Iquo Bassey Otu-Bassey

Enterobiasis and its relationship with anal itching and enuresis among school-age children in Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract The prevalence of enterobiasis and its relationship with anal itching and enuresis were investigated among 799, randomly selected children aged 5–14 years, who lived, either in an area of high population density or one with a much lower population density, in Calabar, Nigeria. The eggs of Enterobius vermicularis were found in anal swabs (collected with transparent adhesive tape) from 60 (7.5%) of the subjects tested, with the prevalence of infection appearing markedly higher in the 403 children from the area with a high population density than in the 396 from the less densely populated area (11.7% v. 3.3%; P<0.05). Questionnaire-based interviews were used to determine which of the children suffered from anal itching, enuresis or both. Compared with the egg-negative subjects, the 60 children who were egg-positive for Enterobius were found to be much more likely to be suffering from anal itching (78.3% v. 28.3%; P<0.05) or enuresis (53.3% v. 36.4%; P<0.05). Enterobiasis is therefore not a problem that is restricted to the temperate regions of the world, and may be a cause of enuresis or at least a contributory factor in the development of this complaint.

The post-treatment effects of enterobiasis on the occurrence of enuresis among children in Calabar, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between enterobiasis and enuresis before and after albendazole therapy among 632 children, aged, 5-14 years, in Calabar, Nigeria. METHODS The scotch tape (cellotape) technique was used for the detection of eggs of Enterobius vermicularis (E. vermicularis) while questionnaire-based interviews were used for screening for anal itching and/or enuresis among study participants. All subjects found positive for Enterobius infection as confirmed by the presence of eggs and those with persistent anal itching (both enuretic and non-enuretic) were treated with 400 mg of albendazole given as a single dose. The treated subjects were re-assessed post-treatment to ascertain whether they were cured and also to determine their enuretic status (for the enuretics). RESULTS The overall prevalences of Enterobius infection, anal itching, and enuresis prior to albendazole therapy were 6.8%, 42.9%, and 35.6% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of these parameters by the socio-economic class of subjects (P = 0.462, P = 0.647, and P = 0.610, respectively). The pre-treatment prevalences of enuresis among Enterobius and anal itching-positive subjects were 53.5% and 49.8%, respectively versus 34.3% and 24.9%, respectively among their negative counterpart (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001, respectively). Four (20%) out of the 20 enuretic children found Enterobius egg-negative after albendazole therapy were equally cured while 8(40%) had reduction of their enuresis, thus giving a total resolution rate of 60%. Similarly, 64.2% resolution (25% cure and 32.8% reduction) of enuresis was observed amongst 120 anal itching-cured/enuretic children. Enuretic status of the Enterobius-/anal itching-uncured subjects, on the other hand, remained unchanged post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS This study is suggestive of the involvement of E. vermicularis in the aetiology of enuresis in Calabar. Children presenting with, especially, uncomplicated enuresis should be screened for enterobiasis.

Frequency of Bacterial Species Associated with Nosocomial Infection among Health Care Personnel in Nigeria

Nosocomial infections are a serious public health issue today. They are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Their pathologies are responsible for considerable increase in health care expenses despite the widely recognized efforts of public health authorities to keep them under control [1]. Almost two million nosocomial infections are detected every year in the United States, 80,000 of which result in the patient’s premature death [2]. Their total annual costs for five major health careassociated infections (HAIs) were

Intestinal Parasitosis, Haemoglobin and Eosinophil Levels of Patients Attending University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

9.8 billion, with surgical site infections contributing the most to overall costs [3].

Occurrence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria amongst Inmates of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Calabar, Nigeria

Aims: To determine the effect of intestinal parasites on the haemoglobin concentration and eosinophil levels among the patients treated at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Nigeria. Study Design: This was cross sectional study. Ethical approval and patients’ informed consent were sought and obtained before collection and processing of samples. Place and Duration of Study: Outpatient clinic, UCTH, Calabar between July, 2013 and May, 2014. Methodology: We included 300 patients (114 males, 186 females). Intestinal parasites were detected by direct stool microscopy and formol ether concentration technique. Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was determined by Cyanmethaemoglobin method while eosinophil levels were determined by differential eosinophil count. Original Research Article Otu-Bassey et al.; IBRR, 7(2): 1-8, 2017; Article no.IBRR.31861 2 Results: Overall, 30% of the studied subjects were positive for intestinal parasites, 23% had low Hb concentration (below 110.0 g/L) while 27% had high eosinophil count (≥ 7%). Parasite positive subjects had lower Hb concentration and higher eosinophil levels compared to their parasite negative counterpart (56.7% versus 8.6%) and (70% versus 8.6%), respectively (P< 0.001). Multiple infections was more related to Hb reduction and high eosinophil levels than single infections (80% versus 45%) and (90% versus 60%), respectively (P< 0.001). Hook worm showed the highest occurrence (26.7%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides 23.3%, Trichuris trichiura 10%, and Entamoeba histolytica 6.7%. In single infections, Hook worm infected subjects recorded more reduction in Hb and increased eosinophil count (99.0 g/L and 15%, respectively) while in multiple infections, hookworm/Entamoeba histolytica co-infected subjects took the lead (70.0 g/L and 19%, respectively). There was no association between intestinal parasites prevalence by gender of subjects (P = 0.2128). Conclusions: Intestinal parasitosis may result in anaemia and eosinophilia and the decrease in haemoglobin concentration and increase in eosinophil count is directly related to the degree of parasitosis. It is recommended that stool microscopy, haemoglobin estimation and eosinophil counts be routinely performed for all patients visiting the hospital.

Prevalence and Eligibility for Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection among Prison Inmates and Female Sex Workers in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Aims: To determine the occurrence and prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria, influence of gender and duration of illness on the prevalence of this infection among inmates of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Calabar. Study Design: This was a cross sectional study. Ethical approval was obtained, consent forms were signed by the patients, questionnaires were also administer followed by collection and processing of clean catch mid-stream urine specimens. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Calabar, Nigeria between August, 2010 and September, 2011. Sample: Urine samples from two hundred (200) inmates and one hundred (100) apparently healthy staff of the same hospital (control subjects). Original Research Article Inyang-Etoh et al.; JAMPS, 11(4): 1-6, 2016; Article no.JAMPS.30491 2 Methodology: Urine samples were collected in sterile universal bottles and analyzed using standard laboratory diagnostic techniques and cultured using Lee and Williams technique. The modified Kirby-Bauer sensitivity testing technique was used for antimicrobial testing of the isolates. Results: Significant bacteriuria was established in 60(30%) of the inmates while only 8(8%) of the control subjects had bacteriuria. The difference in infection between the inmates and the control subjects was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Females 40(40%) were more infected than male subjects 20 (20%) but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.052). Inmates with 16-20 weeks of duration of mental disease had the highest level of infection 4(40%) while inmates with 1-5 weeks of duration of mental disease had the lowest level of infection 12(28%) and this was statistically significant (P = 0.001). The most common urinary pathogens isolated amongst both the test and control subjects were Escherichia coli (34) followed by Proteus spp (14) while Staphylococcus saprophyticus was the least isolated organism. Conclusion: This work has shown that asymptomatic bacteriuria is common among inmates of Federal Neuropsychiatric hospital, Calabar and the need to put in place strategies to control this infection among this category of patients in the study area.