Background: The introduction of highly active retroviral therapy has dramatically reduced mortality and improved survival among HIV patients. However, there is a possible risk of comorbid complications such as hypertension. Little evidence is available regarding the incidence of hypertension among HIV patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy in Ethiopia. Purpose: To assess the incidence and predictors of hypertension among HIV positive patients receiving ART at Public Health Facilities, Northwest Ethiopia. Patients and Methods: A one-year prospective follow-up study was conducted among a cohort of 302 new adult individuals initiating on a standard anti-retroviral therapy regimen with a median (IQR) age of 35 years (IQR=30-41). A pretested data extraction checklist was used to extract baseline patient records. The collected data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to STATA version 14 for analysis. The incidence rate was calculated, and a Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to estimate the survival probabilities of developing hypertension. Cox proportional hazards model was fitted to identify the predictors of hypertension. Results: About 40 (13.25) new hypertensive cases were observed during the follow-up period, and the remaining 262 (86.75%) were censored. The overall incidence rate of hypertension was 16.35 per 1000 person-month with 2447 patient-month observations. Male sex (AHR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.02, 6.14), old age (AHR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.08, 7.45), high BMI (AHR = 6.54, 95% CI: 2.03, 21.13), diabetic comorbidity (AHR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.07, 5.22), and patients who were on Zidovudine (AZT)-based ART regimen (AHR =3.47, 95% CI: 1.10, 10.94) were significant predictors for the development of hypertension. Conclusion:The findings of this study revealed that incident hypertension is a common problem among HIV patients receiving ART. Routine monitoring of blood pressure and screening and treating high blood pressure should be an integral part of follow-up for HIV patients in ART clinics.

Background Neonatal jaundice is one of the most common clinical disorders occurred worldwide. About 1.1 million neonates develop jaundice per year globally and the vast majority of them found in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. There is a paucity of evidence on the incidence rate and predictors of neonatal jaundice in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was aimed at determining the rate and predictors of neonatal jaundice in the northwest, Ethiopia. Methods A prospective cohort study design was conducted at Debre Markos comprehensive, specialized Hospitals using 334 neonates from October 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. Using a systematic random sampling technique, the study subjects were drawn. Data were entered into the Epi-Data TM Version 4.2 and analyzed using STATA TM Version 14.0. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to estimate the survival time. A generalized Log rank test was used to compare the survival curves of different categorical variables. Finally, both bi-variable and multivariable Cox-proportional hazards regression models were used to identify the predictors of neonatal jaundice. The Results The overall incidence rate of jaundice among neonates was 4.5 per 100 person-hours. Long duration of labor [ARR = 3.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), (2.8–8.7)], being male neonates [ARR= 5.2; 95% CI (3.5–7.3)], “O” blood group mothers [ARR = 4.5; 95% CI (3.4–10.3)], and having neonatal sepsis 3.4 [ARR=3.4; 95% CI: (2.5–6.1)] were predictors. Conclusion The incidence rate of jaundice was higher in this study than the finding of the previous one. Being male, prolonged duration of labor, “O” blood group mothers and sepsis were the significant predictors. Hence, an effort has to be made to decrease the incidence rate of neonatal jaundice through improving newborn care and timely intervention for neonates with sepsis and delivered at a long duration of time as well as the neonates born from “o” blood type mothers are our recommendation.

