Burkitt's lymphoma in Kenya: geographical, age, gender and ethnic distribution

⁰Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Kenya, USA.

Burkitt

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is a high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma predominantly affecting children.
Understanding the epidemiological distribution of BL is crucial for public health interventions and resource allocation.

To delineate the geographical (provincial), age, gender, and ethnic distribution of Burkitt's lymphoma in Kenya.
To analyze trends and identify demographic factors associated with BL in the Kenyan population.

Retrospective (1988-1992) and prospective (1993-1997) review of 1005 Burkitt's lymphoma cases.
Descriptive, hospital-based studies conducted at Kenyatta National Hospital and seven provincial hospitals.
Data collected included patient demographics, clinical presentation, and diagnostic results; statistical analysis used proportions and Pearson's correlation.

Burkitt's lymphoma is primarily a childhood disease (95.6% of cases), with an age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) of 0.83 per 100,000 for ages 0-14 years.
Significant provincial variations in ASR were observed, ranging from 1.8 in Coast to 0.23 in Rift Valley, with an increasing yearly trend.
The major tribes affected were Luo (29.5%), Luhya (24.1%), and Coastal (16.5%). Age distribution peaked at 6 years for children and 17 years for adults, with a male predominance (M:F ratio of 1.5:1 in children). Tumour sites commonly involved the jaw in children (51.6%) and the abdomen in adults (43.2%).

Burkitt's lymphoma in Kenya predominantly affects children, consistent with an intermediate-risk disease profile.
The observed variations in distribution by province, tribe, age, and gender suggest potential environmental influences.
Further research into these environmental factors is warranted to understand and mitigate BL incidence.

Summary