Oladele Simeon Olatunya

Evaluation of a Portable Haemoglobin Metre Performance in Children with Sickle Cell Disease and Implications for Healthcare in Resource-poor Settings.

BACKGROUNDnSub-Saharan Africa has the largest burden and worst outcome of sickle cell disease (SCD). This gloomy outlook has been attributed to the lack of use of simple and cost-effective measures for diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Although haematology analysers are the gold standard for accurate measurement of haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, they are often out of 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 analyser for determining the Hb concentration in children with SCD and its usefulness in resource-poor settings.nnnMETHODSnEthylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood samples collected from participants were processed to estimate their Hb concentration using two devices (Sysmex KX21N haematology analyser and portable mission Hb device). The agreement between the two sets of measurements was assessed by the Bland and Altman method.nnnRESULTSnThe intraclass and concordance correlation coefficients were 0.854 and 0.936, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were 84.2% and 98.6%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 94.1% and 96.0%, respectively. The Bland and Altmans limit of agreement was -2.3 to 1.6 and the mean difference was -0.34 with non-significant variability between the two measurements (pu2009 = u20090.949).nnnCONCLUSIONnHb concentration determined by the portable testing system is comparable with that determined by the haematology analyser. We recommend its use as a point-of-care device for determining Hb concentration of SCD children in resource-poor settings where haematology analysers are not available.

Profile of non-accidental childhood injury at a tertiary hospital in south-west Nigeria

BACKGROUNDnInjury threatens children lives worldwide. Most studies from Nigeria have been on accidental injuries in children.nnnOBJECTIVESnTo study the profile of non-accidental injuries among children receiving care at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.nnnMETHODSnChildren with non-accidental injuries were serially recruited and studied. The Paediatrics Trauma Score (PTS) was tested against the outcome.nnnRESULTSnNon-accidental injuries accounted for 0.84% of all 5264 patients and 21.3% of the 207 injured. The case fatality rate was 6.8%. Physical abuse, sexual assault, drowning/near drowning, gunshot, poisoning and human bite caused the injuries in 68.2, 13.6, 6.8, 4.5, 4.5 and 2.3%, respectively. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc analysis showed that the mean PTS score of patients who died was significantly lower than the scores of those who were either discharged home or who discharged against medical advice (p < 0.001).nnnCONCLUSIONnThe burden of non-accidental childhood injuries was high in the study area.

Otological burdens of Nigerian children with sickle cell disease

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVEnSickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with episodic illnesses, multi-systemic affectations and end-organs damages. Otolaryngological related complications are not unexpected. Studies on the overall Otolaryngological pathologies in children with SCD relative to their non-SCD counterparts are scanty in Nigeria. We hypothesized that children with SCD are likely to have more otological burdens than their non-SCD counterparts. Thus, we embarked on this study to describe and compare the overall ear diseases burdens seen in children with sickle cell disease relative to their non-SCD counterparts.nnnMETHODOLOGYnA cross-sectional study of otologic diseases among children with SCD and their non-SCD counterparts attending the paediatrics and otolaryngological clinics of a Nigerian tertiary institution was conducted.nnnRESULTSnOverall, 80 (47.62%) of the 168 ears of SCD patients compared to 37 (22.02%) of the 168 ears of their non-SCD counterparts were affected by diseases (pu202f<u202f0.0001). The diseases were Wax, Otitis Media with Effusion, Suppurative Otitis Media, Otosclerosis and Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL). There was a significant difference in the prevalence of SNHL and solitary otosclerosis between the SCD patients and their non-SCD counterparts (Pu202f<u202f0.05) respectively. Both the Haemoglobin concentration and HbF did not discriminate between the SCD participants with or without SNHL (Pu202f>u202f0.05).nnnCONCLUSIONnThis study showed that otological burdens are more prevalent in children with SCD than the non-SCD population. The microbiological peculiarity of suppurative otitis media (SOM) among participants stresses the need for concerted efforts at preventing SOM in SCD children. There is need for special Otolaryngological care for SCD children.

