Aim: Paediatric gastroenterology remains an under-recognised sub-speciality in Africa. We determined the preferred sub-specialities among paediatric residents in Southwest Nigeria and what influenced whether they chose paediatric gastroenterology.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of paediatric residents in seven teaching hospitals in Southwest Nigeria.
Over 200 million malaria cases globally lead to half-million deaths annually. The development of malaria prevalence prediction systems to support malaria care pathways has been hindered by lack of data, a tendency towards universal "monolithic" models (one-size-fits-all-regions) and a focus on long lead time predictions. Current systems do not provide short-term local predictions at an accuracy suitable for deployment in clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The epidemiology of () infection among under-five children in the South West Nigeria remains largely understudied. There is no data on the subject from the study area.
Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the seroprevalence of infection among under-five children at a tertiary hospital in the South Western, Nigeria and to determine its associated socio-demographic factors.
Background: Sepsis is one of the most common causes of neonatal hospital admissions and is estimated to cause 26% of all neonatal deaths worldwide. While waiting for results of blood culture, it is necessary to initiate an empirical choice of antibiotics based on the epidemiology of causative agents and antibiotic sensitivity pattern in a locality.
Objective: To determine the major causative organisms of neonatal sepsis at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), as well as their antibiotic sensitivity patterns, with the aim of formulating treatment protocols for neonates.
Systemic inflammation and sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes are central processes in the pathophysiology of severe Plasmodium falciparum childhood malaria. However, it is still not understood why some children are more at risks to develop malaria complications than others. To identify human proteins in plasma related to childhood malaria syndromes, multiplex antibody suspension bead arrays were employed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCerebral malaria (CM) and severe malarial anemia (SMA) are the most serious life-threatening clinical syndromes of Plasmodium falciparum infection in childhood. Therefore, it is important to understand the pathology underlying the development of CM and SMA as opposed to uncomplicated malaria (UM). Increased levels of hepcidin have been associated with UM, but its level and role in severe malarial disease remains to be investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cerebral malaria (CM) and severe malarial anemia (SMA) are the most serious life-threatening clinical syndromes of Plasmodium falciparum infection in childhood. Therefore it is important to understand the pathology underlying the development of CM and SMA, as opposed to uncomplicated malaria (UM). Different host responses to infection are likely to be reflected in plasma proteome-patterns that associate with clinical status and therefore provide indicators of the pathogenesis of these syndromes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Haemoglobinuria is one of the manifestations of severe malaria and results from severe intravascular haemolysis. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency has been implicated in its aetiology. Haemoglobinuria may be associated with severe anaemia and, less frequently, acute renal failure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Tympanic thermometry has come as a suitable alternative to traditional thermometry because of its safety and ease of use. However, it is still yet to gain wide acceptance in African settings due to conflicting results on its accuracy, thus rectal thermometry remains the gold standard in the newborn. The aim of this study was to compare tympanic and rectal temperatures in term Nigerian neonates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The implications of defaecation patterns to health are important. The abnormalities can be readily recognized and treated only if the normal pattern is known.
Methods: This cross sectional study involved 1115 adolescents enrolled using a stratified multi-stage random sampling technique.
Background: Clinical thermometry is the objective method for temperature measurements but tactile assessment of fever at home is usually the basis for seeking medical attention especially where the cost and level of literacy preclude the use of thermometers. This study was carried out to determine the reliability of tactile perception of fever by caregivers, nurses and house physicians in comparison to rectal thermometry and also the use of commonly practiced surface of the hand in the care of ill children. All caregivers of children aged 6 to 59 months who presented to the emergency department were approached consecutively at the triage stage but 182 children participated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe the effects of out-of-hospital birth on early neonatal morbidity and outcome among referred newborns.
Methods: Using a structured case record form, we prospectively collected data on place of birth, morbidity, and outcome of all neonates admitted to the Emergency Ward, University College Hospital, Ibadan, in the first week of life.
Results: Of the 541 admitted in the early neonatal period, 61.
Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the quality of the contents of referral letters received at the pediatric emergency unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Design: We prospectively reviewed consecutive referral letters received over a 6-month period. The details of the contents of each letter were recorded using a structured pro-forma by 2 of the investigators after consent was obtained from the parent or caregiver.
Malaria remains an important public heath concern in Nigeria because of its impact on child and maternal health, but the contribution of severe malaria to morbidity among Nigerian children was scantly reported. This study was undertaking to document the hospital-burden of severe malaria among children in Ibadan in order to reflect on the impacts and health implications of the current malaria control strategies. A review of 6-year case records of all children admitted to the emergency ward of the University College Hospital Ibadan was carried out.
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