Envenomation secondary to facial snake bite: Report of a rare occurrence

In Nigeria, snake bite envenoming has remained a significant health problem. Most snake bites in Nigeria and elsewhere predominantly involve the limbs (upper and lower) but may involve other areas of the body depending on time and posture. Our index patient is a rare case of snake bite that involved the face while the child was asleep at night in a rural Fulani village, Nigeria. The challenges to the child’s management which included late presentation to the hospital and non availability of antisnake venom underscores the need for greater commitment on the part of government at various levels to stock and subsidise the price of antisnake venom in snake- bite prone areas.Keywords: snake, envenoming, face

Leaving against medicaladvice in paediatric unit of aminu kano teaching hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Children are vulnerable and cannot make decisions about their health care. There are many cases of parents leaving against medical advice (LAMA) and this can lead to adverse health problems in the children. Objective: The study was aimed at determining the prevalence of, and factors associated with, leaving against medical advice at the Paediatric Unit of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Methods: All patients who left against medical advice were included in the study. The study was a prospective one and information sought were age, sex, duration of hospital stay, socio-economic class of parents and reasons for leaving against medical advice over a five-year period (Jan. 2001 to Dec. 2005). Results: Prevalence rate of LAMA was 2.2%, comprising 68 patients of 3,095 discharges, HIV/Pulmonary uberculosis 17(23%) were the commonest causes of admission in the group of patients aged (10months-12years). Seventy-five percent of the patients were discharged within two weeks of admission. Sixty patients (88.2%) belonged to the lower soci-economic class. Conclusion: LAMA has multifactorial aetiololgy. Low social economic class, poor financial support and unpreparedness for hospital admission are risk factors

Prevalence and intensity of schistosoma haematobium infection among primary school children in Katagun town, Bauchi state, Nigeria

The objectives of the study were to establish the prevalence and intensity of infection with schistosoma haematobium which is a waterborne disease in a rural community, Katagum town. All the school children who attended the only primary school in the town made up the population studied. 11 out of 444 children studied were shedding ova of S. haematobium and that gave the prevalence of infection to be 2.5%. Varied intensities were noted in those shedding ova and that reflected in the degrees of haematuria and proteinuria. Though the prevalence is low compared to most earlier studies, the potential for spread is high considering the greater viability of schistosoma ova in younger children. In view of the potential complications, it was recommended that various tiers of government should be involved actively in control efforts. Sahel Medical Journal Vol. 10 (1) 2007: pp. 11-1

The Clinical Spectrum Of Paediatric Neurological Disorders In Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano

Background: Neurological disorders have been noted to account for more than 20% of global disease burden and that poor countries are disproportionately affected. The aim of this review was to highlight the clinical spectrum of neurologic disease seen in Kano as there had been no previous report from the center. Materials and methods: The medical records of all children who attended the paediatric neurologic clinic over 8-year period were examined and all relevant data were extracted and analysed. Results: Three hundred and fifty six patients were reviewed. There were 222 males and 134 females with ratio of 1.7:1. Age range was 2 months – 12years. Some patients had multiple morbidities. The predominant neurologic morbidities included: cerebral palsy (42.4%), epilepsy (27.8%), febrile seizure (6.5%), mental retardation(6.2%), microcephaly (5.6%), behavioral problems (5.6%), poliomyelitis (4.5%), hydrocephalus (4.2%), visual impairment (2.8%), down syndrome (1.7%), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (1.4%). A few others occurred infrequently. Birth asphyxia featured prominently in aetiology of cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Conclusion: It is suggested that preventive measures through health education and improved perinatal health services will greatly help in reduction of neurologic morbidities in Kano Keywords: Review, Neurological, DisordersSahel Medical Journal Vol. 11 (1) 2008: pp. 12-1

Birth injuries of the brachial plexus in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano Nigeria

Objective: To determine the types of brachial plexus palsy and predisposing factors involved. Setting: Hospital based tertiary health center with good facilities for newborns.Materials and Subjects: All newborns with brachial plexus were included in the study between April 2000 and March 2004.Result: There were 32 patients with brachial palsy during a 4 year period of study. Twenty five (78.1%) of the patients had Erb Duchenne palsy while 3(9.4%) had Klumpke's paralysis. Modes of delivery were by vertex 24(85.7%), Breech extraction 4(14.3%). There were also (4) forceps and (1) vacuum extraction.Conclusion: Environmental factors are important in the aetiology of brachial palsy. The provisions of safe maternity services coupled with greater effectiveness in health education are the most efficient means of reducing the incidence of this paralysis and severe deformities. Keywords: birth, brachial plexus, injuries Tropical Journal of Medical Research Vol. 9(2) 2005: 12-1