Evaluation of sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory markers of sickle leg ulcers among young nigerians at a tertiary health institution

Background: Sickle leg ulcer (SLU) is a chronic and debilitating complication of sickle cell disease (SCD) associated with huge physical and psychosocial discomfort. The occurrence of SLU has remained steady despite successful preventive strategies and advances in SCD care. Although multifactorial factors have been implicated in SLU, these are not fully understood, and data on how these relate to young Nigerian SCD patients are scanty. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory markers of SLU in a young Nigerian SCD cohort. Patients and Methods: This study involved 109 young SCD patients and 67 healthy peers. The sociodemographic and laboratory parameters of the participants were examined in addition to the evaluation of the SCD cohort for SLU. Results: Only the HbSS patients had SLU. This was found in six of them giving a prevalence of 5.9% (6/101). Their median age was 17, range 14–21 years. There was a preceding history of trauma in 4 (66.7%), and this included a case of traditional scarifications for local therapeutic purposes. Two of the three (66.7%) males with SLU also had priapism (P = 0.0132). Patients with SLU were older, had less frequent bone pain crises, and significantly belonged to the low socioeconomic class (P < 0.05). Although patients with SLU had relatively higher lactate dehydrogenase, platelet count, aspartate transaminase, bilirubin, white blood cell, and lower Hb concentration and HbF, these did not attain statistical significance (P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study confirms that SLU is common among young SCD patients with HbSS genotype, low socioeconomic background, and older age. It also suggests that SLU could be more related to hemolysis-associated SCD phenotypes among the patients.

Factors Influencing the Academic Performance of Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Ekiti, South West Nigeria

BackgroundnThere is a paucity of information on factors that influence the school performance of children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in Nigeria, despite her huge burden of the disease.nnnMethodsnIn total, 101 children with SCA were recruited at a paediatric clinic in Nigeria. Their socio-demographic-matched classmates were the controls. Academic performance and cognitive functioning were obtained from school reports and Zilers Draw-a-Person Test, respectively. Factors influencing the academic performance were determined.nnnResultsnChildren with SCA had higher rates of school absence and lower haemoglobin concentration (pu2009<u20090.05). There was no difference in overall school performance between children with SCA and controls (59.0 vs. 60.6%; pu2009=u20090.256). School absenteeism >u20091u2009week independently predicts poor school performance among the study participants (odds ratiou2009=u200915.71; 95% confidence interval = 5.93-41.66; pu2009=0.000). Most SCA children with poor performance were absent from school for > 1 week.nnnConclusionnThere is need to address causes of school absenteeism among children with SCA.

Influence of alpha thalassemia on clinical and laboratory parameters among nigerian children with sickle cell anemia

There is paucity of data on the influence of alpha thalassemia on the clinical and laboratory parameters among Nigerian sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of alpha thalassemia and the influence of alpha thalassemia on laboratory parameters and clinical manifestations in a group of young Nigerian SCA patients.

Potential health and economic benefits of three locally grown nuts in Nigeria: implications for developing countries

Malnutrition and lack of economic sustainability are major problems in developing countries. This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the nutrients‘ contents of three locally grown nuts in Nigeria (local groundnut, Kampala groundnut and breadnut) and highlight their health and economic potentials. Proximate analysis, chemical properties, minerals and fatty acids composition of the nuts were determined. The highest protein, crude fibre and carbohydrate contents were found in Kampala groundnut, local groundnut and breadnut respectively. Their sodium-potassium ratios were all less than 1.0 and their oils have mainly unsaturated fatty acids. Their acid values ranged between (2.41–6.34 mgKOH/g) while the iodine values were between 36.0 and 93.0 I2 g/100 g. Analysis of the nuts and their oils indicated that they could help in solving malnutrition problem and also boost nations’ economy. Encouraging their large scale production can enhance adequate nutrition and sustain industrial growth in developing countries.