PATIENT-RELATED FACTORS AND CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OUTCOMES OF RETINOBLASTOMA IN CALABAR, NIGERIA.

Background: Retinoblastoma is curable in industrialized countries. However, it is associated with mortality in resource-poor nations due to disparities and poor access to eye care. Aim was to determine the relationships between patient-related factors and clinical outcomes of Retinoblastoma management in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

Spatial Distribution of PCR-Identified Species of Anopheles gambiae senu lato (Diptera: Culicidae) Across Three Eco-Vegetational Zones in Cross River State, Nigeria.

Anopheles gambiae sensu lato complex (An. gambiae s.l.

Prolonged QTc Interval in Nigerian Children with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Prolonged QTc interval, a risk factor for ventricular arrhythmia, occurs in sickle cell anemia. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of prolonged QTc interval and its relationship with vaso-occlusive painful crises (VOCs) and follow-up steady-state in the same children with sickle cell anemia. This prospective cohort study enrolled 38 subjects, aged 5-17 years.

Ibuprofen versus paracetamol for treating fever in preschool children in Nigeria: a randomized clinical trial of effectiveness and safety.

Introduction: fever is the primary symptom of most childhood illnesses and a cause of concern to their caregivers. The antipyretics commonly used to treat fever are ibuprofen and paracetamol. Most studies on the effectiveness of ibuprofen and paracetamol in treating fever in under-fives were conducted in Europe and North America with very few in African children.

Myocardial injury in patients with sickle cell anaemia and myocardial ischaemia in Calabar, Nigeria.

Background In children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA), ischaemic electrocardiogram (ECG) changes occur during both vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) and the steady state. Myocardial ischaemia evidenced by an ischaemic pattern on ECG may lead to myocardial injury which is evidenced by elevated serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT). Occasionally, the myocardial injury is fatal.

Vaccines for preventing invasive salmonella infections in people with sickle cell disease.

Background: Salmonella infections are a common bacterial cause of invasive disease in people with sickle cell disease especially children, and are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Although available in some centres, people with sickle cell anaemia are not routinely immunized with salmonella vaccines. This is an update of a previously published Cochrane Review.

Educational interventions for improving primary caregiver complementary feeding practices for children aged 24 months and under.

Background: Although complementary feeding is a universal practice, the methods and manner in which it is practiced vary between cultures, individuals and socioeconomic classes. The period of complementary feeding is a critical time of transition in the life of an infant, and inappropriate complementary feeding practices, with their associated adverse health consequences, remain a significant global public health problem. Educational interventions are widely acknowledged as effective in promoting public health strategy, and those aimed at improving complementary feeding practices provide information about proper complementary feeding practices to caregivers of infants/children.

Provider and patient perceptions of malaria rapid diagnostic test use in Nigeria: a cross-sectional evaluation.

Background: Nigeria commenced a phased programmatic deployment of rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) at the primary health care (PHC) facility levels since 2011. Despite various efforts, the national testing rate for malaria is still very low. The uptake of RDT has been variable.

Microbial community dynamics in a pilot-scale MFC-AA/O system treating domestic sewage.

To investigate the effluent concentrations of pollutants, electricity production and microbial community structure, a pilot-scale microbial fuel cell coupled anaerobic-anoxic-oxic system for domestic sewage treatment was constructed, and continuously operated for more than 1 year under natural conditions. The results indicated that the treatment system ran well most of the whole period, but both effluent qualities and electricity production deteriorated at low temperature. The results of MiSeq sequencing showed that the microbial community structures of both anode and cathode biofilms changed extensively during long-term operation and were correlated with changes in effluent qualities.

Surgical and nonsurgical interventions for vulvar and clitoral pain in girls and women living with female genital mutilation: A systematic review.

Background: Vulvar and clitoral pain are known complications of female genital mutilation (FGM). Several interventions have been used to treat these conditions. This review focuses on surgical and nonsurgical interventions to improve vulvar and clitoral pain in women living with FGM.

Evaluation of a Public Child Eye Health Tertiary Facility for Pediatric Cataract in Southern Nigeria I: Visual Acuity Outcome.

Purpose: A retrospective study of the outcome of congenital and developmental cataract surgery was conducted in a public child eye health tertiary facility in children <16 years of age in Southern Nigeria, as part of an evaluation.

Materials And Method: Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery with or without anterior vitrectomy was performed. The outcome measures were visual acuity (VA) and change (gain) in visual acuity.

Blood transfusion services for patients with sickle cell disease in Nigeria.

Background: Safe, timely red blood cell transfusion saves lives and chronic transfusion therapy (CTT) prevents or limits morbidities such as stroke, therefore improving quality of life of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).

Methods: This questionnaire-based study assessed the ability of sickle cell centers in Nigeria to provide safe blood to patients with SCD between March and August 2014.

Results: Out of the 73 hospitals contacted, responses were obtained from 31.

Status of the use and compliance with malaria rapid diagnostic tests in formal private health facilities in Nigeria.

