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Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, including Zambia, especially among the HIV infected. Both renal dysfunction and tuberculosis have been shown to be highly prevalent among hospitalised HIV infected patients. Little is known about how TB and...

Background Many HIV-infected patients are accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Zambia. This has enabled them to live longer. However, it is necessary to determine whether such improvements are accompanied with parallel improvements in quality of life. The purpose of this research was to...

Introduction Delayed-healing in abdominal surgical wounds may be detrimental to patients and the health care. The author set out to investigate the effects of CD4+ count, serum albumin and haemoglobin (HB) levels on wound strength in HIV positive patients. Wound strength in this study is used to...

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine organ located below and anterior to the larynx, at the base of the neck. It consists of two bulky lateral lobes connected by a thin isthmus. The thyroid gland produces, stores and releases hormones that control metabolism. These hormones include...

Background: The safe recovery of patients admitted to hospital depends on early detection of clinical and physiological deterioration and undertaking appropriate intervention to prevent mortality. Modified early warning score (MEWS) is a structured objective way of monitoring patients’ condition...

BACKGROUND Hydrotherapy plays an important role in the management of surgical patients, and especially so in those that have sustained burns to their skin. Different centers practice hydrotherapy differently. At the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, patients with burns in surgical...

Background - New born deaths account for approximately 40% of all deaths under five years of age in developing countries with the three major causes being birth asphyxia, infections, and complications due to prematurity and low birth weight (LBW). Birth weight is a significant determinant of...

In 1952, Virginia Apgar devised a system of scores as a means of evaluating the physical condition of the newborn immediately after birth. The Apgar score has since been accepted for use to assess newborns in almost all labour wards worldwide. While infant mortality is reducing worldwide,...

Arthroscopy is performed to evaluate or treat many orthopaedic conditions of which meniscal injuries are a huge part (Richmond et al, 2009). It is a minimally invasive procedure which is both diagnostic and therapeutic. Meniscal tears are responsible for 750,000 arthroscopies per year in the...

Background: Despite several strides made to control malaria in Zambia, it still is endemic in many parts of the country and remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Its epidemiology is characterised by varying transmission intensities which may bring about change in the...