33 research outputs found

    Caregivers’ perceptions of childhood fever in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria

    Get PDF
    Background: Fever remains a common clinical indicator of disease, accounting alone for over 25% of paediatric emergency rooms  consultations. Perception of this important sign is a crucial prelude and determinant of outcome in febrile children. The aim was to determine knowledge and attitudes of parents regarding fever in their children.Methods: The study is a crosssectional descriptive study carried out at the Emergency Paediatric Unit of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). Fourhundred under-five children presenting with fever wererecruited along with their caregivers. A semi-structured questionnairewas administered to collect information on sociodemographics, and caregiver’s knowledge and attitudes regarding fever in their wards.Results: The mean age of the caregivers was 29.5 ± 4.46 years (Range 21 – 41 years). Only 30.3% of caregivers could correctly describe what fever was. The most frequently utilised fever detection method was tactile assessment. Only 3.2% of the caregivers used a thermometer to detectfever. Social class, maternal age and religion significantly influenced the decision to use thermometers. The most common remedies caregivers would use for fever in their children were to give paracetamol (96.3%), sponging (73.2%) and a warm bath (63.8%). About 61% of caregivers had a wrong perception of the possible complications of fever.Conclusions: Caregivers in this study had a poor knowledge of fever, and parental educational and socioeconomic status impacted on their responses to fever. There is a need for education of caregivers at all contacts with the healthcare system on fever, and its management. Keywords: Antipyretic, Attitude, Fever, Thermometr

    Ventilatory support of the newborn

    Get PDF
    Respiratory disorders are a frequent cause of admission in the newborn. Respiratory diseases have unique physiologic, anatomic and clinical characteristics during this period necessitating special management. Knowledge of the pathophysiology of pulmonary diseases and their differential impact on the lungs of differing stages of maturity is essential to the safe and efficacious applications of special techniques of treatment. Principles of respiratory management include establishment of the airway, ensuring oxygenation, assisted ventilation, assessing adequacy of ventilation, correction of metabolic abnormalities and alleviation of cause of distress. The goal of treatment is safe and effective assistance to oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide removal from the tissues. Inspired oxygen should be administered in a controlled manner to provide adequate but not excessive blood oxygen tension levels. Mechanical ventilation may be required to treat metabolic abnormalities. There is the need for continuous monitoring and re- evaluation. This article is intended to present an overview of the embryology of the respiratory system, pulmonary physiology in the newborn, the principles of oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation. It also discusses the complications that can follow. Key words: Ventilatory support, oxygen delivery, newbor

    Serum zinc levels as a predictor of clinical features and outcome of paediatric acute lower respiratory infections in Nigeria

    Get PDF
    Background: Malnutrition, especially macronutrient deficiency, has been shown to be interrelated with ALRI-related morbidity and mortality. However the import of zinc deficiency has only recently become the focus of research attention.Objective: The current study was carried out in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria to determine the relationship between serum zinc levels, clinical features and outcome in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory infections(ALRI).Method: A descriptive crosssectional hospital-based study involving 120 children aged two months to five years with ALRI. Socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data were obtained. The serum zinc was analyzed with a Jenwayℱ spectrophotometer after initial preparation with theQuantiChromℱ zinc assay kit.Results: Children with tachypnoea and crepitations had significantly lower mean serum zinc levels compared to the corresponding values in those without these features (each p<0.05). Significantly higher mean serum zinc level was recorded in children with grunting respiration compared with thosewithout grunting (p=0.028). Agerelated tachypnoea, grunting, and crepitations remained significant (each p<0.05) following a linear  regression analysis. The mean serum zinc level in children with multiple complications was significantly lower than the corresponding level recorded in children who had one complication, p=0.020. No significant differencewas found between the mean serum zinc level of the children who were discharged compared with the corresponding level recorded in those that died, p=0.589.Conclusion: The presence of crepitations had the strongest clinical association with a low serum zinc level. Children managed for ALRI would benefit from post-treatment zinc supplements and appropriate zinc-rich sources of food at discharge.Keywords: Children zinc respiratory infection

    Unusual occurrence of congenital hypothyroidism in a set of same sex triplets: challenges of diagnosis in a resource poor setting

