Correlation of Features of Allergic Rhinitis and Allergic Conjunctivitis with Treatment Modalities

Introduction: Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is a chronic, symptomatic allergic disorder of the nose that is usually caused by IgE-mediated inflammatory response following exposure to an allergen. The allergen could be in the form of dust, pollen, flower, animal dander, mold, cold, food allergens or insect. Clinically, AR occurs when there are recurrent nasal symptoms which are reversible either spontaneously or with medication in the preceding one year. Such symptoms include at least two of the following; excessive sneezing, running nose, nasal itching, nasal discharge, nasal congestion or obstruction. Previous studies have linked AR to be co-existed with another form of allergic disorders including AC, Atopic dermatitis and Allergic Asthma. This study is aimed at assessing the feature of AR patients with coexistent AC as well as evaluating the effectiveness of the treatments offered to them. Objectives: The study was aimed at finding the correlation between the nasal and eye features in a patient who has co-existing allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted between August 2018 and November 2019 among 38 patients who presented to ENT and Ophthalmology departments of Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria and was diagnosed with both allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Relevant data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 20. P ≤ 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: The patients’ age range between 8 and 81 years with a median age of 33 years. The majority were less than 45 years (63.2%) with the male to female ratio of almost. Eye pain, itching, and redness account for 97.4% of all the eye features, while the presence of Cobblestone-like papillae is the least and accounted for 5%. Nasal itching (92.1%) was the commonest nasal symptom. Sleep disturbance was found to be the most common among those with eye itching (29.7%). Conclusion: This research was conducted to correlate the features of allergic rhinitis with those of conjunctivitis and common management and preventive measures offered to the patients seen in our clinics. The majority of the patients were less than 45 years with almost equal sex ratio. Eye pain, itching, and redness account for the majority of all the eye features, while the presence of Cobblestone-like papillae is the least eye feature. Nasal itching was the commonest nasal symptom and this was seen in the majority of the patients with eye symptoms

Relationship between the Usage of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets (LLITNs) and Malaria Prevalence among School-Age Children in Southwestern Nigeria

Purpose: The usage of LLITNs in malaria vector control has resulted in the reduction in malaria deaths among higher-risk groups (pregnant women and under-fives). However, there exists asymptomatic infection among older children, thereby making them a reservoir of malaria transmission. This study aimed at assessing the impact of LLITN usage on malaria prevalence among school-age children (SAC) in Ekiti, South Western Nigeria. Methods: Cross-sectional, two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to collect data from SAC during May and June 2017. A total of 1313 (Oye LGA: 657 and Ikole LGA: 656) SAC in selected public primary schools participated in the study. Sociodemographic information as well as data on LLITN usage the previous night was obtained using pretested, semistructured questionnaires adapted from the standardized Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) tools. Malaria infection was diagnosed by using the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) on blood samples that were collected by finger prick from each child. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows software version 26 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Usage of LLITNs among SAC was significantly higher in Ikole LGA than in Oye (p < 0.001). Socioeconomic factors (access to electricity, mother's occupation, and household size) showed significant associations with LLITN usage (p < 0.001) in both Oye and Ikole LGAs. Malaria prevalence was significantly low among SAC utilizing LLITNs in both Oye and Ikole LGAs (p < 0.001). There was a significant association between gender and malaria prevalence among SAC with males having higher prevalence than females (p < 0.001). Socioeconomic factors were significantly associated with malaria prevalence in both LGAs (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The usage of LLITNs caused a significant reduction in malaria prevalence among the school-age children in the study areas; hence, sensitization on usage should be scaled up towards malaria elimination

Evaluation of the Impact of Tinnitus on Health-Related Quality of Life amid Sawmill Workforces

Background: Tinnitus is the phantom aural perception of sound lacking an exterior stimulus, a sub-type of auditory hallucination and it is a common sensation among noise-exposed employees. It is a symptom, not an illness. Tinnitus can be extremely perplexing for its subjects and it may perhaps disturb their health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) if exposed to extreme noises in many ways. Objective: This study is intended to discover the effects and pattern of tinnitus on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) amid noise-exposed saw mill workforces. Method: This study was a prospective and public-centered cross-sectional study, including 510 sawmill personnel. 510 directorial staff was used as the control. Health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) of all subjects was assessed with the WHO Quality of Life brief questionnaire. Self-reported tinnitus morbidity was assessed by means of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. A correlation was established amid health-related quality of life scores and tinnitus severity scores. Result: There were 510 sawmill employees enlisted into the study, out of which 490 were men and 20 were women with control of the same age and sex. The mean age was 36.85 ± 7.68 years for the sawmill workers and 35.75 ± 8.65 years for the control group (t = 1.02, P = 0.275). The mean tinnitus score for the sawmill workers was 20.80 ± 2.56. Out of the 510 sawmill workers, 52 (10.2%) had tinnitus and one of the controls had tinnitus. The mean health-related quality of life scores were 62.20 ± 8.62 and 72.56 ± 5.98 for the sawmill workers and control group respectively. There was a substantial and remarkable difference between the health-related quality of life of the sawmill workers and the control group (P < 0.05). Also, it was observed that there was a noteworthy drop in the overall physical and psy-chological domains of the health-related quality of life scores with an increase in work environment noise level among sawmill employees and no major alteration was observed in the social and environmental aspects of the quality of life scores with change in occupational noise gains. Conclusion: The prevalence of tinnitus from this study was found to be 10.20% and an upsurge in tinnitus rigorousness was seen to be related with a substantial drop in physical, psychological and social domains of the health related quality of life. We highly endorse hearing conservation programmes and use of personal protective equipments for sawmills workers which will aid to decrease the effects of exposure to loud noise. Those sawmill labors already having tinnitus must attempt to go for treatment

