Severity of motor dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy seen in Enugu, Nigeria.

Introduction: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have gross motor dysfunction (GMD) of varying degrees of severity. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) is widely used internationally to classify children with CP into functional severity levels. There are few reports on the use of GMFCS in Nigeria to determine the severity of motor dysfunction in children with CP.

Behavioral problems of siblings of epileptic children in Enugu.

Background And Objective: The existence of a psychosocial dysfunction in the siblings of children with chronic illness has been documented. There are very few reports on siblings of children with epilepsy. The aim of this study is to investigate to what extent the children's epilepsy has affected their healthy siblings in our own center.

Academic performance of school children with epilepsy.

Background: Studies in developed countries show conflicting reports on effect of epilepsy on academic performance. There is also a dearth of information on the academic performance of Nigerian children with epilepsy.

Objective: This study is aimed at determining the academic performance of children with epilepsy with the hope that the findings will help in formulating policies that will be used in their educational programme.

Factors influencing the academic performance of school children with epilepsy.

The academic performance and intelligence quotient (IQ) of 50 children with epilepsy aged between 5 and 14 years, attending normal primary schools in Enugu, were compared with those of their non-epileptic classmates. The academic performance was assessed using the overall scores achieved in terminal examinations in the 2001-2002 academic year. IQ was assessed using the Draw-A-person Test.

Ethosuximide induced lymphadenopathy--a case report.

A wide range of adverse effects has been reported following prolonged use of anticonvulsant drugs. More commonly reported adverse effects for ethosuximide include gastric disturbances, psychiatric disorders and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Rare instances of leukopenia and pancytopenia have been noted.

Serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphate levels in epileptic children treated with phenobarbitone.

A longitudinal study to estimate the serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase levels of 89 ambulatory epileptic children, aged between 3 years and 12 years, and having generalised tonic-clonic seizures, was carried out. None was on any form of medication for the treatment of seizures prior to presentation. Each patient received only phenobarbitone during the period of study.

Childhood migraine in Nigeria. II: Psychosocial aspects.

The Social class of 298 children with migraine, together with the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among them was studied, as part of a Community-based survey of childhood migraine in Enugu. A significantly greater proportion of the children belonged to the uppermost social classes. Also, a higher incidence of neurotic disorders occurred among the migraineurs than among age and sex-matched controls.

Childhood migraine in Nigeria--I: A community-based study.

The prevalence rate and other aspects of migraine were investigated among school children (aged 6-13 years) in Enugu. The diagnosis of migraine was made by means of a questionnaire completed by parents which was based on the criteria proposed by Prensky and Sommer, and was further confirmed by personal interview of the parents in their homes. A prevalence rate of 6.

Paediatric neurologic emergencies at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

Four hundred and sixty-seven children, aged from birth to 16 years (mean age:35.9 months), presented with emergency neurological problems to the Children's Emergency Unit (CHER) of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu over a 12-month period. This accounted for 11.

Measurement of muscle tone in children with cerebellar ataxia.

An electro-mechanical device has been used to measure muscle tone in 12 children with cerebellar ataxia and in 12 healthy children matched for age and sex. All the children also had their tone assessed clinically. The machine measurement showed that six (50%) of the 12 ataxic children had hypotonia, one was hypertonic, while five had normal tone.

Compliance by cerebral palsy (CP) patients attending a child neurology service, in a developing country: a preliminary study.

In an attempt to determine the extent to which cerebral palsy patients complied with doctors' recommendations, by regularly attending the follow-up clinics of the Paediatric Neurology Unit of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, the records of the CP patients seen in the Unit during three years (1985-1987) were scrutinized. A very high default rate of over 88% was noted. Of the 155 CP patients registered during the period, only 18 were still attending the clinic by the end of 1988, the follow-up period ranging from 12 to 47 months.

Rutter's Behaviour Scale (B2) for children (Teacher's Scale): validation and standardization for use on Nigerian children.

Nigerian teachers were asked to place the children in their classes in either of two groups: Group I, comprising children of normal behaviour, and Group II, children who, in their opinion, had significant behavioural problems. Validity of the teachers' grouping was confirmed, using as reference measure the findings from traditional psychological assessment of the children. The teachers then completed the Rutter Child Behaviour Questionnaire (Teachers' Scale) for the same children.

