Serious fungal diseases in Democratic Republic of Congo - Incidence and prevalence estimates

Guyguy K Kamwiziku, Jean-Claude C Makangara, Emma Orefuwa, David W Denning

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

A literature review was conducted to assess the burden of serious fungal infections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (population 95,326,000). English and French publications were listed and analysed using PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar and the African Journals database. Publication dates spanning 1943-2020 were included in the scope of the review. From the analysis of published articles, we estimate a total of about 5,177,000 people (5.4%) suffer from serious fungal infections in the DRC annually. The incidence of cryptococcal meningitis, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in adults and invasive aspergillosis in AIDS patients was estimated at 6168, 2800 and 380 cases per year. Oral and oesophageal candidiasis represent 50,470 and 28,800 HIV-infected patients respectively. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis post-tuberculosis incidence and prevalence was estimated to be 54,700. Fungal asthma (allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and severe asthma with fungal sensitization) probably has a prevalence of 88,800 and 117,200. The estimated prevalence of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and tinea capitis is 1,202,640 and 3,551,900 respectively.Further work is required to provide additional studies on opportunistic infections for improving diagnosis and the implementation of a national surveillance programme of fungal disease in the DRC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1159-1169
Number of pages11
JournalMYCOSES
Volume64
Issue number10
Early online date16 Jun 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2021

Keywords

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/epidemiology
  • Adult
  • Aspergillosis/epidemiology
  • Asthma/epidemiology
  • Candidiasis/epidemiology
  • Cost of Illness
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo/epidemiology
  • Fungi
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Mycoses/epidemiology
  • Prevalence

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Serious fungal diseases in Democratic Republic of Congo - Incidence and prevalence estimates'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this