Background: Nigeria has the largest number of malaria-related deaths, accounting for a third of global malaria deaths. It is important that the country attains universal coverage of key malaria interventions, one of which is the policy of universal testing before treatment, which the country has recently adopted. However, there is a dearth of data on its implementation in formal private health facilities, where close to a third of the population seek health care.

Systemic Comorbidity in Children with Cataracts in Nigeria: Advocacy for Rubella Immunization.

Background. Congenital and developmental cataracts are leading causes of childhood blindness and severe visual impairment. They may be associated with systemic diseases including congenital heart diseases which are among the major causes of morbidity and mortality in childhood.

Vaccines for preventing invasive salmonella infections in people with sickle cell disease.

Background: Salmonella infections are a common bacterial cause of invasive disease in people with sickle cell disease especially children, and are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Although available in some centres, people with sickle cell anaemia are not routinely immunized with salmonella vaccines. This is an update of a previously published Cochrane Review.

Efficacy of artemisinin-based combination treatments of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in under-five-year-old Nigerian children.

The efficacy of 3-day regimens of artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine were evaluated in 747 children < 5 years of age with uncomplicated malaria from six geographical areas of Nigeria. Fever clearance was significantly faster (P = 0.006) and the proportion of children with parasitemia 1 day after treatment began was significantly lower (P = 0.

Utilization of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in health facilities of Cross River State, Nigeria.

Objective: This study assessed the utilization of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the prevention of malaria in pregnancy against the national treatment policy among women attending health care facilities in Cross River State, Nigeria.

Methods: A clinical audit was carried out between January 2012 and March 2012 using case records of pregnant women who received antenatal care in health facilities in the state. Facilities were selected by simple random sampling.

Malariometric Indices among Nigerian Children in a Rural Setting.

Malaria contributes to high childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. To determine its endemicity in a rural farming community in the south-south of Nigeria, the following malariometric indices, namely, malaria parasitaemia, spleen rates, and anaemia were evaluated in children aged 2-10 years. This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey among school-age children residing in a rubber plantation settlement.

Management of uncomplicated malaria in underfives in private and public health facilities in South-eastern Nigeria: a clinical audit of current practices.

Malaria remains a leading cause of underfive morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Effective case management is a strategy recommended by the World Health Organization for its control. A clinical audit of case management of uncomplicated malaria in underfives in health facilities in Cross River State, Nigeria, was conducted from January to March 2012.

Open-label trial of three dosage regimens of fixed-dose combination of artemisinin and naphthoquine for treating uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Calabar, Nigeria.

Background: The use of anti-malarial drug combinations with artemisinin, or with one of its derivatives, is now widely recommended to overcome drug resistance in falciparum malaria. Fixed-dose combination of artemisinin and naphthoquine is a new generation artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) offered as a single dose therapy. The aim of the study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy, safety and tolerability of three dosage schedules of fixed-dose combination of artemisinin (125 mg) and naphthoquine (50 mg) for treating uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria among adolescents and adults in Calabar, South-east Nigeria.

Congenital malaria in Calabar, Nigeria: the molecular perspective.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been shown to be more sensitive in detecting low-level parasitemia than conventional blood film microscopy. We estimated the prevalence of congenital malaria using nested PCR amplification of the small subunit 18S RNA gene to detect low-level parasitemia and identify Plasmodium species in 204 mother-neonate pairs. Cord-blood parasitemia was detected in four babies by PCR, giving a prevalence of 2.

Steam inhalation or humidified oxygen for acute bronchiolitis in children up to three years of age.

Background: Acute bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection and a major cause of morbidity in young children. It is treated with bronchodilators (for example, salbutamol), corticosteroids or humidified air (steam inhalation or cool mist). Steam inhalation is preferred in low-income countries as it is inexpensive and easily available.

Relationship between parental socio-economic status and casual blood pressure in coastal Nigerian adolescents.

Background: Emerging data suggest that essential or primary hypertension occurs in the young. Parental socioeconomic status may play a role but the exact mechanisms still remain unclear.

Objective: This study was aimed at determining the relationship between parental socioeconomic status and casual blood pressure in adolescents.

Junctional epidermolysis bullosa in a female Nigerian child: a case report.

Aim: To report the case of Junctional Epidermolysis bullosa seen in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar and to draw attention to the existence of this condition among Nigerians.

Subject And Methods: A Nigerian female infant, normal at birth, developed extensive blistering skin eruptions from the age of ten days. The lesions involved the face, neck, shoulders, upper trunk and the buccal mucosa of the lower lip sparing the limbs.

Hypokalaemia in children hospitalised for diarrhoea and malnutrition in Calabar, Nigeria.

Objective: To describe the acid base and electrolyte pattern of morbidity and mortality in children with diarrhoea and protein energy malnutrition.

Setting: The diarrhoea treatment and training unit of the university of Calabar teaching hospital was used for the study.

Design/methods: It was a prospective study in which consecutive children below the age of 15 years with protein energy malnutrition and diarrhoeal diseases admitted into the DTU were screened for acid base and serum electrolyte abnormalities.