Prevalence of Alcohol Consumption among Primary and Secondary School Adolescents in Obiaruku Community in Delta State, Southern Nigeria

Consumption of alcohol by underage teenagers and adolescents is a major public health problem confronting many developing countries including Nigeria. Studies have shown the increasing rate of alcohol consumption among these high risk groups. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of alcohol use among Primary and Secondary School teenagers in Obiaruku Community. The study employed a descriptive cross sectional study among pupils and students in primary and secondary schools in Obiaruku community. The study utilized random sampling technique in selecting 326 pupils and students from both primary and secondary schools in Obiaruku community. The instrument for data collection was a semi-structured questionnaire. The collected data was analysed with SPSS version 21 and presented in percentages and frequencies, with Chi-Square used to analysed association between demographic characteristics and prevalence of alcohol with level of significance set at P<0.05. The findings show that almost half of the respondents 150(46.88%) were between the ages of 13-15 years and 220(68.75%) were males. The prevalence of alcohol consumption was 25.0%, with being a male more likely to increase alcohol consumption (P<0.05). Furthermore, about 20(25.0%) of the respondents could not stop drinking when they want to and more than one third do get drunk. Furthermore, age showed a significant relationship with use of alcohol (p<0.05). The study showed prevalence of alcohol consumption among the respondents and therefore recommended schools should organize seminars for students to provide education on the health-related issues surrounding alcohol consumption

Comparing the Efficacy of Topical Anti- Allergic Preparations in the Treatment of Allergic Conjunctivitis

Objectives: This research study compared the efficacy of three anti-allergic preparations commonly used in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.Materials and Method: A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled multicenter study was conducted for four weeks in 4 centers to evaluate the efficacy of topical Antazoline (0.5mg), Sodium Cromoglycate (20mg) and Lodoxamide (1.78mg) for the treatment of active bilateral allergic conjunctivitis. Sixty patients diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis completed the study; they were divided into four groups of 15 each. Group A was treated with a masked bottle of 0.5mg Antazoline (Spersallerg eyedrop) labelled ‘R’, Group B was treated with a masked bottle of 20mg Sodium Cromoglycate (Ivycrom eyedrop) labelled ‘S’, Group C was treated with a masked bottle of 1.78mg Lodoxamide (Alomide eyedrop) labelled ‘T’ and Group D was treated with a matching placebo (the drug vehicle). Objective clinical signs were graded weekly by the clinicians while patients kept a daily record of the severity of their symptoms.Results: 1.78mg Lodoxamide was found to be more effective than 20mg Sodium Cromoglycate and 0.5mg Antazoline in treating the signs and symptom of allergic conjunctivitis to a statistically significant level (p<0.001). The least effective of these three eyedrops is 0.5mg Antazoline, although it was found to be significantly more effective than the placebo in treating the signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis.Conclusion: It was clear that patients with allergic conjunctivitis responded better to 1.78mg Lodoxamide therefore 1.78mg Lodoxamide has the highest efficacy and it may be a recommended drug in the management of allergic conjunctivitis.Keywords: 0.5mg Antazoline, 20mg Sodium Cromoglycate, 1.78mg Lodoxamide, Allergic conjunctivitis