statistically significant relationship between the occurrence of infectious dermatosis and hygienic conditions in prison settings including the frequency of the shower, the use of soap and the frequency of changing clothes. Conclusion: The profile of skin disease observed in the Guinean prison environment is no different from that of the majority of resource-limited countries. These are pathology that can be the subject of preventive measures and/or can be aggravated by precarious conditions of hygiene and detention.