A 5-year (1999-2004) review of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases
managed at the physiotherapy clinic of the University College Hospital,
Ibadan Nigeria was carried out. Collection of data involved retrieving
the records of all patients seen at the physiotherapy clinic during the
study period, from which the paediatric cases were sorted out. The
treatment records cards of patients with acute flaccid paralysis were
identified and reviewed. Information on age, gender, immunization
history, and specific physician diagnosis and discharge practice were
collated. A total of 757 paediatric cases reviewed out of which 132
(17.4%) were AFP case, with mean age of 44.31\ub1 33.03 months and a
1.2:1.0 male: female ratio. Sciatic nerve palsy accounted for majority
(72.0%) of the AFP; only 43.2% of the patients had completed
immunization before the onset; majority of the cases (78.8%) were
referred to physiotherapy within 6 months of onset and the discharge
pattern revealed that only 9.8% of the patients were formally
discharged. With injection palsy accounting for majority of the AFP
cases, the need for caution. In administration of intramuscular
injections at the buttocks of children with febrile illnesses is
suggested. Importance of adequate documentation of clinical information
by clinicians is also emphasised