    Get PDF
    Congenital hypothyroidism is the most common endocrinological disorder in children. Genetic and intrauterine factors have been implicated in its aetiology. The aim of this study was to describe an unusual occurrence of congenital hypothyroidism in a set of same sex triplets and challenges associated with the diagnosis. This is a review of a set of female triplets delivered at 34 weeks gestational age and noticed to have reduced activity, hypotonia and poor suck. On testing for thyroid hormones the patients were found to be hypothyroid. However this diagnosis was delayed until the 6th week of life as a result of difficulties in running the test. The subjects of the study were placed on thyroxine supplementation and have been doing well. Congenital hypothyroidism can occur in multiple order pregnancies and clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for its occurrence.Keywords: Congenital hypothyroidism; Triplets; Diagnosi

    Antimicrobial Activity of Sabulun Salo a Local Traditional Medicated Soap

    Get PDF
    The antimicrobial activity of Sabulun salo; a local traditional medicated soap widely used by different tribes in Nigeria such as Hausa, Yoruba and Nupe against skin infections was examined against some clinical isolates of pathogenic microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans) using agar dilution method. The pattern of inhibition varied with the soap concentration and the organisms tested. The soap was more effective on S. aureus with maximum zone of growth inhibition of 28 mm at 100% w/v followed by C. albicans (24mm). However, E. coli was resistant to the soap at all concentrations tested. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was found to be 12.5% w/v for both S. aureus and C. albicans. The antibacterial activities exhibited by sabulun salo in this study could be attributed to the presence of its constituents which signifies the potential of the soap as a of topical therapeutic agent. These findings therefore, justify the traditional medicinal use of sabulun salo

    Pediatric Bacterial Meningitis Surveillance in Nigeria From 2010 to 2016, Prior to and During the Phased Introduction of the 10-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine

    Get PDF
    Background: Historically, Nigeria has experienced large bacterial meningitis outbreaks with high mortality in children. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus), and Haemophilus influenzae are major causes of this invasive disease. In collaboration with the World Health Organization, we conducted longitudinal surveillance in sentinel hospitals within Nigeria to establish the burden of pediatric bacterial meningitis (PBM). Methods: From 2010 to 2016, cerebrospinal fluid was collected from children <5 years of age, admitted to 5 sentinel hospitals in 5 Nigerian states. Microbiological and latex agglutination techniques were performed to detect the presence of pneumococcus, meningococcus, and H. influenzae. Species-specific polymerase chain reaction and serotyping/grouping were conducted to determine specific causative agents of PBM. Results: A total of 5134 children with suspected meningitis were enrolled at the participating hospitals; of these 153 (2.9%) were confirmed PBM cases. The mortality rate for those infected was 15.0% (23/153). The dominant pathogen was pneumococcus (46.4%: 71/153) followed by meningococcus (34.6%: 53/153) and H. influenzae (19.0%: 29/153). Nearly half the pneumococcal meningitis cases successfully serotyped (46.4%: 13/28) were caused by serotypes that are included in the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The most prevalent meningococcal and H. influenzae strains were serogroup W and serotype b, respectively. Conclusions: Vaccine-type bacterial meningitis continues to be common among children <5 years in Nigeria. Challenges with vaccine introduction and coverage may explain some of these finding. Continued surveillance is needed to determine the distribution of serotypes/groups of meningeal pathogens across Nigeria and help inform and sustain vaccination policies in the countr

    Discrete element modeling of the machining processes of brittle materials: recent development and future prospective

    Get PDF

    The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

    Get PDF

    Knowledge, attitude and practice of female genital cutting among antenatal patients in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

    Get PDF
    BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread practice of FGC, not much attention had been given to it until recently. The attitude of expectant mothers towards it is crucial in sustaining it. OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice of female genital cutting among antenatal patients in Aminu Kano Teaching hospital in northern Nigeria METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 210 antenatal patients seen at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital from February to March 2003. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information about socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice of female genital cutting. RESULTS: Majority (91.4%) of the respondents have heard about FGC. Clitoridectomy and infibulation were known by 36.2% and 5.2% of the respondents respectively. Sixty and 5.2% of respondents knew that HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis could be transmitted by methods used in FGC. Other complications mentioned include sexual dissatisfaction (25.7%) and difficult delivery (8.6%). Furthermore, 16% of respondents wished FGC would continue mainly due to cultural or religious reasons, this opinion was associated with low (20.5%) level of education. Opponents of FGC gave medical complications as their main reason. Prevalence of circumcision was 23.3% and the most common type (36.7%) was clitoridectomy. CONCLUSION: Though awareness about FGC has improved, and attitude towards it appears generally negative, the practice still persists in the north, though at a lower level than the Southeast and Southwest. It was therefore recommended that intensive campaign and health education among mothers and the general public, as well as enforcement of legislation are needed
    corecore