Folate levels in children with sickle cell anaemia on folic acid supplementation in steady state and crises at a tertiary hospital in Enugu, Nigeria: a prospective, comparative study.

Introduction: Folic acid supplementation is an integral aspect of the management of children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) especially in Africa. In spite of this, there have been concerns about lower folate levels, especially during crisis.

Aim: To determine red cell folate levels of children with sickle cell anaemia in steady state and during crisis and compare with those with haemoglobin AA genotype.

Haemostatic profile of children with nephrotic syndrome attending University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, Nigeria.

Background: Haemostatic derangements are thought to be due to an imbalance between hepatic synthesis of pro-coagulants and urinary losses of anticoagulants.

Objectives: This study evaluated the coagulation profile of Nigerian children with nephrotic syndrome and examined the relationship between coagulation variables, disease state and steroid responsiveness.

Methods: A cross- sectional hospital based study on evaluation of coagulation profile of children with nephrotic syndrome compared with their age- and gender- matched controls.

Assessment of depression in children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia in a low-resource setting: a comparative study.

Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) usually face psychological complications especially depression. Assessment of depression in resource-limited settings may help identify the extent to which the children with SCA in such settings may need its introduction as part of routine care. This study aimed to assess depression in children and adolescents with SCA in a low-resource setting.

Relationship between disease severity and folate status of children with sickle cell anaemia in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

Background: Repeated crises in children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA), which is a manifestation of disease severity, results in depletion of their minimal tissue folate stores, with higher likelihood of folate deficiency. The study aimed to determine the relationship between disease severity and the folate status of children with SCA attending University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.

Methods: This was a hospital based, cross-sectional study conducted between September 2018 and March 2019.

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia: a rare bleeding disorder in a Nigerian girl.

Introduction: Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia (GT) is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder due to defective platelet membrane glycoprotein GP IIb/IIIa (integrin αIIbβ3). The prevalence is estimated at 1:1,000,000 and it is commonly seen in areas where consanguinity is high.

Case Presentation: The authors report a 12 year old Nigerian girl of Igbo ethnic group, born of non-consanguineous parents, who presented with prolonged heavy menstrual bleeding which started at menarche 3 months earlier, weakness and dizziness.

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.

Knowledge and awareness of individual sickle cell genotype among adolescents in a unity school in Southeast, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Our study sought to assesses the knowledge and awareness of individual sickle cell genotype among adolescents.

Methods: Participants were recruited from a large school in Southeast Nigeria where adult prevalence of sickle cell trait is 25%. Data was collected through a 50-item survey with previously pretested questions that assessed awareness of individual genotype, general knowledge of sickle cell disease, perception of sickle cell trait and sickle cell anaemia (SCA).

Right ventricular function among South East Nigeria children with sickle cell anaemia.

Background: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is characterized by attendant ischemia-reperfusion injury especially to the heart.

Methods: The aim of this work is to compare the right ventricular function of children with SCA in steady state (subjects) with those with haemoglobin AA genotype (controls), using echocardiography. It is a cross-sectional study, which echocardiographic measurements to assess right ventricular function among children with SCA and their controls.

Generalized lymphadenopathy: an unusual presentation of burkitt lymphoma in a Nigerian child: a case report.

Introduction: Burkitt Lymphoma is the fastest growing tumor in human and the commonest of the childhood malignancies. Generalized lymphadenopathy is a common feature of immunodeficiency associated Burkitt lymphoma but an uncommon presentation of the endemic type in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) negative children.

Case Presentation: The authors report a 6 year old HIV negative boy who presented with generalized lymphadenopathy, cough, weight loss, fever and drenching night sweat and had received native medication as well as treatment in private hospitals.

Impact of zinc on sexual maturation of female sickle cell anemia (SCA) children in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.

Adolescence is an important developmental period of childhood. Good health and adequate nutrition consisting major food constituents and trace elements like zinc are fundamental for optimal sexual maturation. To determine the relationship between zinc levels and pattern of breast and pubic hair development, as well as menarcheal age of female SCA children aged 6-18 years and their matched controls with hemoglobin genotype AA.

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.

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.

Paediatricians' perception about oral healthcare of children in Nigeria.

