Cholera outbreaks among children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Purpose Of Review: We review current knowledge on the burden, impact and prevention of cholera among children who bear the brunt of cholera outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa.

Recent Findings: Several studies have shown that recent outbreaks of cholera among African children are related to minimal progress in basic sanitation and infrastructural development. Poor hygiene practices such as open defecation and indiscriminate disposal of feces are still common in many parts of Africa.

Academic performance and intelligence quotient of primary school children in Enugu.

Introduction: intellectual capacity measured as intelligence quotient (IQ) is one of the determinants of school performance of children. It influences academic achievement, future personal health, social well-being and therefore, is of public health significance. The objective of the study was to determine the intelligence quotient (IQ) and academic performance of primary school children in Enugu-East LGA.

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis: A neglected tropical disease among urban slum dwelling school-aged children of a sub-Saharan African city.

Background: The need to generate a robust epidemiological data on the neglected tropical diseases is imperative, in order to encourage access to formal care, drive public policies and ensure the allocation of resources by policy-makers.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and its association with nutritional variables among primary school pupils living in urban slums in a South-Eastern sub-Saharan African city of Enugu, Nigeria.

Methods: The stool samples of school-aged children living in urban slums were analyzed for ova of the helminths using the Kato-Katz methods, whereas the nutritional assessment (weight and height) was obtained and analyzed to indicate acute or chronic malnutrition.

Esophageal dysmotility: An intrinsic feature of megacystis, microcolon, hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS).

Objectives: Megacystis-microcolon-hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) also called Berdon's Syndrome, is a smooth muscle myopathy that results in an enlarged bladder, microcolon, and small bowel hypoperistalsis. In our series of six patients with this disorder, all had disordered swallowing. Therefore, we prospectively characterized esophageal structure and function in all.

Comparison of Tanner staging of HIV-infected and uninfected girls at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: A number of factors influence sexual maturation in adolescents, including chronic illnesses like HIV. Marshall and Tanner devised a method of classifying the adolescent based on the level of sexual maturation into five stages. This study compared the Tanner staging of HIV-infected and uninfected girls.

Bacterial agents of the discharging middle ear among children seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

Introduction: Discharging middle ear continues to be one of the commonest problems seen in the developing world. There is an ever growing need to carry out studies periodically to determine the common bacterial agents responsible for discharging otitis media and their antibiotic sensitivity especially in set-ups characterized with minimal laboratory services. The study sought to determine the common bacterial agents causing discharging middle ear among children presenting at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu and their sensitivity to the commonly available antibiotics.

Neurocognitive Function of School-aged HIV-infected Children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Evidence has shown neurocognitive problems often exist among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children. There are limited data for children in Nigeria.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 100 school-aged perinatally HIV-infected children seen in the paediatric HIV clinic and age/sex-matched controls from the general paediatric clinic.

Pattern of teen menstruation among secondary school girls in south east Nigeria.

Background: Menstruation in the teenage age has assumed variable trends which is been influenced by several variables. This study is aimed at determining the pattern and trend of menstruation among teens attending secondary school in south east Nigeria and associated factors.

Methods: Menstruation patterns were investigated using a stratified random sampling method of teens from junior secondary schools in Enugu, south east Nigeria.

Poor availability of skilled birth attendants in Nigeria: a case study of enugu state primary health care system.

Background: The Government of Enugu State plans to offer free perinatal services at the primary health care (PHC) centers in order to improve perinatal outcomes in the state, but it was not clear whether there are skilled birth attendants (SBAs) at the PHC level to implement the program.

Aims: To determine whether there are sufficient numbers of SBAs in the public PHC system in Enugu State of Nigeria.

Subjects And Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved enumeration of health workers who worked at each public PHC facility in Enugu State and included verification of the qualifications and trainings of each health worker.

Correlates of poor perinatal outcomes in non-hospital births in the context of weak health system: the Nigerian experience.

Background: Nigeria's high perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) could be most effectively reduced by targeting factors that are associated with increased newborn deaths. Low access to skilled birth attendants (SBAs) and weak health system are recognized factors associated with high PNMR but other socio-demographic and reproductive factors could have significant influences as well. Identification of the major factors associated with high PNMR would be required in designing interventions to improve perinatal outcomes.

Multiple micronutrient deficiencies among patients with intestinal failure during and after transition to enteral nutrition.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of deficiencies of specific micronutrients (iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, copper, folate, and vitamins A, D, E, and B12) in children with intestinal failure (IF), and to identify risk factors associated with developing these deficiencies.

Study Design: This study was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from 178 children with IF managed by the Intestinal Care Center of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center between August 1, 2007, and July 31, 2012. Transition to full enteral nutrition (FEN) was defined as the period during which the patient received between 20% and 100% of estimated required nutrition enterally.

Micronutrient deficiencies in pediatric and young adult intestinal transplant patients.

Intestinal transplant recipients are at risk of micronutrient deficiency due to the slow process of post-transplant adaptation. Another contributing factor is calcineurin inhibitor-induced renal tubular dysfunction. Patients are typically supplemented with micronutrients during PN; however, the risk of deficiency may persist even after a successful transition to FEN.

Vitamin D deficiency and low bone mineral density in pediatric and young adult intestinal failure.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and predisposing factors for vitamin D deficiency and low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with intestinal failure (IF).

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with IF managed at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. IF was defined as history of parenteral nutrition (PN) >30 days.

Paracetamol use (and/or misuse) in children in Enugu, South-East, Nigeria.

Background: Paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) is the commonest available analgesic and anti-pyretic. It is readily accessed from pharmacy, patent medicine and provision shops as over the counter drug making it a potential drug of abuse, especially in children. We sought to find its use and/or misuse in children seen at the paediatric outpatient clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu.

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV: the pre-rapid advice experience of the university of Nigeria teaching hospital Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu, South-east Nigeria.

Background: Mother-to-child transmission of human immune deficiency virus (HIV) is the most common route of HIV transmission in the pediatric age group. A number of risk factors contribute to the rate of this transmission. Such risk factors include advance maternal HIV disease, lack of anti-viral prophylaxis in the mother and child, mixing of maternal and infant blood during delivery and breastfeeding.

Under-five protein energy malnutrition admitted at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu: a 10 year retrospective review.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, co-morbidities and case fatality rates of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) admissions at the paediatric ward of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, South-east Nigeria over a 10 year period.

Design: A retrospective study using case Notes, admission and mortality registers retrieved from the Hospital's Medical Records Department.

Subjects: All children aged 0 to 59 months admitted into the hospital on account of PEM between 1996 and 2005.

Mothers' beliefs about infant teething in Enugu, South-east Nigeria: a cross sectional study.

Background: Parents and Health Care Workers have traditionally attributed a variety of symptoms to teething in young children. Some of these symptoms may however connote underlying serious medical condition in a child. There is little evidence to support these beliefs despite their implications on management of a symptomatic teething child.