Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-04-09 06:41:55
A recent study conducted in three East African countries has shed light on the prevalence of aggressive childhood cancer, specifically endemic Burkitt Lymphoma (eBL), with Uganda being identified as having the highest incidence rate. This form of cancer is strongly associated with repeated malaria infections, highlighting the complex interplay between infectious diseases and cancer development in the region.
The study, published in 2023 in the prestigious scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was a collaborative effort between researchers from St Mary’s Hospital Lacor and their counterparts from America’s National Cancer Institute, as well as universities in Kenya and Tanzania. According to the researchers, the average annual incidence of eBL across the three countries was 9.4 cases per million person-years, with Uganda reporting a significantly higher incidence compared to Kenya and Tanzania.
In Uganda alone, there were 267 documented cases of eBL between 2010 and 2016, surpassing the numbers reported in Kenya (183) and Tanzania (102). The researchers also found a notable gender disparity, with eBL incidence being 1.7 times higher in males compared to females. Furthermore, the incidence rate in Uganda was 1.8 times that of Kenya and a striking 5.3 times that of Tanzania.
One of the key findings of the study was the correlation between malaria infections and the risk of developing eBL. Children who experienced approximately 100 or more infections were found to have an elevated risk of developing this form of cancer. However, the researchers noted that a significant number of children below the age of 5 did not reach this threshold of infections, indicating age-related differences in exposure to malaria.
The study also highlighted variations in the number of malaria infections across different age groups and countries. For instance, in 2012, the average 10-year-old in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda had 61, 40, and 201 infections, respectively. These numbers decreased over time but still remained significantly higher in Uganda compared to the other two countries, emphasizing the persistent burden of malaria in the region.
Dr. Nixon Niyonzima, the head of research at the Uganda Cancer Institute, acknowledged the longstanding understanding of the link between malaria and eBL but pointed out the study’s innovative approach in utilizing detailed malaria data for a comprehensive analysis. The researchers emphasized the importance of malaria prevention strategies such as the use of insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying to mitigate the risk of eBL in endemic regions.
Despite the progress in understanding the association between malaria and eBL, the exact mechanism underlying this relationship remains a topic of ongoing research and debate among scientists. Previous studies have proposed various theories, including the modification of cancer properties by malaria infection and the role of common viruses like Epstein-Barr virus in cancer development.
In conclusion, the study sheds light on the significant burden of aggressive childhood cancer in East Africa, particularly in Uganda, and underscores the intricate relationship between infectious diseases like malaria and cancer development. By advancing our understanding of these complex interactions, researchers hope to inform targeted interventions and strategies for preventing and managing eBL in endemic regions.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
