HIV Infection in hospitalized under-5 children with acute watery diarrhoea in Calabar, Nigeria.

Background: The signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS in children are not quite distinct because of similarities in clinical presentation between HIV infection and endemic tropical diseases. Diarrhoea, one of the cardinal symptoms of HIV/AIDS, is a common childhood disease. Objective: This study was conducted to find the prevalence of HIV infection among children admitted with acute watery diarrhoea in our diarrhoea treatment and training unit. Method: Consecutive children aged below 5 years admitted into the unit with diarrhoea were recruited. The children were examined. The parents were counseled before blood was taken for HIV screening. In addition, parents of children who were sero-positive for HIV were also screened. Results: One hundred and fifty- two who made the inclusion criteria were studied. Eight (5.3%) were sero-positive for HIV, five of them being males. None of these mothers had antenatal care and they were all delivered at either home or traditional attendants' homes. All were under weight and six of them presented with severe dehydration. These factors reached statistical significant differences between children who were sero-positive and those who were not. None of these eight patients died from acute watery diarrhoea but two of them eventually died from complications of persistent diarrhoea. Conclusion: Children with HIV may present with acute watery diarrhoea. Children with diarrhoea that are underweight with severe dehydration whose sero-status are not known should be screened for HIV

Phocomelia in an HIV infected baby: Case report

No Abstract

Nutritional Assessment of Some Nigerian Land and Water Snail Species.

Proximate and mineral analyses were carried out on Nigeria's three land (Archachatina marginata ovum, Archachatina marginata saturalis and Limicolaria spp) and two fresh water (Lanistes varicus and Nucella lapillus) snail species for nutritional assessment using their muscular foot tissues. The mean of crude protein ranged from 70.00 ± 0.03 in Lanistes varicus to 84.43 ± 0.01% in Archachatina marginata ovum and moisture content of 73.69 ± 0.01 in Nucella lapillus to 80.78 ± 0.06% in Archachatina marginata ovum were obtained. The water snails had significantly (P < 0.05) higher crude fibre than the land snails. Values as low as 0.50 ± 0.02 crude fibre were obtained in Archachatina marginata ovum while Nucella lapillus had the highest value of 1.50 ± 0.01. Mineral analysis of the snail species revealed relatively high amount of minerals in the water snails compared to the land snails. Calcium values of 172.79 ± 0.01 in Limicolaria spp to 182.70 ± 0.02mg /100g in Nucella lapillus were obtained. Phosphorus ranged from 51.49 ± 0.01 in Archachatina marginata saturalis to 62.52± 0.01 mg/100g in Lanistes varicus and Iron content ranged from 6.79 ± 0.06 in Archachatina marginata ovum to 11.09 ± 0.01mg/ 100g in Nucella lapillus with low zinc content of 1.14 ± 0.01 in Limicolaria spp. to 1.32 ± 0.01mg/100g in Nucella lapillus. This research therefore, encourages increase in production and consumption of snail species especially Archachatina marginata ovum based on its high crude protein content and size. Keywords: Land and water snails, minerals, chemical composition, and nutritive qualities.Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies of Management Vol. 1 (2) 2008: pp. 56-6

Worm Infestation And Anaemia Among Pre-school Children Of Peasant Farmers In Calabar, Nigeria.

Background: Worm infection and anaemia are common childhood conditions in Nigeria. We assessed the status of helminthiasis and associated anaemia among pre school children of peasant farmers aged 1-5 years living in a rubber plantation near Calabar, Nigeria. Design: Cross sectional. Method: Three hundred and fifty children were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling technique. Freshly passed stool was examined using Kato-Katz method while anaemia was estimated using haematocrit technique. Result: Of the 350 children, 174 (49.7%) had intestinal helminths: Ascaris lumbricoides 64.4%, hookworms 10.9% and Trichuris trichuria 1.1%. There were 41(23.6%) children with polyparasitism, 33 of them were due to Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworms. The worm load was generally light in intensity with egg per gram of stool ranging from 24-60,960. Males (28.9%) were infected more than females (20.8%). The frequency of infection increases with age. The prevalence of anaemia among the entire study population and in those infected with worms was 56.6% and 56.9% respectively. With polyparasitism there was a relative increase in the frequency of anaemia females > males. Conclusion: Worm infections and anaemia are common in our children. A comprehensive control strategy involving good sanitation, sinking of bore hole for clean water supply and regular deworming exercises are recommended. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (3) 2008: pp. 220-22

Post Neonatal Tetanus in Calabar, Nigeria: A 10 Year Review

A 10 year retrospective study of post neonatal tetanus in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital was carried out. The study period spanned from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2006. The aim was to determine the incidence of post neonatal tetanus and associated bio-characteristics. Information was extracted from case records of children admitted with the diagnosis of post neonatal tetanus. During the period of study, sixty-seven patients were admitted with tetanus out of a total 6,026 admissions giving an incidence of 1.1%. Male to female ratio was 1.9:1. The age range was 2 - 14 years, all from low socio-economic class. About 10% of the patients were partially immunized. Portal of entry to Clostridium tetani was mostly wounds sustained during play and while executing house-hold chores. Incubation period ranged from 4 – 27 days while onset period was 1 – 6 days. Case fatality rate was 18% accounting for 3.7% of the 300 deaths recorded during the period. In conclusion, tetanus remains a problem in this sub-region. Injuries predispose to majority of the cases. Booster dose of tetanus toxoid at school entry to all children has been recommended. Keywords: Paediatric ward, Post Neonatal, Tetanus. Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 54 (2) 2008: pp. 45-4