Relationship between ultrasound-measured spleen, liver and anthropometry of children living in a rural community in southwest Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Ultrasonography is noninvasive, relatively inexpensive and useful for resource-poor settings. US spleen and liver sizes have been observed to differ among populations, so there is a need for reference values for different geographic populations.

Objective: To describe the sizes of the spleen and liver of children living in a rural community in southwest Nigeria and assess the relationship between these measurements and the children's anthropometry.

Malaria prevention practices and malaria prevalence among children living in a rural community in Southwest Nigeria.

Introduction: Living conditions in most rural African communities favour malaria transmission and threaten global eradication. Prevention strategies and interventions such as the use of bed nets have reduced the prevalence of malaria. This study described the various methods employed to prevent malaria and their effects on malaria parasite prevalence among children living in a rural community in Nigeria.

A ten-year review of neonatal tetanus cases managed at a tertiary health facility in a resource poor setting: The trend, management challenges and outcome.

Background: Neonatal Tetanus (NNT) is a vaccine preventable disease of public health importance. It is still being encountered in clinical practice largely in developing countries including Nigeria. NNT results from unhygienic delivery practices and some harmful traditional cord care practices.

A comparative study on the prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis among primary (formal) and almajiri (informal) school pupils in kura local government area of Kano State, Nigeria.

Background: Urinary schistosomiasis remains one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases in the world today, particularly in developing countries including Nigeria. Chronic infection can affect the genitourinary system. School pupils, particularly the informal Almajiri school pupils are at increased risk of the infection.

Towards malaria control in Nigeria: implications of the malaria parasite rate and spleen rate among children living in a rural community in southwest Nigeria.

Background: The World Health Organization prioritizes malaria surveillance for accurate tracking of progress of intervention programmes. The malaria parasite rate (PR) and spleen rate (SR) are economical surveillance tools. There has been a global decline in the burden of malaria over the last decade, but most African countries, like Nigeria, have a slow rate of decline.

Serum Micronutrients as related to Childhood Pneumonia Severity and Outcome in a Nigerian Health Facility.

Introduction: Micronutrients are essential minerals and vitamins needed for optimal health. There are however conflicting reports about the roles of micronutrients in severity and outcomes of childhood pneumonia. This study aims to determine the socio-demographic and serum micronutrients - Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se), Vitamins (Vit) A, C and E status of Nigerian children with or without pneumonia and relate these to pneumonia severity and outcome.

A comparative study of the prevalence of zinc deficiency among children with acute diarrhoea in SouthWestern Nigeria.

Background: Zinc deficiency has been associated with increased incidence, severity and duration of childhood diarrhoea.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of zinc deficiency among under-five children with acute diarrhoea.

Methods: The study was a comparative cross-sectional study in which serum zinc levels were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry in under-five children with acute diarrhoea and in apparently healthy contols.

Presentation and outcomes of early and late onset neonatal sepsis in a Nigerian Hospital.

Background: Neonatal Sepsis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates despite great advances in antimicrobial therapy and life support measures.

Objectives: To compare the aetiology, risk factors, presentation and outcomes of care between early onset neonatal sepsis (EOS) and late onset neonatal sepsis (LOS).

Methods: Bacterial isolates were identified using blood cultures and antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using disc diffusion method.

Vitamin A deficiency among under-five Nigerian children with diarrhoea.

Background: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and diarrhoea are still important contributors to childhood deaths in Africa, and vitamin A deficient children are at increased risk as well as severity of diarrhoea.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of VAD and identify the associated factors among children with diarrhoea.

Methods: The study was a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study.

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.

Low serum vitamin A is prevalent in underfive children with severe malaria and is associated with increased risk of death.

Introduction: Micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in developing countries and may influence vulnerability to diseases particularly malaria and its severity. This study investigated serum vitamin A profile of under-five children with severe malaria (SM) in South-western, Nigeria and to determine its association with degree of malaria parasitaemia, types of SM and eventual outcome.

Methodology: Using HPLC, serum vitamin A concentrations of 170 under-five children with SM and 170 age- and gender-matched controls were determined.

Prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency among under-five children in South-Western Nigeria.

Background And Aim: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) constitutes a major nutritional concern in developing countries. It contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality of under-five children and can result in impaired resistance to infection as well as increased risk of death. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of VAD among Southwestern Nigerian children.

Sickle cell disease in southwestern Nigeria: assessment of knowledge of primary health care workers and available facilities.

