BACKGROUND: @entity18032 is a @entity296 that causes @entity712 . It is characterized by the fibrotic thickening of the endocardium, sometimes involving the myocardium as well. The lesion generally lies at the apices or inflow tracts of one or both ventricles, associated with more or less severe alteration of the valves. It is a disease of the intertropical regions but is not well known in Cameroon. In this study we describe the first series seen in a pediatric hospital in Cameroon. @entity1 AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in a pediatric hospital in Yaound   involving @entity1 who had been diagnosed with @entity18032 after echocardiographic investigation. We collected the clinical and paraclinical data from consultation records and medical files. RESULTS: Between January 2006  to December 2013, we registered 1430 @entity1 with a @entity299 in our center. @entity18032 was found in 46 @entity1 . Neither sex predominated. Ages at the time of diagnosis varied between 2  and 17years. Most of the @entity1 were between 5  and 15years old (80.4  %), with a median of 10years (interquartile range, 7-13years). The main complaints were @entity1353 , cough, abdominal distension, abdominal, and @entity1277 . Apart from the @entity2117 of the lips observed in all our @entity1 , @entity1353 was the most frequent physical sign and the diagnosis was made at a time when signs of @entity712 were preponderant. @entity851 was found in all the @entity1 examined. All @entity1 were underweight with a median weight for age found below the 25th percentile of the norms according to the National Health Statistics. Lower limb @entity4 was absent even in the presence of @entity843 . All subjects had hyperpigmented lips. Despite the cyanotic appearance of the lips, pulse oximetry always gave a normal @entity26 saturation level and no cyanosis was seen elsewhere. None of the @entity1 had nail clubbing. @entity82 more often affected the right ventricle (45/46 @entity1 ). The apical obliteration by fibrotic material was found in 43 (93.5  %) @entity1 . Moreover, 36 (78.3  %) @entity1 had pericardial effusion: mild to moderate in 32subjects and abundant in four subjects. @entity1712 was noted in 57.5  % of the @entity1 . @entity955 was found in six out of 15 @entity1 who had an electrocardiogram done. CONCLUSION: The modes of clinical presentation of @entity18032 are not sufficiently well known in our context. Despite its insidious progression, certain signs such as @entity353 and hyperpigmented lips could be very helpful for screening and easing orientation of parents and heath personnel, thus enabling early referral for appropriate investigation. The presence of bulky @entity843 without @entity4 of the lower extremities should be viewed as strongly suggestive.

[ XXXX in Cameroon: Echocardiographic and clinical description of a pediatric series in Yaound  ].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'patients', 'PATIENTS'] @entity1712 :: ('MESH:D004802', 'Disease') :: ['Hypereosinophilia'] @entity712 :: ('MESH:D006333', 'Disease') :: ['heart failure'] @entity296 :: ('MESH:D009202', 'Disease') :: ['restrictive cardiomyopathy'] @entity851 :: ('MESH:D006130', 'Disease') :: ['Growth retardation'] @entity82 :: ('MESH:D005355', 'Disease') :: ['Fibrosis'] @entity1353 :: ('MESH:D004417', 'Disease') :: ['breathlessness', 'dyspnea'] @entity353 :: ('MESH:D015431', 'Disease') :: ['weight loss'] @entity4 :: ('MESH:D004487', 'Disease') :: ['edema'] @entity2117 :: ('MESH:D017495', 'Disease') :: ['hyperpigmentation'] @entity18032 :: ('MESH:D004719', 'Disease') :: ['endomyocardial fibrosis', 'Endomyocardial fibrosis'] @entity843 :: ('MESH:D001201', 'Disease') :: ['voluminous ascites', 'ascites'] @entity26 :: ('MESH:D010100', 'Chemical') :: ['oxygen'] @entity1277 :: ('MESH:D001068', 'Disease') :: ['loss of appetite'] @entity955 :: ('MESH:D001281', 'Disease') :: ['Atrial fibrillation'] @entity299 :: ('MESH:D006331', 'Disease') :: ['cardiac anomaly']
@entity18032 :: (MESH:D004719,Disease) :: ['Endomyocardial fibrosis']
