Symmetrical peripheral gangrene in a child following severe malaria with concomitant sepsis

Symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) is a welldocumented but rare clinical syndrome characterized by symmetrical distal ischemic damage  leading to gangrene of two or more sites in the absence of large vessel obstruction or vasculitis. The aetiological factors responsible for SPG are vast and it could follow many common diseases such as malaria. This is a report of a 9month old child who developed symmetric peripheral gangrene following severe malaria (severe anaemia) and sepsis. Gangrene involved the 2nd to the 5thdigits and 3rd and 4thdigits of the left and right hands and all the toes. Autoamputation of the affected digits followed several weeks after discharge and was limited to the distal  interphalangeal joints. There is the need for a high index of suspicion, early detection and prompt management of patients with disorders associated with SPG in order to limit the risk of permanent disability in otherwise treatable diseases. Key words: peripheral, gangrene, malaria, chil

Reference values for the six-minute walk test in Nigerian adolescents aged 10 to 18 years

Objective: To determine baseline six-minute walk distance in Nigerian adolescents and establish its relationship with age, gender and anthropometric parameters.Methods: One hundred and eighty healthy adolescents (10 – 18 years) were recruited from three schools. Six-minute walk test was conducted as described by the American Thoracic Society. Demographic and anthropometric characteristics were related to achieve six-minute walk distance. A mathematical formula for predicting six-minute walk distance was generated.Results: The mean ± SD six-minute walk distance was 590.1 ± 72.02 m and was significantly longer in males (p= 0.001) among adolescents aged 10- 16 years. Age was the only characteristic significantly associated with six-minute walk distance following multiple linear regression analyses. The formulae, [six-minute walk distance = 317.3 + 21.5 x age (years) in males and 117 + 33.0 x age (years) in females] closely approximated to measured six-minute walk distance.Conclusion: This study has derived reference values for 6-minute walk test in adolescents; the use of these reference values should consider age and gender variations.Keywords: Exercise test; Six-minute-walk; Adolescents; Nigeri

Impact of screen use on nutritional status

Background: Media use has become increasingly common among  young people, in both developed and developing countries. Screen media are particularly popular as they provide a wide variety of information and entertainment. Excess use of these has been associated with several negative impacts, among which is the potential risk of inducing or promoting overweight and obesity, through various mechanisms including promotion of a sedentary lifestyle.Objectives: To establish a relationship between prolonged and excessive use of media and the body mass index of students in secondary schoolsMethods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 630 secondary school students within Ilorin metropolis. Subjects were selected using a multi-staged, stratified sampling technique. Semi-structured questionnaire were used to obtain socio-demographic data and use of media. The weight and height of the subjects were obtained and body mass index was calculated as the ratio of weight to height squared.Results: A total of 630 students participated in the study, 300 (47.6%) were male and 330 (52.4%) were female. Television was the commonest  medium used by 94.9% students, followed by mobile phones (69.2%). Seven point three percent of the students were overweight and 5.2% were obese. Overweight and obese students spent a longer total time on screen media than other s (p=0.002).Conclusion: Media use is common in Nigerian children and there was significant association between prolonged use of screen media and being overweight and obese in the students Keywords: Media, Screen, Overweight, Student