Stroke Subtypes, Risk Factors and Treatment Outcomes at A Tertiary Hospital Situated in Rural Southwestern Nigeria: A Five- Year Restrospective Observational Study

Introduction: Despite the high burden of stroke globally, there is an observed paucity of data regarding its subtypes, risk factors and treatment outcomes in rural Southwestern Nigeria. The study ascertained the subtypes, risk factors and treatment outcomes of stroke at the adult Accident and Emergency Department of a tertiary hospital in a rural Southwestern Nigeria. Materials and methods: A retrospective survey using data form and standardized questionnaire was used to review the patients admitted for stroke between January 2015 and December 2019. The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0. The results were presented in descriptive and tabular formats. Results: In this study, 276 stroke patients comprised Ischemic (60.1%) vs Hemorrhagic (39.9%) strokes were studied. The mean age of the patients was 67.3±11.1 years. The majority were males and were older than 65 years. The independent predictors of stroke admissions were Informal education [(AOR = 0.288; 95% CI: (0.120-0.691), p = 0.005)], low income earners [(AOR = 0.452; 95% CI: (0.230-0.888), p = 0.021)], obesity [(AOR = 0.080; 95% CI: (0.019-0.347), p= 0.001)], heart failure [(AOR= 9.152; 95% CI: (2.325-41.266), p < 0.001)], atrial fibrillation [(AOR = 0.136; 95% CI: (0.068-0.891),p = 0.001)], tobacco smoking [(AOR = 0.350; 95% CI: (0.137-0.891), p = 0.028)], and poorly controlled blood pressure [(AOR = 0.107; 95% CI: (0.033-0.348), p <0.001)]. The mortality rate was 10.1%. Conclusion: The results of this study further support the argument on the higher prevalence of stroke admission in rural areas of Southwestern Nigeria. There may be need for public awareness on primary stroke prevention and early identification of the risk factors in order to reduce the prevalence and mortality of stroke in the rural Southwestern Nigeria

Stroke Subtypes, Risk Factors and Treatment Outcomes at A Tertiary Hospital Situated in Rural Southwestern Nigeria: A Five- Year Restrospective Observational Study

Introduction: Despite the high burden of stroke globally, there is an observed paucity of data regarding its subtypes, risk factors and treatment outcomes in rural Southwestern Nigeria. The study ascertained the subtypes, risk factors and treatment outcomes of stroke at the adult Accident and Emergency Department of a tertiary hospital in a rural Southwestern Nigeria. Materials and methods: A retrospective survey using data form and standardized questionnaire was used to review the patients admitted for stroke between January 2015 and December 2019. The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0. The results were presented in descriptive and tabular formats. Results: In this study, 276 stroke patients comprised Ischemic (60.1%) vs Hemorrhagic (39.9%) strokes were studied. The mean age of the patients was 67.3±11.1 years. The majority were males and were older than 65 years. The independent predictors of stroke admissions were Informal education [(AOR = 0.288; 95% CI: (0.120-0.691), p = 0.005)], low income earners [(AOR = 0.452; 95% CI: (0.230-0.888), p = 0.021)], obesity [(AOR = 0.080; 95% CI: (0.019-0.347), p= 0.001)], heart failure [(AOR= 9.152; 95% CI: (2.325-41.266), p < 0.001)], atrial fibrillation [(AOR = 0.136; 95% CI: (0.068-0.891),p = 0.001)], tobacco smoking [(AOR = 0.350; 95% CI: (0.137-0.891), p = 0.028)], and poorly controlled blood pressure [(AOR = 0.107; 95% CI: (0.033-0.348), p <0.001)]. The mortality rate was 10.1%. Conclusion: The results of this study further support the argument on the higher prevalence of stroke admission in rural areas of Southwestern Nigeria. There may be need for public awareness on primary stroke prevention and early identification of the risk factors in order to reduce the prevalence and mortality of stroke in the rural Southwestern Nigeria

