Publications by authors named "Chiedozie K Ojide"

Background: Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever with few options for diagnosis and treatment; it is also under-researched with knowledge gaps on its epidemiology. A point-of-care bedside test diagnosing Lassa fever, adhering to REASSURED criteria, is not currently available but is urgently needed in west African regions with high Lassa fever burden. We aimed to assess the validity and feasibility of a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) to confirm Lassa fever in people in Nigeria.

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Background: We describe diverse clinical characteristics and course of confirmed mpox cases managed in a Nigerian tertiary health facility.

Methods: Clinical and epidemiologic data were analyzed, highlighting the unusual presentations of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed mpox cases observed during the 2022 outbreak.

Results: Out of 17 suspected cases, 13 (76.

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Melioidosis, caused by the soil-dwelling bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, is predicted to be endemic in Nigeria but is only occasionally reported. This report documents the systematic identification of the presence of B. pseudomallei and B.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the emergence and dissemination patterns of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.318 and B.1.525 (Eta) variants in Nigeria and Africa, highlighting their significance for public health policies during a pandemic.
  • By combining genomic and travel data, the research indicates that both variants originated from within Africa, with B.1.525 emerging specifically in Nigeria before spreading globally.
  • The findings emphasize the importance of understanding regional connectivity and bidirectional transmission in Africa, revealing that the risks of virus importation between countries have been underestimated.
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  • The study investigates the immune responses in Lassa fever (LF) survivors and their contacts in Nigeria to understand natural protection and inform vaccine development.
  • It finds that while both groups show similar T cell and antibody responses, neutralizing antibodies are predominantly present in LF survivors and provide cross-reactivity against various LASV strains.
  • The research also highlights that immune responses diminish over time, suggesting potential vaccine targets in specific areas of the LASV Glycoprotein and Nucleoprotein for future clinical trials.
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  • A prospective observational study was conducted to examine the pattern and outcomes of Paediatric Lassa fever disease (LFD) in children, due to insufficient documentation in endemic areas.
  • Out of 183 children tested for LFD, 24 were positive for the Lassa virus, resulting in a 13.1% positivity rate, with a case fatality rate of 29.2% as seven out of 24 children died during the study.
  • Key symptoms associated with higher mortality included convulsions, unconsciousness, bleeding, and poor urine output, highlighting the need for public awareness and early medical intervention for febrile illnesses in children.
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Background: Mosquitoes are vectors of numerous diseases, including malaria and yellow fever. Mosquito control is therefore a priority in many countries, especially in healthcare settings. Here we investigated the opinions of patients and staff regarding mosquito control at a hospital in Nigeria, and also gathered data on mosquito-control measures in this setting.

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Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness with various non-specific clinical manifestations. Neurological symptoms are rare at the early stage of the disease, but may be seen in late stages, in severely ill patients.The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological evolution, socio-demographic profiles, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients seen during two Lassa fever outbreaks in Ebonyi State, between December 2017 and December 2018.

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Lassa fever (LF) is a viral hemorrhagic illness endemic in West Africa. Annually, about 300,000-500,000 people are being infected, with about 5000 deaths. Symptoms of LF include high grade fever, headache, malaise, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or sore throat.

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Introduction: Ebola virus disease (EVD) remains a global threat of international concern. Being at the frontline of medical care, clinicians are at high risk of infection. Inadequate knowledge of, or poor attitudes to, EVD among clinicians may lead to failure in the detection of and timely responses to EVD.

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Lassa virus (LASV) causes Lassa fever (LF), a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa. LASV strains are clustered into six lineages according to their geographic location. To confirm a diagnosis of LF, a laboratory test is required.

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Introduction: Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a highly contagious infection with a high case fatality rate. Thus, there is a crucial need for early detection and reporting of any individual suspected to have EVD in order to facilitate containment strategies. The aim of our study was to evaluate clinicians' reporting proficiency and their risk perceptions of EVD in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

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Introduction: Various dermatoses, due to their morbidity characteristics, have been shown to negatively impact on learning. The most epidemiologically important seem to be the infectious types because of their transmissibility and amenability to simple school-health measures. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and sex/age correlates of infectious dermatoses in a rural South-eastern Nigerian community.

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Objective: To determine the prevalence of helminth infestation during pregnancy and the associated risks of adverse maternal and infant outcomes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of women with a singleton pregnancy of at least 34 weeks was conducted at a teaching hospital in Benin City, Nigeria, between April 1 and September 30, 2010. Socioeconomic and clinical data were obtained.

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Introduction: The burden of HSV-2 infection, the cause of most cases of genital herpes in Nigeria, varies from region to region; and so are the associated factors. This infection is known to be responsible for several negative pregnancy outcomes. There is currently no documented data on sexual behavioral factors associated with the occurrence of HSV-2 infection or seroprevalence among pregnant women in Nigeria.

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Background: Acinetobacter baumannii, a non-glucose fermenting Gram negative bacillus, has emerged in the last three decades as a major etiological agent of hospital-associated infections giving rise to significant morbidity and mortality particularly in immunocompromised patients. Multidrug resistant A. baumannii (MDR-AB) is fast becoming a global threat, having developed resistance to major classes of antibiotics and carbapenem-resistant isolates have increasingly been reported worldwide as a cause of nosocomial outbreaks.

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Objective: To investigate the malaria parasitemia, CD4(+) cell counts and some haematological indices among HIV-malaria co-infected adult patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Methods: A total of 342 adult HIV positive subjects were recruited at the consultant outpatient HIV/AIDS clinic, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria between June 2011 to November 2011. Blood samples were taken for malaria parasite count, CD4(+) cell count and other haematological counts.

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