Background: Majority of the oral diseases in children are preventable. The paediatricians owing to the unique position they occupy in child care are invaluable in achieving standard oral and dental healthcare in children. This study was aimed at assessing the paediatricians' views on basic oral healthcare in children in Nigeria.

Nocturnal enuresis: prevalence and risk factors among school-aged children with sickle-cell anaemia in a South-east Nigerian city.

Background: Sickle-cell anaemia (SCA) is the most common inherited haemoglobinopathy affecting the Negroid race. Renal complications such as enuresis can occur during childhood. Reports show that children and adolescents with SCA may be at a higher risk of nocturnal enuresis than their counterparts with normal haemoglobin genotype.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Adolescents in Enugu, Nigeria.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis B virus infection in adolescents in Enugu-urban.

Methods: A cross-sectional seroprevalence survey was conducted among school children aged 10-18 years. Subjects were selected using multistage sampling.

Pulmonary function indices in children with sickle cell anemia in Enugu, south-east Nigeria.

Objectives: To determine the pulmonary function indices of children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) attending the pediatric sickle cell clinic at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, south-east Nigeria and to compare these indices with the results obtained from other regions. 

Methods: A case control study of lung function in children with SCA aged 6-20 years. The study was carried out in the University of Nigeria/University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria between October 2014 and January 2015.

Bioelectric impedance analysis of body composition of children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Body composition indices are widely used to evaluate growth and nutrition in children, particularly those with sickle cell anemia (SCA), who are known to have impaired growth, impaired skeletal maturation, and delayed puberty. The current study is aimed at determining the body composition of children with SCA.

Methods: Consecutive selection of SCA children aged 6 to 18 years, who served as subjects and their age and gender matched children with HbAA (controls), selected using multi-stage systematic sampling.

Stretched penile length of healthy term neonates: normative values among Igbo babies in southeastern Nigeria.

Aim: To determine the normative values of stretched penile length in apparently healthy term Igbo newborn males in South eastern Nigeria and its relationship with gestational age, birth weight and birth length.

Methods: Eight hundred and eleven apparently healthy term male neonates within the first 72 h of life were studied. Enrolled subjects were consecutively delivered babies of Igbo extraction from three hospitals.

Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection among children in enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are major public health challenges in the developing world especially sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis C virus infection among children infected with HIV.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Paediatric HIV Clinic, UNTH, Enugu between July and December 2009.

Determinants of academic performance in children with sickle cell anaemia.

Background: Some factors are known to influence the academic performance of children with Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA). Information on their effects in these children is limited in Nigeria. The factors which influence academic performance of children with SCA in Enugu, Nigeria are determined in this study.

Hypertension and prehypertension among adolescents in secondary schools in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

Background: Hypertension is a prevalent cardiovascular disease risk factor among blacks and adolescent hypertension can progress into adulthood.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension among secondary school adolescents in Enugu South East Nigeria.

Methodology: A study of 2694 adolescents aged 10-18 years in Enugu metropolis was carried out.

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.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria in children with sickle cell anemia at The University of Nigeria teaching hospital, Enugu, South East, Nigeria.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in the tropics. Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) may have compromised kidney function arising from repeated vaso-occlusive episodes and recurrent symptomatic or asymptomatic UTI.

Objectives: This study aims at determining the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and sensitivity pattern in children with homozygous sickle haemoglobin compared to children with normal haemoglobin.

Fever detection in under 5 children in a tertiary health facility using the infrared tympanic thermometer in the oral mode.

Background: Monitoring of body temperature is an important clinical procedure in the care of sick children, especially the under-5 children, as many disease conditions present with fever. The oral mercury-in-glass thermometer which has relatively good accuracy cannot be used in children less than 5 years because it requires their cooperation.

Objective: This study was aimed at using the infrared tympanic thermometer (IRTT) in oral mode to measure temperature in febrile and afebrile children less than 5 years.

Clinical profile and home management of sickle cell-related pain: the Enugu (Nigeria) experience.

Objective: To document the pattern of and ability of sickle cell anemic patients to manage painful crises at home.

Subject And Methods: Confirmed HbSS patients or caregivers attending the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Nigeria, were interviewed, using a questionnaire, on their last painful episode.

Results: The limbs were involved in all ages, but involvement of the joints, ribs, and spine was uncommon in patients under 5 years old.