PERCEPTION AND WILLINGNESS TO THE UPTAKE OF COVID-19 VACCINE AMONG HOUSEHOLD-HEADS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY OF SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its vaccine have been met with varying perceptions that may have both negative and positive effects on the willingness to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. The study is set to determine the perception and willingness of the household heads to the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in a rural community in Southwestern, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 409 household heads selected through a multistage sampling technique. The instrument of data collection was a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire using the Health Belief model constructs. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 21.0 and Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine the association between perception and willingness to uptake vaccine. P&lt;0.05 was taken as significant at 95% confidence interval. Results: The majority of the unvaccinated respondents in the study were not willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine (60.1%). There was a poor perception of the susceptibility/severity of unvaccinated respondents to COVID-19 infection and a poor perception of the benefit/barrier to the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Perception of susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 infection were statistically related to the willingness to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: There should be an increase in awareness campaigns to change the perception of people positively to COVID-19 infection and uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine

Global Health: Challenges And Responses. Natural Volatiles and Essential Oils.

Background: Globalization has made the world perceive health from a global perspective, considering how trends and events in individual countries and different regions impact health at the international level. As the world strives towards health for all, there are some major challenges slowing progress. Materials and Methods: A literature search for studies on Global health challenges was performed using Google Scholar search database, PubMed, Medline, and ScienceDirect. The bibliographies of included studies were also searched for additional references. About 115 articles were identified. Twenty-five articles were considered suitable for the review. Results: Climate change is identified as presenting the biggest threat to the achievement of health globally. Unsafe products and poor nutrition are also a significant threat to people’s wellbeing worldwide. Lifestyle changes and increased use of harmful chemicals in consumer products pose a serious health risk. Low health literacy also presents a challenge as it hinders proper communication of health-related information. Inadequate investment in health workers further adds to the challenge of access to health care.. Conclusion: Global health remains the top issue around the world, directly influencing decisions on all other aspects of life, whether they are social, economic, or environmental. Good health is a priority at the individual, national, and international levels. As the world tries to address illnesses and ensure the safety of the population, serious challenges limit the success of the initiatives set in place

Correlation of Features of Allergic Rhinitis and Allergic Conjunctivitis with Treatment Modalities

Introduction: Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is a chronic, symptomatic allergic disorder of the nose that is usually caused by IgE-mediated inflammatory response following exposure to an allergen. The allergen could be in the form of dust, pollen, flower, animal dander, mold, cold, food allergens or insect. Clinically, AR occurs when there are recurrent nasal symptoms which are reversible either spontaneously or with medication in the preceding one year. Such symptoms include at least two of the following; excessive sneezing, running nose, nasal itching, nasal discharge, nasal congestion or obstruction.Previous studies have linked AR to be co-existed with another form of allergic disorders including AC, Atopic dermatitis and Allergic Asthma.This study is aimed at assessing the feature of AR patients with coexistent AC as well as evaluating the effectiveness of the treatments offered to them. Objectives: The study was aimed at finding the correlation between the nasal and eye features in a patient who has co-existing allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis.Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted between August 2018 and November 2019 among 38 patients who presented to ENT and Ophthalmology departments of Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria and was diagnosed with both allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Relevant data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 20. P ≤ 0.05 was taken as significant.Results: The patients’ age range between 8 and 81 yearswith a median age of 33 years. The majority were less than 45 years (63.2%) with the male to female ratio of almost. Eye pain, itching, and redness account for 97.4% of all the eye features, while the presence of Cobblestone-like papillaeis the least and accounted for 5%. Nasal itching (92.1%) was the commonest nasal symptom. Sleep disturbance was found to be the most common among those with eye itching (29.7%).Conclusion: This research was conducted to correlate the features of allergicrhinitis with those of conjunctivitis and common management and preventive measures offered to the patients seen in our clinics. The majority of the patients were less than 45 years with almost equal sex ratio. Eye pain, itching, and redness account for the majority of all the eye features, while the presence of Cobblestone-like papillaeis the least eye feature. Nasal itching was the commonest nasal symptom and this was seen in the majority of the patients with eye symptoms. Keywords: Allergy; rhinitis; conjuctivitis.1. INTRODUCTIONAllergic Rhinitis (AR) is a chronic, symptomatic allergic disorder of the nose that is caused by IgE-mediated inflammatory response following exposure to an allergen. [1] The allergen couldbe in form of dust, pollen, flower, animal dander, mold, cold or insect. [2] Clinically, Allergic rhinitis occurs when there are recurrent nasal symptoms which are reversible either spontaneously or with medication in the preceding one year. [3] Such symptoms include at least two of the following; excessive sneezing, running nose, nasal itching, nasal discharge, nasal congestion or obstruction. [3].The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between clinical features of Allergic Rhinitis (AR) with Allergic conjunctivitis (AC). The availability of such data will be necessary, not only for epidemiological purposes but also for clinical diagnosis and treatment of the affected individuals.2. METHODOLOGYThis is cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between August 2018 and November 2019 among 38 patients who presented to ENT and Ophthalmology departments of Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria and were diagnosed with both allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Sample size was obtained using G*Power version 3.1.9 software to calculate the power analysis and determine the optimal sample size. The type of power analysis chosen within G*Power is “a priori: computer required sample size –given α, power, and effect size” and the test family chosen was Chi square tests. The statistical test chosen was Goodness of fit tests: contingency tables. The effect size identified was 0.5 (large effect size), the alpha level was 0.05 while the power level was 0.80. The total sample size calculated was 32 however all 38 patients that presented to ENT and Ophthalmology with both allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis between August 2018 and November 2018 were enrolled into the study. Relevant history was taken and clinical examinations were carried out on the patients. Adequate treatment was offered and each patient was followed up for 3 months to evaluate the response to the treatment given. The data collected from thepatients were entered into the computer software and analyzed using SPSS version 20. P ≤ 0.05 was taken as significant

