Congenital bilateral fusion of the maxillomandibular alveolar processes with craniosynostosis: report ofa rare case

A rare congenital anomaly of maxillomandibular fusion with pectus excavatum and craniosynostosis in a neonate is presented. The child was kept alive by nasogastric tube feeding.Amodification of classification of syngnathia is proposed. The aetiopathogenesis and difficulty in management in our environment are discussed. Keywords: Bilateral; alveolar fusion; craniosynostosis; pectus excavatum Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (1) 2008: pp.78-8

Pattern of childhood and adolescent malignancies at a tertiary health institution in South-east Nigeria : A ten year study

Background: Cancer remains a major cause of death in children and adolescents, and differs in adults in nature, distribution and prognosis1. A culture of case documentation is lacking in our environment and many cases go unreported.Study objectives: To document the pattern of childhood and adolescent malignancies at a tertiary health institution in south-east Nigeria over a ten year period (January 2004 to December 2013)Methodology: Details of all children and adolescents aged 18 years and below treated for malignancy were extracted from the cancer registry and the records unit of the histopathology department for the period beginning at January 2004 to December 2013 at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria. Information retrieved was verified against the hospital admission register, as well as the medical and histopathology records for all cancer patients over the period of interest.Results: Eighty-five cases of childhood and adolescent malignancy were treated at NAUTH, Nnewi between January 2004 and December 2013. Median age of the study population was 9years, with a range of 0.1– 18years, more males (56.50%) than females (43.50%). Commonest tumours were the Lymphomas (11.76%) comprising Non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma (80%), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (10%) and Large-cell lymphoma (10%), the Leukaemias (11.76%) comprising Acute myeloblastic leukaemia (80%) and Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (20%). Others were Rhabdomyosarcoma (11.76%), Nephroblastoma (11.76%), Retinoblastoma (5.88%), Ovarian tumours (4.71%), the Soft tissue sarcomas-excluding rhabdomyosarcoma (3.53%) and Osteogenic sarcoma (3.35%)’.Conclusion: Study findings suggest that lymphoma, leukaemia, rhabdomyosarcoma and nephroblastoma are the commonest childhood and adolescent malignancies in south-east Nigeria.Keywords: Childhood, Adolescent, Malignanc

Environmental Factors that Determine Visual Skill Development of Under‑fives in a Developing Country

Introduction: During the early years of life, children get most of their information by relying on their visual observation. Knowledge of visual skill development and environmental risk factors influencing it provides useful guide for early identification of children who may develop some form of visual impairment. Aim: The aim of this study is to describe the visual developmental pattern and determine the environmental risk factors associated with delay in the visual skill area of under‑five children. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross‑sectional study of 415 preschoolers aged 6–59 months. Visual function and visual comprehension were assessed using the Schedule of Growing Skills II tool (GL Assessment Ltd., London). Delay in the visual skill was defined as a developmental quotient in visual skill area below threshold point of 85%. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) (95% CI). Alpha value was set at P < 0.05. Results: Mean age of the children studied was 32.6 ± 15.9 months. The prevalence of delay in visual skill area was 17.1%. The odds of delay in visual skill were higher among children of first birth order (AOR 1.83; 95% CI 1.05–3.30), those who lived in large households (AOR 2.34; 95% CI 1.32–3.14), children whose mothers had secondary level education and below (AOR 2.21; 95% CI 1.31–3.83), and those whose fathers earned ≤$100 per month (AOR 1.75; 95% CI 1.01–3.03). Conclusion: Identification and management of environmental factors negatively affecting visual skill development will help improve on the visual skill area and invariably child development.Keywords: Developing country, development, environmental factors, under‑fives, visual skil

Computerized tomography of children with seizure disorders

No Abstract

Body Mass Index of Healthy Nigerian Children

Background: To study the Body Mass Index of healthy Nigerian school children from different socio-economic backgrounds resident in Kaduna, northern Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional prospective study of Body Mass Index was carried out on 3,802 healthy Nigerian school children aged 5 to 13 years resident in Kaduna, northern Nigeria. The subjects consist of 1,871 children from private schools (privileged) and 1,931 children from public schools (less privileged). The schools and pupils were selected by multi-staged cluster sampling method. Result: Over 75% of the \'privileged\' and the \'less privileged\' children are from upper and lower socioeconomic classes respectively. The mean Body Mass Index of the \'privileged\' boys was 15.1 + 0.7 compared with 14.7 + 1.2 for the \'less privileged\' boys. The corresponding mean Body Mass Index values for the \'privileged\' and the \'less privileged\' girls were 15.1 + 0.5 and 15.0 + 1.7 respectively. The difference in this index, between the boys as well as between the girls was statistically insignificant (p = 0.05 and 0.12 respectively). Conclusion: There was no statistical significant difference between the BMI of the \'privileged\' and the \'less privileged\' groups of children. Keywords: Body mass index, Children, Socio - economic class, NigeriaNigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 17 (4) 2008: pp. 407-41