The profile of microorganisms that associate with acute tonsillitis in children and their antibiotics sensitivity pattern in Nigeria.

Acute tonsillitis remains one of the common childhood diseases in developing countries. Prompt and appropriate treatment based on the knowledge of the causative microbiota and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern will improve the treatment outcome and reduce time and resources spent on treatment. This study aims to determine the pattern of microbiota isolates and their susceptibility pattern.

Direct and Indirect Costs of Non-surgical Treatment for Acute Tonsillitis in Children in Southeast Nigeria.

Background: Acute tonsillitis has become one of the main reasons why children visit healthcare facilities in Nigeria. Presently, there is no information on the costs of its treatment, and this study aimed at determining these costs.

Methods: The study was conducted in two hospitals located in southeast Nigeria.

Reductive effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on bilirubin levels in neonates on phototherapy.

Background: Phototherapy is paramount in the management of high total serum bilirubin (TSB). Whether its effectiveness can be improved with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has not been evaluated among newborns of African descent.

Methods: A double-blind-controlled study was used to evaluate the effect of UDCA on the management of high TSB in neonates.

Parental Perception of Childhood Anaemia and Efficiency of Instrument Assisted Pallor Detection among Mothers in Southeast Nigeria: A Field Validation Study.

Background: Control of anemia can be achieved with early detection of pallor by parents at home. However, most parents lack the capacity to recognize pallor; thus most cases of anaemia are detected during hospital visit due to other symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate parental ability to detect pallor when aided with the anaemia screening tool.

Evaluation of the Performance of Haemoglobin Colour Scale and Comparison with HemoCue Haemoglobin Assay in Diagnosing Childhood Anaemia: A Field Validation Study.

Background: Anaemia in children has high mortality. We present the results of assessment of the accuracy of Haemoglobin Colour Scale in identifying anaemia compared with HemoCue assay.

Methods: The presence of anaemia in 524 children from four communities was screened using the Haemoglobin Colour Scale (HCS) and HemoCue assay.

The economic burden of malaria in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study.

Malaria in pregnancy carries a proven huge health burden; however, the economic challenges have not been properly evaluated in Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based approach. A structured questionnaire was used to collect microeconomic data from pregnant women, on the medical and nonmedical cost of malaria to them.

Anaemia of Chronic Disease: An In-Depth Review.

Anaemia is the most common haematological disorder affecting humanity and is usually observed in chronic disease states such as non-specific anaemia, which may cause diagnostic difficulties. In chronically ill patients with anaemia, this has a negative impact on quality of life as well as survival. This paper aims at reviewing the pathogenesis of this form of anaemia with a view to suggesting future targets for therapeutic intervention.

Clinical Anaemia Detection in Children of Varied Skin Complexion: A Community-based Study in Southeast, Nigeria.

Background: Clinicians rely on clinical detection of pallor to diagnose anaemia. This makes it important to evaluate the effect of different skin complexions on the accuracy of the pallor in diagnosing anaemia in children.

Methods: Clinicians conducted blind-independent physical examination, and their reports were compared with HemoCue 301 haemoglobin estimated with.

Acceptability and Willingness-to-Pay for a Hypothetical Ebola Virus Vaccine in Nigeria.

Background: Ebola virus disease is a highly virulent and transmissible disease. The largest recorded fatality from Ebola virus disease epidemic is ongoing in a few countries in West Africa, and this poses a health risk to the entire population of the world because arresting the transmission has been challenging. Vaccination is considered a key intervention that is capable of arresting further spread of the disease and preventing future outbreak.

Parental acceptance of inactivated polio vaccine in Southeast Nigeria: a qualitative cross-sectional interventional study.

Background: The introduction of inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) is imminent. In view of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018, parental acceptance of IPV will be important for achieving universal coverage. In view of the imminent introduction of IPV, it is only reasonable to assess the awareness and acceptance of IPV, so that necessary socio-anthropological measures would be put in place.