Cerebellar ataxia in childhood: a review of clinical features, investigative findings and aetiology in 30 cases.

The symptoms, neurological deficits and aetiology of cerebellar ataxia were reviewed in 30 children aged from 4 to 16 years, who had been extensively investigated. Fourteen (46.6%) children had perinatal problems, and in 6 (20%), ataxia resulted from these perinatal events.

Psychiatric morbidity among children with sickle-cell disease.

The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was investigated among 84 children with sickle-cell disease (SCD) and 84 healthy matched controls, using Rutter's Behaviour Questionnaires. The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity on the parents' and teachers' scales, respectively, was 26.2 and 22.

Febrile convulsions in a rural and an urban population.

By means of personal interview of parents in their homes, using a questionnaire, the prevalence rate and some other factors associated with febrile convulsions, were determined in a rural and an urban population of Anambra State of Nigeria. Significantly different rates of 11.61% and 8.

Gross motor development of Nigerian children.

A prospective study of 320 Nigerian children was undertaken to determine their pattern of motor development by recording the age at attainment of 12 gross-motor milestones. The children were all born full term and were neurologically normal at birth. They were recruited in the first week of life and seen at regular intervals in a well-baby clinic, where their parents were questioned about the ages at attainment of milestones.

The pattern and prognosis of speech disorders among children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Of 965 children with neurological disorders seen in the Child Neurology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu over a 3-year period (1985-87), 80 (8.3%; 41 boys and 39 girls) had speech problems. The most common speech disorder was dyslalia.

A review of neurological disorders seen at the Paediatric Neurology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

A review of 965 children with neurological disorders, seen at the Paediatric Neurology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, over a 3-year period (1985-1987), revealed that epilepsy was the most common neurological problem affecting 60% of the children, followed by cerebral palsy (16%), speech disorders (8.3%), mental retardation (7.2%), behaviour disorders (2.

The pattern of childhood epilepsy with mental retardation in Nigeria.

Of 580 epileptic children, 353 males and 227 females, seen at the Paediatric Neurology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, from 1985 to 1987, 18 per cent were mentally retarded, a much higher prevalence rate than in the general population. Nine different seizure types were seen, with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal) leading in frequency. The highest incidence of mental retardation occurred among the children with infantile spasms (51 per cent).

Pyridoxine therapy on Nigerian children with infantile spasms.

Nine Nigerian children, with infantile spasms, 4 boys and 5 girls age 2.5-15 months, were treated with high doses of vitamin B6. Unlike results from some European and Japanese centres, our results have not been encouraging.

Childhood intracranial neoplasms Enugu, Nigeria.

This paper reviews children with intracranial neoplasms seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, (UNTH), Enugu, over an 8-year period (1978-1985). There were 21 children, aged 4-14 years, with histologically confirmed intracranial neoplasms. The male to female ratio was 2:1.

The impact of socio-cultural factors on febrile convulsions in Nigeria.

Certain socio-cultural factors such as the beliefs of parents regarding febrile convulsions, and the actions they took when their children began to convulse, were examined among Nigerian parents. It was discovered that an overwhelming majority of parents had gross misconceptions about febrile convulsions, and took inappropriate or even harmful actions in an attempt to control the convulsions. It is thought that these social attitudes and behaviours contribute immensely to the high prevalence rate, high morbidity and unfavourable prognosis of febrile convulsions in this part of the world.

Trophic limb changes among children with developmental apraxia.

Measurements were made of the hands and feet of 16 children with developmental apraxia and of 16 control children, matched for age and sex. Pathological limb asymmetry was found in seven of the clumsy children and in only two of the controls. Pathological asymmetry of the feet was found exclusively among the clumsy children, and occurred more frequently than asymmetry of the hands.

Developmental apraxia among Nigerian children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Developmental apraxia was studied among 421 eight- to 12-year-old children attending a normal school in Enugu, Nigeria. 25 children were found to be clumsy, a rate of 5.9 per cent.