Hepatitis B Surface AntigenemiaAmong Transfused Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Enugu Nigeria.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major public health problem in the world with high endemicity in Nigeria. It is contracted through contact with the body fluid of an infected person. Patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA), a common haematological disorder inNigeria,may have complications that require blood transfusion, thus exposing them to the risk.Objective: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among transfused childrenwith SCAin Enugu.Subjects and Method: One hundred and thirty transfused children aged 6months to 17years with SCA were recruited consecutively fromOctober 2004 toApril 2005 while 91 non transfused childrenwith SCAaged 7months to 17yearswere recruited over the same period served as controls. Both groups were screened for HBsAg using ELISA method.Results: There was no statistically difference in the HBsAg positivity among transfused (8.5%)when compared to non transfused (7.7%) (p=0.837). The difference between those who received their blood frompaid donors (8.7%) and those fromvoluntary (8.2%) was also not statistically significant (p=0.753).Conclusion: The high prevalence of HBsAg among children with SCA in Enugu may not be related to blood transfusion.Niger Med J. Vol. 49, No. 4, Oct – Dec, 2008: 88 – 90.Keywords:HepatitisBvirus, Sickle cell anaemia,Blood transfusio

Clinical and Socio-Demographic Characteristic of Children who receive Emergency Blood Transfusion in Orlu, Imo State Nigeria

Background: Severe anaemia requiring urgent blood transfusionis a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in the developing world. This often tasks the blood transfusion services of any typical tropical leading to transfusion of blood obtained from private laboratories whose services are often questionable. Under these circumstances the children are exposed to an increased risk of HIV and other blood borne infections.Aims and Objective: To determine the clinical and sociodemographiccharacteristics of children who receive urgent blood transfusion in Orli, Imo State, Nigeria.Methodology: This is a retrospective review of records of 53 children who received emergency blood transfusion during the period 1st June 2006, to December 31st 2007 at the Children’s emergencyward of the Imo State UniversityTeaching Hospital, Orlu,Nigeria.Results: Out of the 63 patients who were admitted within the period under review, 53(8.4%) received urgent blood transfusion. More than 80% of these patients were below 5 years old. There was no sex predilection. The patients from the medium social class presented with severe anaemia more frequently than other social classes. The need for urgent blood transfusion correlated significantly with medium social class. Malaria was the commonest case of severe anaemia requiring urgent bloodtransfusion either singly (52.8%) or in combination with other disease conditions (24.5%).Conclusion: Severe anaemia associated with acute malaria is a major cause ofmorbidity and mortality in children especially in those less than 5 years old. The need for urgent blood transfusion correlated significantly with being from a medium social class family.Niger Med J. Vol. 49, No.3, July– Sept, 2008: 67 – 69.Keywords: Severe anaemia, emergency blood transfusion, children

Diagnosis and Management of Paediatric Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Background: HepatitisC virus is a chronic life-long infection in themajority of patientswho are infected with the virus.Without accurate diagnosis and follow up, these children cannot be offered optimal care, and are at risk of presenting in adult life with significant liver pathology and long-term sequelae.Objective: To explore the possible diagnostic andmanagementoptions available to those affected.Materials and Method: Source of informationwasmainly from published works in and outside Nigeria. The information was extracted over a period of 12months fromJanuary to December 2007.Results: Treatment options available are use of immune response modifiers (interferons), antiviral agents (ribavirin), combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin, and liver transplantation.Conclusion: Early identification and optimal treatment to thosein which treatment are indicated.Niger Med J. Vol. 49, No. 4, Oct. – Dec., 2008: 96 – 100.Keywords:Acute infective hepatitis;Catalase; LiverFunction Tests;Malondialdehyde; Superoxide dismutas

A review of paediatric acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

No AbstractKeywords: Paediatric HIV/AIDS, HIV Virus, AR

Common intestinal helminthiasis in children: A review.

No Abstract

Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Nigerian Blood Donors and Hepatitis B Virus Transmission Risks

Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) characterized by the absence of detectable HBsAg remains a potential threat in blood safety. We investigated the actual prevalence, viral factors and genotype of OBI infections in Nigerian blood donors.Serum collected from two blood banks were reconfirmed as HBsAg seronegative by ELISA. Forty HBsAg positive samples were employed as controls. HBV-DNA was amplified from all donors and viral loads were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Antibodies to the HBV core, surface and HBe antigen (anti-HBc,anti-HBs,HBeAg) were measured. The PreS/S and PreC/C regions of the HBV genome were sequenced.Of the 429 blood donors, 72(17%) were confirmed as OBI by DNA detection in different reference labs and excluded the concern of possible contamination. Of the 72 OBI samples, 48(67%) were positive for anti-HBc, 25(35%) positive for anti-HBs, and 2(3%) positive for HBeAg. Of the 72 OBI samples, 31(43%) were seropositive for either anti-HBc, anti-HBs or HBeAg, 21 (30%) positive for both anti-HBc and anti-HBs,one positive for both anti-HBc and HBeAg. None of the OBI samples were positive for all three serological markers. The viral load was <50copies/ml in the OBI samples and genotype E was predominant. The L217R polymorphism in the reverse transcriptase domain of the HBV polymerase gene was observed significantly higher in OBI compared with HBsAg positive individuals (P<0.0001).High incidence of OBI is relevant in high endemic areas worldwide and is a general burden in blood safety. This study signifies the high prevalence of OBI and proposes blood donor samples in Nigeria should be pre-tested for OBI by nucleic acid testing (NAT) and/or anti-HBc prior to transfusion to minimize the HBV infection risk