Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of asthmatic children seen at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder associated with variable air flow obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. It is characterised clinically by recurrent episodes of cough, difficulty in breathing and wheezing which resolves spontaneously or with treatment. Thesocio-demographic and clinical characteristics of asthmatic children in north western Nigeria have not been reported.Methods: This was a descriptive study in children with asthma aged 4-15 years carried out over a 3 month period Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano. The aim was to determine the socio-demographic and clinical parameters of asthmatic children. Asthmatic children whoseparents or guardian consented to the study were recruited consecutively. Their bio-data, sociodemographic and physical examination were documented.Results: Seventy asthmatic children were recruited of which 50(71.4%) were males and 20(28.6%) were females, giving a male: female ratio of 2.5:1. Insecticide was the commonest asthma trigger (64.3%) and 26(37.1%)patients belonged to socio economic class III. Mild persistent asthma was the commonest form of asthma severity encountered. There was positive correlation between PEFR and height (r = 0.577, p< 0.0001).Conclusion: Most of the asthmatics children seen at AKTH, Kano were males with mild persistent asthma, had positive family history of atopy and belonged to the middle socio economic class.Key words: Asthma, Children, Socioeconomic class, Asthma severit

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia: a case report in a Nigerian child and literature review

This report of Hereditary anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HAED), a genetic disorder characterized by abnormalities of structures of ectodermal origin, was informed by its rarity, and its import for survival in a tropical environment. The five-year old male was first seen on account of inability to cut the front teeth, and a persistent offensive nasal discharge. He had heat intolerance and inability to perspire from early infancy. Pedigree evaluation revealed that both parents are Nigerians and unrelated, but the maternal front dentition was visibly defective. A 19-year old female sibling needed dentures at 10 years of age, while the father was one of two survivors out of 12 children, eight of whom were males. Findings included hypotrichosis; “saddle-nose” deformity and an offensive nasal discharge; the skin was thin, warm and dry; he had no incisors and canines, but had a single erupted premolar on either side and radiographic evidence of unerupted premolars was found. Genetic counseling and parental anticipatory guidance were offered, as was antimicrobial treatment for the co-morbid atrophic rhinitis. Dentures were deferred on the dentist's advice. This case report of HAED in a Nigerian was aimed at raising the local index of clinical suspicion by highlighting the reality of rarities, even with inadequate diagnostic support. The diagnostic parameters, literature review and the management strategies are discussed.Key words: Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia; hypotrichosis; oligodontia;Nigeri

Acute Respiratory Infections in the Middle-Belt Region of Nigeria

Background: ARI continues to be a leeding cause of death among children globally beyond the year 2000. Close 12 million children under the age of 5years die each year in the developing countries, mainly from preventable causes and approximately 2.28 million (19%) were due to acute respiratory infections (ARI). It therefore became necessary to assess the present status of the disease in Nigeria to mastermind workable plans for reducing the mortality and morbidity burden.Methods: A designed pro-forma was used to collect and collate information from mothers or direct care givers of children at both hospital and community levels relating to family background, home setting, anthropometry, clinical presentation of ARI, previous medications, investigations, complications and outcomes of illness.Results: A total of 163 children were recruited for the study. One hundred and six had moderate and severe form of ARI while 57 had mild form. The in-patients accounted for 15.2% of all the admission within the study period.All children were under 12 years of age with male preponderance. Fast breathing, Tarchypnoea, Cough and Fever were the leading ways of presentations. The immunization coverage of study population by various antigens in the EPI were poor. Majority of the hospital children had pre-consultation antibiotics while none of the children from the rural community had pre-recruitment antibiotics. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were the leading organisms isolated with good sensitivity to Quinolones, Gentamycin and Cephalosporins. Heart failure was the leading complications. Mortality was 12.3% among the hospitalized patient and none among the community children.Conclusion: It was concluded that ARI is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children with opportunity for burden reduction.Keywords: Acute Respiratory Infection, present outlook, burde

Management of Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in Children: Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Paediatrics Association of Nigeria (PAN)

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