Occurrence of otitis media in children and assessment of treatment options

Abstract Background: Otitis media is a more frequent occurrence in children, and the disease may progress from an acute to chronic state if appropriate and timely intervention is not initiated. Methods: A total of 212 children aged 6 months to 10 years were examined and treated for otitis media, in a 13-month hospital-based study. Results: Acute otitis media was diagnosed in 130 (61.3 per cent) of the patients. There were 82 (38.7 per cent) chronic suppurative otitis media cases. The incidence of acute otitis media and chronic suppurative otitis media in the first year of life was 54.6 per cent and 45.1 per cent respectively. Chronic suppurative otitis media patients were assigned to one of three treatment groups. Recovery occurred in 70.4 per cent of amoxicillin-treated patients, in 88.9 per cent of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid treated patients and in 96.4 per cent of culture and antibiotic sensitivity test patients. Relapses were seen only in the amoxicillin (five cases) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (two cases) groups. Conclusion: The success rate in patients treated with antibiotics makes this option mandatory for an established diagnosis

Otorhinolaryngological Manifestation of Allergy in South Western Nigerian Children

Background: Allergy is a systemic, chronic and recurrent disorder of otorhinolaryngological importance. This disorder is often neglected with late presentation in paediatric age group. This study aimed at determining the prevalence, sociodemographic features, trigger factors, clinical features, complications, quality of life, associated comorbid illnesses and treatment outcome among children. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective hospital based study of children with allergy in our center. The study was carried out over a period of one year from May 2017 to April 2018. Data were obtained by using pretested self-administered questionnaire. Data obtained were documented, collated and analyzed by using SPSS version 18.0 Results: Prevalence of allergy in this study was 8.6%. There were 60.2% male with male to female ratio of 1.5:1. There was positive family history of allergy in 55.9% patients. Perennial allergy was the commonest in 68.3% of the children. Major forms of allergens were 71.5% inhalant and 9.7% ingestant. The common self-reported trigger factors were dust, cold weather and smoke in 58.1%, 41.9% and 22.0% respectively. Major associated comorbid illnesses in this study were 43.5% adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Commonest allergic symptoms were runny nose in 38.7%. The commonest affected organ was nose in 46.8%. Commonly affected quality of life was 22.6% irritability, 20.4% absenteeism, 19.9% sleep disruption and 12.9% impaired social life. Common complications were 48.9% secondary infection, 46.2% otitis media/externa, 44.1% injury, 42.5% foreign body impaction and 40.3% pharyngitis. Treatment of allergy leads to improvement and recovery from the clinical features in 52.2%. No significant improvement in 47.8%. Conclusion: Allergy is a systemic disease affecting ear, nose and throat. It affects all paediatric age group with associated comorbid illnesses, complications and affectation of quality of life at presentation in majority of the patients

Communication Disorders among Children in a Developing Country, Nigeria

Background: Communication disorders in children are an invisible disability posing challenges to otorhinolaryngologist in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, sociodemographic features, aetiology, types of communication disorders among under 18 years children attending our facility. Methods: This was a prospective study conducted in ear, nose and throat department in a Nigerian university teaching hospital, from June 2014 to May 2019. Data were obtained by using pretested interviewers assisted questionnaires from consented patients and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Prevalence of communication disorder was 16.1%. Male was 68.2% with male to female ratio of 2.1:1. Communication disorder is commoner in first child 58.1% and detected by mother in 70.5% cases. Major cause was due to infection in 68.2%. Large percentage of communication disorder were language disorder in 60.8% and speech disorders which constitute 39.2% with associated varying degrees of hearing impairment in 78.8% of them. Sensorineural hearing impairment was noted in 69.6% cases. Language disorders were delayed speech & language, mutism and specific language impairment in 22.6%, 16.6% and 14.7% respectively. Major speech disorder was articulation problem in 15.7%. Main sources of referral were 52.5% from paediatrician while 30.9% was from general practitioners. Conclusions: There was high prevalence of communication disorder which was associated with high prevalence of hearing impairment. The major causes were infection with inadequate obstetrics management

Physicochemical and fatty acid profile of egusi oil from supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

Oil extraction from egusi seeds using supercritical CO2 extraction method was performed using series of operational parameters, temperature (55, 60, 75 °C), flow rate (30 g/h) and pressure (450, 600 bar). Egusi oil (EO) extracted at 60 °C, 30 g/h and 450 bar (EO1); 55 °C, 30 g/h and 600 bar (EO2) and 75 °C, 30 g/h and 600 bar (EO3) were investigated in a plant scale supercritical equipment. The fatty acid composition of egusi oil was analysed using gas chromatography, with result showing a high linoleic acid approximately (53%) and oleic acids (19%). The index of atherogenicity (IA%) and thrombogenicity index (IT %) were significantly low for the three oil samples, indicating its health benefits. Oxidative stability of egusi oil was analysed by Methrohm 743 Rancimat, confirming a less oxidised oil. Hence, egusi oil can be used as a raw material in dietary supplements and as a functional oil in the food industry

Occurrence of otitis media in children and assessment of treatment options

Background: Otitis media is a more frequent occurrence in children, and the disease may progress from an acute to chronic state if appropriate and timely intervention is not initiated. Methods: A total of 212 children aged 6 months to 10 years were examined and treated for otitis media, in a 13-month hospital-based study. Results: Acute otitis media was diagnosed in 130 (61.3 per cent) of the patients. There were 82 (38.7 per cent) chronic suppurative otitis media cases. The incidence of acute otitis media and chronic suppurative otitis media in the first year of life was 54.6 per cent and 45.1 per cent respectively. Chronic suppurative otitis media patients were assigned to one of three treatment groups. Recovery occurred in 70.4 per cent of amoxicillin-treated patients, in 88.9 per cent of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid treated patients and in 96.4 per cent of culture and antibiotic sensitivity test patients. Relapses were seen only in the amoxicillin (five cases) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (two cases) groups. Conclusion: The success rate in patients treated with antibiotics makes this option mandatory for an established diagnosis

CHEMICAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF SNACKS PRODUCED FROM WHEAT FLOUR FORTIFIED WITH Moringa oleifera LEAF POWDER

Healthy snacks are widely accepted and can be part of a daily diet since they can be eaten in different areas such as homes, offices, conferences, workshops, and most especially in schools. Snacks have become an essential commodity in every home for both young and old. There are several reasons why snacks are consumed. It could result from hunger, convenience, cravings, socializing, and emotional comfort. Various individual, societal, and environmental elements influence snacking behaviour. Furthermore, awareness of healthy snacks and selfesteem in selecting the "right" snacks are major predictors of snacking behaviour. Most snack foods are commonly referred to as "junk food" or "empty foods" because they include a large amount of calories from sugar or fat with minimal protein, vitamin, or mineral content. However, despite their role in the daily diet, these snacks are mostly energy dense and low in nutrients. Some research studies have been done on functional snacks, but more is yet to be explored. Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MoLP) has been helpful as a food fortificant in various products. This study has utilized it to fortify two varieties of snacks, namely Magwinya and Chinchin (wheat flour). The chemical and functional properties of these snack food products after fortification with MoLP at 0% (Control), 1% and 5% of the variants were determined. Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MoLP) (1% and 5%) had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on the moisture (4.63 – 3.97%), ash (0.52 - 1.09%), protein (11.36 – 13.40%), and total fat of both the dough (0.17 – 0.81%) and fried product (10.17 – 15.39%) of Magwinya samples. Chinchin fortified with MoLP had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher phenolic content (1.08 – 2.17 mg GAE/g), antioxidant activity (13.41 – 53.81 μmol TE/g), protein content (6.27 - 6.74%), oil uptake (1.89 - 7.12%), and ash (0.99 - 1.39%) consistently at 5% MoLP. These results show that these snacks fortified by MoLP can be advantageous to children and adults in Western and Southern Africa

CHEMICAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF SNACKS PRODUCED FROM WHEAT FLOUR FORTIFIED WITH Moringa oleifera LEAF POWDER

Healthy snacks are widely accepted and can be part of a daily diet since they can be eaten in different areas such as homes, offices, conferences, workshops, and most especially in schools. Snacks have become an essential commodity in every home for both young and old. There are several reasons why snacks are consumed. It could result from hunger, convenience, cravings, socializing, and emotional comfort. Various individual, societal, and environmental elements influence snacking behaviour. Furthermore, awareness of healthy snacks and selfesteem in selecting the "right" snacks are major predictors of snacking behaviour. Most snack foods are commonly referred to as "junk food" or "empty foods" because they include a large amount of calories from sugar or fat with minimal protein, vitamin, or mineral content. However, despite their role in the daily diet, these snacks are mostly energy dense and low in nutrients. Some research studies have been done on functional snacks, but more is yet to be explored. Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MoLP) has been helpful as a food fortificant in various products. This study has utilized it to fortify two varieties of snacks, namely Magwinya and Chinchin (wheat flour). The chemical and functional properties of these snack food products after fortification with MoLP at 0% (Control), 1% and 5% of the variants were determined. Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MoLP) (1% and 5%) had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on the moisture (4.63 – 3.97%), ash (0.52 - 1.09%), protein (11.36 – 13.40%), and total fat of both the dough (0.17 – 0.81%) and fried product (10.17 – 15.39%) of Magwinya samples. Chinchin fortified with MoLP had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher phenolic content (1.08 – 2.17 mg GAE/g), antioxidant activity (13.41 – 53.81 μmol TE/g), protein content (6.27 - 6.74%), oil uptake (1.89 - 7.12%), and ash (0.99 - 1.39%) consistently at 5% MoLP. These results show that these snacks fortified by MoLP can be advantageous to children and adults in Western and Southern Africa

Demography, types, outcome and relationship of surgically treated intracranial suppuration complicating chronic suppurative otitis media and bacterial rhinosinusitis

Introduction: Surgically treated intracranial suppurations (ICS) are uncommon, life-threatening neurosurgical emergencies. They can result from complication of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and bacterial rhinosinusitis (BRS). The objective of this study was to know the frequency of BRS and CSOM and relate it to its rare complication of surgically treated ICS while also describing the demography, type and outcome of ICS that resulted from BRS and CSOM. Materials and Methods: All patients that presented to the Otorhinolaryngological department and Neurosurgical unit of the same institution with clinical and radiological features of CSOM, BRS, and ICS were prospectively studied over a 5-year period. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 3 months. Results: Two thousand, two hundred and seventy-nine patients presented during the 5-year study period. Of all these patients, 1511 had CSOM (66.3%) and 768 (33.7%) presented with features of BRS. Eleven (0.73%) had ICS complicating their CSOM while 8 (1.04%) cases of surgically treated ICS followed BRS. Bacterial rhinosinusitis was not more likely to lead to ICS (P = 0.4348). The Odds ratio (OR) of a child ≤ 18 years of age with CSOM developing ICS was 5.24 (95% Confidence interval 1.13-24.34; P = 0.0345), while it was 7.60 (95% Confidence interval 1.52-37.97; P = 0.0134) for children with BRS. Conclusions: The most common type of ICS complicating CSOM and BRS was brain abscess and subdural empyema, respectively. Children are more prone to develop surgical ICS following CSOM and BRS. The proportion of males that had ICS was higher in both CSOM and BRS patients. Optimal outcome is achieved in patients that presented with GCS of 13 and above