Childhood Diabetes Mellitus in Kano, North West, Nigeria

There is paucity of literature on childhood diabetes mellitus from developing countries and especially North west Nigeria and this has made itpertinent for documentation of the features of the disease in a major regional referral centre. The study was designed to describe the clinicalpresentation and outcome of childhood diabetes mellitus. Retrospective review of hospital records of paediatric patients managed for diabetes at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Nigeria between January 1999 and December 2006. The age, sex, presenting features, complications, laboratory features and outcome of the patients were retrieved from the hospital records. During the years under review eleven out of3,585 admissions were managed for Type 1 diabetes mellitus giving a prevalence rate of 3.1/1000. Male to female ratio was 1:0.6. The mean age at presentation was 10 4.5years most of the patients (72.7%) belonged to the lower socio-economic classes IV and V. Theduration of symptoms ranged from 6 58days with a mean of 24 22.8days. The patients presentedwith urinary tract infections (36.4%), malaria (27.3%) and recurrent boils (18.2%). Three (27.3%) of the patients had polyuria and polydypsia while only one (91%) patient had polyphagiaand weight loss. The mean random blood glucose on admission was 28.5 7.9mmo/L (16.9 39.2mmo/L) Four patient presented with diabetic Keloacidosis. Two patients (18.2%) were discharged against medical advicewhile 1(9.1%) patient died. Childhood Diabetes Mellitus, remainsrelatively uncommon in Nigeria.Keywords: Childhood, Diabetes Mellitus, Northwest Nigeria

Accidental childhood non- food poisonings in aminu kano teaching hospital kano, Northern Nigeria

Background: Childhood poisonings has been reported from several centers in Nigeria in the past 4 decades. Despite the periodic presentation of children with poisonings to the various health facilities in Kano state, there has been no reported study from Kano and adjoining catchment areas. Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the pattern of non-food childhood poisonings and outcome. Method: The case notes of children admitted to the emergency paediatric unit (EPU) and paediatric medical ward (PMW) with history of accidental Poisoning during a 7-year period (January 1999- December 2005) were reviewed. Relevant data extracted included the patient's age, sex, date of admission, poison ingested, clinical features and outcome. Results: During the 7-year period under review, there were 4900 paediatric admissions of which 74(1.6%) were cases of accidental poisoning. The commonest poisons were kerosene (74.3%), organophosphate insecticide (9.5%) and detergent (2.7%). Thirty-nine (52.7%) of the 74 cases of poisoning were in children below 2years of age. There were 43 males and 31 females, a male to female ratio of 1.4: 1. The mortality rate was 8.1%. Conclusion: The study has shown that accidental non food poisoning is a notable health problem in Kano and that kerosene was the most frequent cause of poisoning. The role of prevention of poisoning through government policies and health education is imperative

Cerebral palsy in Kano, Nigerian - A review

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Urinary screening for detection of symptomatic haematuria and proteinuria in children in urban and peri-urban schools in Northwestern Nigeria

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Children with protein energy malnutrition: management and out-come in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

Background: Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is a common condition in our environment, and still associated with high morbidity and mortality. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome and management of children with PEM in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, Nigeria. Methods: The records of all malnourished children admitted into the Paediatric unit of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) were retrieved over five year period (January 2002 – December 2006). Demographic data, predisposing factors, clinical types of PEM, outcome of management and time of discharge or death were also extracted from the case notes. Results: There were 169 children with PEM. The male to female ratio was 1:3:1. The prevalence rate was 5.4%. Marasmus was the commonest type of PEM (39.1%). Poverty, poor weaning practices and communicable diseases such as measles (26.6%), HIV (22.6%) and tuberculosis (10.7%) were the common associated factors. Ninety eight (58%) of the patients were discharged after full recovery. The case fatality rate was 29%. Conclusion: The mortality rate of severe PEM is still high. There is the need for close monitoring of all cases throughout admission. It is also advocated that special wards for this group of patients should be carved out in Paediatric units. Sahel Medical Journal Vol. 10 (3) 2007: pp. 84-8