Prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis D virus antibody among asymptomatic carriers of Hepatitis B virus: a community survey.

Background: Hepatitis D virus (HDV) can cause a chronic infection in the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and contribute to the burden of chronic liver disease especially in regions where chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of HDV among asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg in Cross River State, Nigeria.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among apparently healthy adults resident in Cross River State, Nigeria.

Comparison of cold water sponging and acetaminophen in control of Fever among children attending a tertiary hospital in South Nigeria.

Background: A wide range of childhood illnesses are accompanied by fever, leading to varied attempts at treatment by caregivers at home before coming to a hospital. Common modalities of treatment include use of antipyretics and physical methods such as cold water sponging, fanning and removal of clothing. These treatment modalities have been received with varied attitudes among physicians and the scientific community.

Use of the General Health Questionnaire as a screening tool for geriatric patients in Calabar, Nigeria.

Background: Old age is inevitably associated with general biological and physical decline.Mental health issues are among the most prevalent health problems of the elderly and constitute an important source of distress for patients and caregivers. Primary care providers frequently fail to diagnose these problems, and, even when they do, management may not be optimal.

Recognition of mental health problems by primary care physicians in a tertiary care hospital in Nigeria.

Aims And Objectives: This study sought to determine the difference in detection of attendees with mental health problems visiting the General Out-patient clinic of a tertiary institution; the General Health Questionnaires (GHQ-12) were compared with those identified by the physicians.

Patients And Methods: Three hundred and twenty two (322) subjects aged 18 years and above, attending the clinic for the first time, were recruited for the study by a systematic random sampling method. Using a cut off score of '3' on the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), 'Cases' and 'Non-cases' generated were compared with those identified by the doctors.

Patient characteristics that may predict the likelihood of the presence of mental health problems in patients attending the general outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in South-South Nigeria.

Background A considerable number of patients seen in general outpatient clinics (GOPC) are known to suffer from psychiatric rather than physical disorders. Studies have shown that doctors working in these clinics have difficulty in making accurate ratings of mental health problems in their patients and have poor knowledge of psychiatric diagnosis. Accurate recognition of psychiatric symptoms in a patient is essential for specific diagnosis and successful management.