Tumours and tumour-like conditions of the jaw seen in Zaria, Nigeria

Background: Tumours of the jaw may arise from the odontogenic tissues or from the non-odontogenic tissues. Many of the odontogenic tumours are considered as developmental rather than neoplastic. Method: The present study is a retrospective analysis of 246 tumours of the jaw seen in the Pathology Department of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria from 1987 – 1996. The tumours were classified according to World Health Organization international histological classification for odontogenic tumours. The cases were analyzed according to histological type, age and sex. Result: Jaw tumours formed 3.9% of all tumours seen in the department during the study period. Out of these 141 were benign and 105 were malignant. They had an almost equal sex ratio. The benign tumours were made up of the following histological types: - 48 (34.0%) ameloblastomas; 33 (23.4%) fibrous dysplasia; 31 (22.0%) cemento-osseous dysplasia; 9 (6.4%) myxomas; 8 (5.7%) ameloblastic fibroma; and 3 (2.1%) adenomatoid odontogenic tumours; and 9 (6.4%) unclassified tumours. The benign tumours had an overall M: F ratio of 1:1.3. About 94% of the ameloblastomas occurred in the mandible. The malignant jaw tumours were made up of the following histological types: - 79 (75.2%) malignant lymphoma; 10 (9.5%) osteogenic sarcomas; 2 (1.9%) chondrosarcoma; 1 (1.0%) malignant ameloblastoma and 6 (5.7%) secondary tumours, 7 (6.7%) were unclassified. The malignant jaw tumours had an overall M: F ratio of 1.5:1. The peak age for the malignant jaw tumours was the first decade. Malignant lymphoma shared a similar peak. Osteogenic sarcoma peaked in the fourth decade while the only case of malignant ameloblastoma was in the fifth decade. Eighty one percent of the jaw lymphomas were of Burkitt's type, 53.1% of which were within the age group 5 - 9 years. The other non-Burkitt's lymphomas were distributed between 5 to 60 years. Conclusions: Ameloblastoma is the commonest benign tumour of the jaw in Zaria, while Burkitt's lymphoma is the commonest malignant jaw tumour. The later occurs mainly in the first decade of life. Key words: Jaw tumours (Annals Af Med: 2002 1(2): 72-78

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Smartphone photomicrography: A quick, easy, useful technique for the clinicia

Malaria Parasitemia in Children Aged less than 5 Years Presenting with Fever in Kaduna, Northwestern Nigeria.

Background: Malaria is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in sub Saharan Africa. Fever is the commonest manifestation and Children aged less than 5 years are most vulnerable. An appraisal of this disease among these children is important to reducing the impact of the disease.Objective: To determine the prevalence and identify factors affecting malaria parasitemia in febrile children aged less than 5 years.Methods: Blood samples taken from all febrile children aged less than 5 years who presented to the department of Pediatrics, 44 Nigeria Army Reference Hospital Kaduna(NARHK) between July 2011 and September 2011, were examined for presence of malaria parasites.Results: Out of the 730 febrile children assessed, 411 (56.3%) had malaria parasitemia with densities of +, 2+ and 3+ in 301(73.2%), 90(22%) and 20(4.8%) children respectively. Majority were males (476, 65.2%), Aged = 2 years (409, 56% ) and in the upper (I III) social classes (497, 68.1%). Most (523, 71.6%) presented within = 48 hours of illness. Anti-malaria drug use was observed in 426 (58.4%) children and Artemisinin-based Anti-malaria Combination Therapy (ACT) drugs were the commonest drugs used (247, 58%). Drugs were prescribed by caregiver (183, 43%), patent medicine seller (102, 23.9%), in a health facility (94, 22.1%) and by significant others (47, 11%) respectively. Only 95(13%) used Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) and 34(4.6%) used traditional herbal mixtures. Malaria parasitemia was significantly (p?0.05) associated with non use of anti-malaria drug, low social class, non usage of ITNs and age =2 years .Of those with malaria parasitemia 396(96.4%) were treated for uncomplicated malaria and recovered fully. Fifteen (3.7%) were admitted and treated for severe malaria, of which 13(86.7%) of them recovered fully and 2(13.3%) died.Conclusion: Malaria is still a major cause of morbidity among febrile children aged less than 5 years of age with the severe form occurring less frequently but with grave consequences.Keywords: Malaria parasite, Fever, Childre