Relationship between the Usage of Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets (LLITNs) and Malaria Prevalence among School-Age Children in Southwestern Nigeria

Purpose. The usage of LLITNs in malaria vector control has resulted in the reduction in malaria deaths among higher-risk groups (pregnant women and under-fives). However, there exists asymptomatic infection among older children, thereby making them a reservoir of malaria transmission. This study aimed at assessing the impact of LLITN usage on malaria prevalence among school-age children (SAC) in Ekiti, South Western Nigeria. Methods. Cross-sectional, two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to collect data from SAC during May and June 2017. A total of 1313 (Oye LGA: 657 and Ikole LGA: 656) SAC in selected public primary schools participated in the study. Sociodemographic information as well as data on LLITN usage the previous night was obtained using pretested, semistructured questionnaires adapted from the standardized Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) tools. Malaria infection was diagnosed by using the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) on blood samples that were collected by finger prick from each child. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows software version 26 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results. Usage of LLITNs among SAC was significantly higher in Ikole LGA than in Oye p<0.001. Socioeconomic factors (access to electricity, mother’s occupation, and household size) showed significant associations with LLITN usage p<0.001 in both Oye and Ikole LGAs. Malaria prevalence was significantly low among SAC utilizing LLITNs in both Oye and Ikole LGAs p<0.001. There was a significant association between gender and malaria prevalence among SAC with males having higher prevalence than females p<0.001. Socioeconomic factors were significantly associated with malaria prevalence in both LGAs p<0.001. Conclusion. The usage of LLITNs caused a significant reduction in malaria prevalence among the school-age children in the study areas; hence, sensitization on usage should be scaled up towards malaria elimination

Five-year analysis of clinical presentations and predictors of stroke mortality in rural Southwestern Nigeria: A retrospective observational study

Introduction: Stroke mortality and its predictors are important outcome measures in stroke epidemiological studies and clinical trials. There is an observed paucity of data regarding the clinical presentations and predictors of stroke mortality in Southwestern Nigeria. Few available related studies have centred on hospitals in the urban and sub-urban areas; however, none in the rural settings. This study, therefore, focuses on the clinical presentations and predictors of stroke mortality at the adult Emergency Centre of a tertiary hospital situated in rural Southwestern Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective survey, using data form and standardized questionnaire, was used to study the patients admitted for stroke between January 2015 and December 2019. The data were analysed using SPSS Version 22.0. The results were presented in descriptive and tabular formats. Results: A total of 276 patients were studied. Their mean age was 67.3 ± 11.1 years. The most common clinical presentations were hemiparesis and cranial nerve deficit. The case of fatality was 10.1%. The predictors of stroke mortality were age ≥65 years [(AOR = 12.752; 95% CI: (1.022–159.190), p = 0.048)], Glascow coma score <8 [(AOR = 50.348; 95% CI: (7.779–325.866), p < 0.001)], uncontrolled blood pressure [(AOR = 23.321; 95% CI: (2.449–221.927), p = 0.006)], presence of atrial fibrillation [(AOR = 16.456; 95% CI: (2.169–169.336), p = 0.009)], convulsion [(AOR = 25.889; 95% CI: (2.374–282.296), p = 0.008)], heart failure [(AOR = 30.284; 95% CI: (3.265–256.347), p < 0.001)], and a repeat stroke [(AOR = 32.617; 95% CI: (2.410–441.381), p = 0.009)]. Conclusion: The 7-day fatality was 10.1%. The predictors of stroke mortality were poor Glascow coma score, uncontrolled blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, convulsion and a repeat stroke. This study strengthens the argument on the higher prevalence of stroke and its mortality in rural Southwestern Nigeria. Our findings may provide an impetus for prospective research on this outcome