Acute chest syndrome in sickle cell anaemia: higher serum levels of interleukin-8 and highly sensitive C-reactive proteins are associated with impaired lung function.

Background: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with multiple organ manifestations including acute and long-term pulmonary dysfunction.

Aims/objectives: To assess lung function of children with SCA and determine the possible role of acute chest syndrome (ACS), serum inflammatory cytokines, highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leucocytes and 25-hydroxyvitamin D on the development of impaired lung function.

Subjects And Methods: Lung function of 76 children with SCA was determined by spirometer and classified into normal or impaired.

Factors associated with childhood asthma control in a resource-poor center.

Introduction: Optimal asthma control is a major aim of childhood asthma management. This study aimed to determine factors associated with suboptimal asthma control at the pediatric chest clinic of a resource-poor center.

Methods: Over a 12-month study period, children aged 2-14 years with physician-diagnosed asthma attending the pediatric chest clinic of the Wesley Guild Hospital (WGH), Ilesa, Nigeria were consecutively recruited.

Epidemiology, triggers, and severity of childhood asthma in Ilesa, Nigeria: Implications for management and control.

Background: Knowledge about childhood asthma in a locality will assist clinicians to adequately manage the condition. This study set out to report the epidemiology, triggers of exacerbation, comorbid conditions, and severity of childhood asthma at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria and the implication of these, in management and symptoms control.

Methods: Over a 15-month study period, children (aged <15 years) with physician-diagnosed asthma were consecutively recruited at the pediatric chest clinic of the hospital.

Prevalence and factors associated with exercise-induced bronchospasm among rural school children in Ilesa, Nigeria.

Background: Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) assessed using changes in peak expiratory flow rates (PEFRs) to free range exercise is a relatively cheap way of screening for asthma in resource-poor centres where children with asthma are often undiagnosed and poorly managed. This study sets out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with EIB among rural schoolchildren in Ilesa, Nigeria.

Subjects And Methods: Children aged 8-16 years from two middle schools in rural Ilesa were selected by multistage sampling.