Normalization of Cardiac Structural dimension and Function to Body Surface Area in South East Nigeria Children.

Background: Standardizing cardiac valve structures and function to body surface area will help the clinician and surgeons in decision-making.

Aim: To evaluate the z-scores of the sizes of cardiac structures and function and to present them in Gaussian curves and reference values.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that involved 300 apparently healthy children.

Pattern and Prevalence of Intestinal Helminthiasis among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Children at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State.

Background: Children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be more prone to helminthic infestation because they have depleted immunity, which increases their susceptibility to infection and infestations, even with minimally pathogenic organisms such as helminths.

Aim: The prevalence and pattern of intestinal helminthiasis among children living with HIV attending the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study in which 70 HIV-infected children were consecutively recruited from the Pediatric HIV clinic and matched for age and sex with 70 children recruited from the children outpatient clinic (CHOP) of UNTH Ituku-Ozalla.

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.

Screen viewing practices and caregivers' knowledge of the health-related effects in children and adolescents in a Nigerian Urban City.

Background: Globally, a dramatic increase in the use of television and digital media has been observed among children and adolescents in recent times. The possible health-related effects of frequent and prolonged screen media viewing on these children and adolescents have triggered many concerns among researchers.

Aim: The study is aimed to determine the screen media viewing practices and caregivers' level of knowledge about the health-related effects of prolonged screen viewing time on their children.

Spectrum of skin disorders among primary school children in Umuahia, South-East Nigeria.

Background: Skin disorders among primary school children are common in many countries, with a variable spectrum. They can constitute major health problems, resulting in considerable discomfort, parental anxiety, and embarrassment to the child.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and pattern of skin diseases among primary school children in the Umuahia South local government area.

Umbilical cord serum zinc in neonates delivered at the university of Nigeria teaching hospital, Enugu: Variation with gestational age.

Background: Zinc is particularly involved in cellular growth, neurodevelopment, and immune function, which is critical for child survival. To reduce neonatal mortality in developing countries, cost-effective and evidence-based interventions that can enhance growth, development, and immunity, need to be considered. Determining the zinc levels of neonates and how it relates to both gestational age is therefore imperative.

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.

Clinical Summary and Reasoning Format: Cognition Levels and Proposal of a Grading System.

The Clinical Summary and Reasoning Format (CSRF) was designed by the Faculties of Paediatrics of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Physicians. The form is recommended for routine use in clinical practice as well as for training and examination purposes. The form has sections for documenting information derived from interacting with an index patient and sections for documenting sequential deductions on the way to various levels of diagnosis.

Clinical Summary and Reasoning Format: A Tool for Clinical Practice and Medical Training.

Patients' records are often bulky and unwieldy, necessitating the creation of summaries. A structured summary format adds the advantage of improved organization and easier retrieval of information. However, typical clinical summary formats do not document intermediate deductions linking symptomatology to diagnosis and to that extent fall short of tracking the cognition process of the clinician.

Risk Factors of Skin Diseases among School Children in South Eastern Communities in Nigeria.

Background: Skin disorders frequently seen among primary school children are common causes of morbidity. Determining the risk factors of skin diseases, will enhance a better understanding of skin health and prevent skin diseases in school children.

Aim: To determine the common risk factors of skin diseases among primary school children in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.

Clinical depression in children and adolescents with sickle cell anaemia: influencing factors in a resource-limited setting.

Background: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is the commonest monogenic haematologic disorder resulting from the inheritance of homozygous mutant haemoglobin genes from both parents. Some factors have been identified as important in explaining the variability in depression in sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Information on this is limited in a resource-limited setting like Nigeria.

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.

Clinical Summary and Reasoning Format: A Tool for Clinical Practice and Medical Training.

Patients' records are often bulky and unwieldy, necessitating the creation of summaries. A structured summary format adds the advantage of improved organization and easier retrieval of information. However, typical clinical summary formats do not document intermediate deductions linking symptomatology to diagnosis and to that extent fall short of tracking the cognition process of the clinician.

Epidemiology and pattern of superficial fungal infections among primary school children in Enugu, south-east Nigeria.

Background: Superficial fungal infections (SFIs) are prevalent among schoolchildren and result in significant morbidities that may lead to school absenteeism or school drop-out and hence setback in the education of the child. Differences exist in the epidemiology and pattern of SFIs among children in various geographical locations. Community-based studies on diseases are a true reflection of their pattern in that locality.

Prevalence and risk factors for helicobacter pylori infection among children in Owerri, Nigeria.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative ubiquitous bacterium affecting over half of the world's population. Most infections are acquired in early childhood with highest prevalence in Africa and Asia.

Nutritional status of primary school children: Association with intelligence quotient and academic performance.

Background: Nutrition plays a pivotal role in brain development throughout life. Sub-optimal intellectual ability and poor school performance are said to be among the long term effects of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to determine the association between nutritional status of the participants, their intelligence quotient (IQ) and academic performance.

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.

Comparative study of nutritional status of children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.

Background: Poor growth and nutritional status are common features of sickle cell anemia (SCA) in children. The rising trend of obesity in children in developing countries has been reported despite a huge burden of undernutrition in these settings. In SCA, overweight/obesity is being increasingly reported.

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.

Socio-demographic determinants of malnutrition among primary school aged children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Introduction: Several factors including the parental literacy, illness, socioeconomic status, poor sanitation and hygienic practices affect the physical growth of children. The aim of this study was to determine the socio-demographic determinants of malnutrition among primary school aged children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study involving primary school children in Enugu was carried out over a 3 month period.

Prevalence and Pattern of Psychosocial Disorders among Caregivers of HIV-infected Children in Enugu, South-Eastern Nigeria.

Background: Nigeria has the highest burden of paediatric HIV in the world. HIV infection may result in significant life stressors, on both the infected children and their caregivers.

Methods: This included a hospital-based cross-sectional and comparative study.