Background: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) benefit optimally from comprehensive care. In Nigeria, despite the huge burden, involvement of community health workers (CHWs) in the management of SCD is poor.

Methods: This community-based study assessed SCD-related knowledge of 182 CHWs from the 46 primary health care (PHC) centres in Ilesa, southwestern Nigeria.

Serum vitamin D profile of Nigerian children with asthma: Association with asthma severity and control.

Objective: Childhood asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disorder with increasing prevalence even in Africa. Vitamin D, with anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory properties, may have effects on the severity and level of symptoms control in childhood asthma. We aimed to assess the serum vitamin D levels in children with asthma as related to disease severity and control in a tropical region.

Influence of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D on the rate of pain episodes in Nigerian children with sickle cell anaemia.

Background: In sickle cell disease (SCD), symptoms of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and chronic pain can overlap.

Aim: To examine the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the frequency of acute pain episodes.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) was assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and its influence on the number of significant pain episodes was examined by bivariate and logistic regression analyses.

Point-of-Care Testing for Anaemia in Children Using Portable Haematocrit Meter: A Pilot Study from Southwest Nigeria and Implications for Developing Countries.

Background: Prompt and accurate diagnosis is needed to prevent the untoward effects of anaemia on children. Although haematology analyzers are the gold standard for accurate measurement of haemoglobin or haematocrit for anaemia diagnosis, they are often out of the reach of most health facilities in resource-poor settings thus creating a care gap. We conducted this study to examine the agreement between a point-of-care device and haematology analyzer in determining the haematocrit levels in children and to determine its usefulness in diagnosing anaemia in resource-poor settings.

Effects of supplemental measles immunization on cases of measles admitted at the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria.

Background: Measles is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable infection which continues to be a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries particularly those with poor routine immunisation coverage. Supplemental immunisation activities (SIAs) were thus introduced to improve vaccine coverage.

Objective: This study was carried out to assess the impact of the supplemental measles vaccinations on the cases of measles admitted at a tertiary health facility in South west Nigeria.

Health instruction in Nigerian schools: what are the missing links?

Introduction: School health instruction (SHI) is the instructional aspects of school health programme. It provides information on key health issues to school children who are in their formative years.

Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study of all the primary schools in a focal Local Government Area in Nigeria was carried out to ascertain the implementation of SHI with regards to the contents, methods of delivery and teachers preparation for health teaching using an evaluation checklist for SHI.

Efficacy of artemisinin combination therapy for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Nigerian children.

Introduction: The development and spread of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to most commonly used antimalarials remain a major challenge in the control of malaria. Constant monitoring of drug efficacy is an important tool in establishing rational antimalarial drug policies.

Methodology: A randomized comparative study was conducted at the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria between February 2010 and September 2011 comparing the efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem) and fixed dose of artesunate plus amodiaquine (Larimal) in the treatment of uncomplicated P.

Multiple injuries in a 3-year-old Nigerian girl: an extreme form of physical abuse.

Physical abuse and other forms of child maltreatment occur worldwide. However, in developing countries such as Nigeria they are not often considered in the differential diagnosis. A 3-year-old girl is presented who sustained injuries including traumatic teeth extraction, multiple bruises, femoral shaft fracture and haemorrhage resulting in severe anaemia as a result of physical assault by her father.

Determinants of oxygen therapy in childhood pneumonia in a resource-constrained region.

Childhood pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among underfives particularly in the resource-constraint part of the world. A high proportion of these deaths are due to lack of oxygen, thereby making oxygen administration a life-saving adjunctive when indicated. However, many primary health centres that manage most of the cases often lack the adequate manpower and facilities to decide which patient should be on oxygen therapy.

Influence of lime juice on the severity of sickle cell anemia.

Background And Objectives: The pain in sickle cell anemia (SCA) is often triggered by dehydration, acidosis, and fever that are usually due to malaria. Intake of lime juice was recently demonstrated to facilitate clearance of the malaria parasite. It was therefore sought to determine whether regular intake of lime juice will ameliorate crisis, especially recurrent bone pain.

Preliminary trial of aloe vera gruel on HIV infection.

Background: Ten (10) young women diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the Wesley Guild Hospital Ilesa, a unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria who did not meet the national criteria for the use of antiretroviral drugs were managed with 30-40 mL of aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) gruel daily.

Methods: Their CD4 counts, general improvement, and physical well-being (including weight gain) were monitored over a 1-year period. The findings were compared with those of 20 age- matched controls who were on antiretroviral drugs.