Background Trophic feeding is a small volume, hypo-caloric feeding, gut priming or minimal enteral feeding acclimate the immature gut of enteral fasting preterm neonates. Delayed starting of trophic feeding had resulted in short and long-term physical and neurological sequels. The current study aimed to estimate the time to initiate trophic feeding and its predictors among preterm neonates admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit of Debre Markos, Felege Hiwot, and Tibebe Ghion comprehensive specialized hospitals. Methods An institutional-based prospective follow-up study was conducted among 210 neonates. The data were collected with interview and chart review, entered into Epi data 3.1 and exported to Stata 14.1 for analysis. Multivariable Cox regression models were fitted to identify predictors of time to initiate trophic feeding. Result A total of 210 neonates were followed for 10136 person-hours of risk time and 191 (90.95%) of neonates were started trophic feeding. The overall incidence of starting trophic feeding was 2 per 100 (95% CI: 2, 2.2) person-hours observations. The median survival time was 42 hours (95% CI: 36, 48). APGAR- score at first minute <7 (AHR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.82), gestational age of <34 weeks (AHR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.5, 0.94), presence of respiratory distress syndrome (AHR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.68), presence of hemodynamic instability (AHR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.57), presence of perinatal asphyxia (AHR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.89), cesarean section delivery (AHR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44, 89) and being delivered within the study hospitals (AHR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.74) were found to be statistically significant predictors of time to initiate trophic feeding. Conclusion There was a significant delay to initiate trophic feeding in the studied hospitals. Gestational age of below 34 weeks, APGAR-score of less than seven, out-born delivery, cesarean delivery, presence of respiratory distress syndrome; perinatal asphyxia, and hemodynamic instability were predictors of delay in starting of trophic feeding. Standardized feeding guideline has to be implemented to overcome delays in enteral feeding initiation.

Introduction Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious acute complication of diabetes mellitus that carries a significant risk of mortality with delayed treatment in low‐resource countries. This study aimed to determine the outcome of paediatric DKA patients' managed with a modified DKA treatment protocol using intermittent bolus subcutaneous insulin administration. Methods A cross‐sectional study design with retrospective data collection was conducted among children younger than 14 years of age admitted from January 2013 to February 2017. A modified protocol was prepared based on a reference from the international society for paediatric and adolescent diabetes and other international guidelines. Data were analysed using Statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 22.0. Descriptive statistics were performed. Binary logistic regression was used to identify associations, and significant variables were further considered for multivariate logistic regression to determine the outcome of DKA patients. Result Among the 190 patients, 55.5% (n = 105) were newly diagnosed. The overall average time required for resolution of DKA was 48 ± 27.8 h. Mental status on presentation (p = .001), shock on presentation (p < .01) and severity of DKA (p < .001) were found to have a significant association with the mean time for clearance of DKA. Hypoglycaemia was the most common treatment‐related complication, which occurred in 23.7% of patients (n = 45) followed by hypokalaemia in 4.3% of patients (n = 8), and no patient developed cerebral oedema and death. Conclusion The time required for clearance of DKA was prolonged, and hypoglyceamia was a common complication for children younger than 5 years of age. The modified protocol of DKA is reasonable management for low‐resource settings with further modification.

Background Foodborne botulism, a toxin-mediated illness caused by Clostridium botulinum, is a public health emergency. Types A, B, and E C. botulinum toxins commonly cause human disease. Outbreaks are often associated with homemade and fermented foods. Botulism is rarely reported in Africa and has never been reported in Ethiopia. Case presentation In March 2015, a cluster of family members from the Wollega, Oromia region, western Ethiopia presented with a symptom constellation suggestive of probable botulism. Clinical examination, epidemiologic investigation, and subsequent laboratory work identified the cause of the outbreak to be accidental ingestion of botulinum toxin in a traditional chili condiment called “Kochi-kocha,” cheese, and clarified butter. Ten out of the fourteen family members who consumed the contaminated products had botulism (attack rate 71.4%) and five died (case fatality rate of 50%). Three of the patients were hospitalized, they presented with altered mental status (n = 2), profound neck and truncal weakness (n = 3), and intact extremity strength despite hyporeflexia (n = 3). The remnant food sample showed botulinum toxin type A with mouse bioassay and C. botulinum type A with culture. Blood drawn on day three of illness from 2/3 (66%) cases was positive for botulinum toxin type-A. Additionally, one of these two cases also had C. botulinum type A cultured from a stool specimen. Two of the cases received Botulism antitoxin (BAT). Conclusion These are the first confirmed cases of botulism in Ethiopia. The disease occurred due to the consumption of commonly consumed homemade foods. Definite diagnoses of botulism cases are challenging, and detailed epidemiologic and laboratory investigations were critical to the identification of this case series. Improved awareness of botulism risk and improved food preparation and storage may prevent future illnesses. The mortality rate of botulism in resource-limited settings remains high. Countries should make a concerted effort to stockpile antitoxin as that is the easiest and quickest intervention after outbreak detection.