The pattern of pediatric respiratory illnesses admitted in ebonyi state university teaching hospital South-East Nigeria.

Background: Reports from the developed nations reveal respiratory tract infections as the leading cause of childhood hospital admissions. Children may be admitted for a variety of respiratory illnesses. Data on the spectrum of pediatric respiratory illnesses admitted in the hospital is scarce.

Asymptomatic rotavirus infection within Benin City urban community, Nigeria.

This study was carried out in Benin City urban community, Nigeria as a follow-up of an earlier study carried out on patients admitted to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic rotavirus infection amongst urban children and adults. Eight hundred and twenty one subjects from 200 homes were screened for rotavirus infection between August and December 1990.

Male breast carcinoma in eastern Nigeria--a 13 year study.

A 13 year review of carcinoma of the male breast in an African Population is presented. Its incidence, Clinical presentation, diagnosis and modalities of treatment are critically analysed. The literature is reviewed and such topical issues as risk factors, prognostic indices and modern concepts on the possible aetiological mechanisms of development of human breast cancer are discussed.

Incidence and parametric determinants of post-operative wound infections in a university teaching hospital.

The incidence and determinants of post-operative wound infections in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu was studied. During the period of study (July 1983-June 1984) 218 surgical operations from adult males and females were investigated. The overall infection rate was found to be 27.

Complete rectal prolapse in Enugu, Nigeria.

The case records of thirty patients (21 male and 9 female) aged 8 to 62 years treated for complete rectal prolapse by operation over 5 years were studied. The results of treatment were compared with those in seven consecutive patients treated more recently by posterior rectopexy. Thiersch operation has been attended by an unacceptable high rate of reoccurrence, recurrent sepsis and faecal impaction.

Unusual craniocerebral injuries from nailing.

Three cases of unusual craniocerebral injuries caused by deliberate driving of nails into the head are reported. All injuries were on or near the midline in the parietal area and the nails measured about 10 cm. Two of the patients experienced little pain during the procedure and did not lose consciousness.

Malignant disease of the colon, rectum, and anus in Nigerian Igbos.

An account is given of 5 anal and 36 colorectal cancers occurring in Nigerians of the Igbo ethnic group. The rectum was the site of predilection for colorectal growths, and most rectal growths occurred in males. In contrast to the situation in the Western world the disease is rare, affects relatively younger patients, and is often advanced at presentation.

Invasive thymoma (a case report).

A 10-year old Nigerian boy was admitted to hospital with a history of swelling in the neck, change of voice, dysphagia and dyspnoea of 2 weeks duration. He died on the 2nd day of admission. Autopsy revealed a thymoma infiltrating the thyroid, trachea and neck muscles and transforming the tracheal lumen into a slit like space.

Infarction of accessory spleen.

A rare disease that can mimic acute appendicitis is infarction of accessory spleen. It may occur in children and is difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Greater awareness of this entity may show not only that it is associated with other intraabdominal anomalies but also that it is more common in the tropics than elsewhere.