The Aetiology of Enteric Fever in Abuja, North Central Nigeria

Enteric fever is caused by Salmonella enterica serotype typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A, B, C, and Salmonella typhimurium respectively. Of the 2818 blood cultures reviewed, only 90 (3.2%) had positive cultures for Salmonella species while the 10,007 faecal samples cultured, 159 (1.6%) were positive for Salmonella species. Identification of isolates was by usual bacteriological techniques including biochemical and serological methods. Percentage occurrence of Salmonella species in blood and faecal samples show Salmonella enterica serotype typhi (75.6% and 59.8%), Salmonella paratyphi A (4.4% and 9.4%), Salmonella paratyphi B (17.8% and 19.5%), Salmonella paratyphi C (2.2% and 6.3%) and Salmonella typhimurium (0.0% and 5.0%). The susceptibility pattern of all the isolates to the eleven drugs used as listed on table iii is highly revealing. For epidemiological status and proper management of patients, it is necessary that appropriate specimens (blood, bone marrow and faecal cultures) are examined and identification of isolates carried out as well as proper sensitivity testing performed prior to treatment for enteric fever

Paediatric malaria: a ten-year retrospective study at the national hospital, Abuja, Nigeria

A ten year study of malaria amongst paediatric patients was carried out in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, West Africa from 2000 to 2010. Giemsa staining methodology was used. Of the 24 289 blood samples analyzed (comprising of 13 435 male children and 10 854 female children), 8668 (35·7%) were positive for malaria parasites. 267 (3·1%) had parasite density of > 5000 parasites/Zl of blood; 382 (4·4%) had between 500 - 5000 parasites/Zl of blood; 1262 (14·6%) had between 50 - 500 parasites/Zl of blood; while 6757 (77·9%) had between 5 - 50 parasites/Zl of blood. The 11-15 years age group had the highest prevalence of 40·6%, while neonates (<1 - 28 days), 1 month – 5 years, and 6 – 10 years age groups recorded 27·2%, 34.5% and 36·5% respectively. Of the 13 435 male children, 4845 (36·1%) had positive malaria result as against 35·2% (3823) of positive cases recorded among the 10854 female children. There is need to enhance parasitological diagnosis by way of providing diagnostic tolls at all levels of health care – primary (rural settings), secondary and tertiary. There are negative implications associated with the continued use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (M-RDTs) methodologies which includes underdiagnosis, misdiagnosis of malaria and mismanagement of non-malarial fever, which wastes limited resources, erodes confidence in the health care system, and contributes to drug resistance. Finally, appropriate antimalarial drugs for treatment should be given free to all malaria positive children.Keywords: Malaria, paediatric patients, parasite density, prevalence, laboratory diagnosis, treatment

Evaluation of multi-drug resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum in Abuja, Nigeria

An in vitro susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine, quinine and monodesethylamodiaquine was investigated in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja Nigeria. The standardWHO in vitro micro test methodology was used in the study. Of the 18 isolates evaluated, 16 (88.9%) were resistant to chloroquine with median IC50 of 0.06 µmol/l of blood; 5 (27.7%) resistant to quinine with median IC50 of 4.7 µmol/l of blood; and 6 (33.3%) were resistant to monodesethylamodiaquine withmedian IC50 of 0.14 µmol/l. The outcome of the evaluation of multi-drug resistant strains of P. falciparum was amazing. Five isolates (isolates 1, 6, 10, 14 and 16) representing 27.7 % of the isolates were resistant to both chloroquine and quinine. Six isolates (isolates 2, 6, 10, 14, 16 and 18) representing 33.3 % of the isolates were resistant to chloroquine andmonodesethylamodiaquine. Four isolates (isolates 6, 10, 14, and 16) representing 22.2 % of the isolates were resistant to quinine and monodesethylamodiaquine. While four of the isolates (isolates 6, 10, 14, and 16) representing 22.2% of the isolates were resistant to chloroquine, quinine and monodesethylamodiaquine. In conclusion, though reports on multi-drug resistance are scanty in our environment, our research has shown that there is actually P. falciparum strains that are resistant to otherantimalarial drugs apart from chloroquine

The Prevalence And Intensity Of Malaria Parasite In Children At Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Objective: To determine the prevalence and intensity of malaria parasitaemia in clinically diagnosed paediatric patients in jos university teaching hospital, and to see if there is any correlation between the parasite density and the ages of the patients Study population/methods: Consisted of blood samples from 300 children aged between 0-14 years attending the Emergency Paediatric Unit and Paedratic Out-patient Department of theu Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos, with sign /symptoms suggestive of malaria. Blood collect aseptically in sterile containers. Thick and thin film were made using Giemsa staining technique. The stain examined under X100 objective microscope. Result: Revealed a parasite rate of 29.3% with p. falciparum 96.6%, p. maleria 3.4%. Eihteen percent of the study population had mean parasite desities higher than the critical value of 10,000 per microlitre. There was no difference in parasitaemia in relation to gender. Conclusion: The prevalence of maleria is still high in paediatric age group 27 – 29.5%. There is the need to intensify the Roll Back Malaria programme by the Federal Government of Nigeria in order to reduce the prevalence of malaria. Key words: Prevalence, Malaria, Children. Highland Medical Research Journal Vol.1(1) 2002: 9-1