Infectious diseases seen in a primary care clinic in Leogane, Haiti

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Jan;86(1):11-5. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0426.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities*
  • Child
  • Communicable Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Communicable Diseases* / etiology
  • Earthquakes
  • Female
  • Haiti / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Primary Health Care*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / etiology
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / etiology
  • Skin Diseases, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Skin Diseases, Infectious / etiology
  • Soft Tissue Infections / epidemiology
  • Soft Tissue Infections / etiology
  • Young Adult