Serum zinc status in sickle cell anaemia children at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

Background: Several clinical manifestations of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) have been associated with zinc deficiency. Determining the zinc status of children with SCA in Nigeria, a country that accounts for the highest burden of the disease worldwide, will provide a template that could assist in critically appraising the need or otherwise for zinc supplementation or fortification programmes in these children. Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study conducted at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria among 700 children (350 SCA patients and 350 age and sex matched hemoglobin AA controls). Serum zinc was analysed using the atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: The median serum zinc concentration of children with SCA was 6(3-7) µmol/l and it was significantly lower than that of the controls 8(4-9) µmol/l, p = 0.04. The prevalence of zinc deficiency in this study was 67% in children with SCA compared with 34% in the control group, (p<0.0001). The proportion of zinc deficient patients was more among children from lower socio economic class (68.5%, 35.5%) than in the upper socio economic class (38.5%, 16.3%) in both cases and controls groups respectively. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of zinc deficiency in the study population especially among those with sickle cell anaemia. Zinc supplementation or fortification should be considered as part of intervention strategies to improve the zinc status of these children particularly those with sickle cell anaemia

Risk of anaemia in HIV positive pregnant women in Ibadan, south west Nigeria

UNLABELLED: Anaemia in pregnancy is an important cause of maternal and neonatal mortality. It is a recognized co-morbidity of HIV infection. This study aimed to determine the risk of anaemia in HIV positive pregnant women. METHODOLOGY: This is a cross sectional study of healthy pregnant women attending Adeoyo Hospital, a secondary health centre in South-western Nigeria over a 1-month period (January 2007). During the study period, 2737 eligible women presented for antenatal care. About 98% (2682) of these women consented to HIV testing. Over all, their mean (+ S.D) packed cell volume was 30.96% (+/- 4.13). The prevalence of HIV infection was 2.9% (95% CI 2.3% - 3.6%) and the overall prevalence of anaemia was 33.1%. Frequency of anaemia was significantly higher in HIV +ve women (57.3% vs. 42.7%, p = 0.00. OR = 2.81., CI = 1.72-4.58). HIV +ve women presented more frequently with moderate or severe anaemia. In the logistic regression analysis only HIV infection (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.37-4.21) and primigravidity (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.04-15.2) remained independently associated with anemia. Anaemia is common in HIV positive pregnant women in this environment. Care providers must endeavor to determine the HIV status of every pregnant woman especially if she presents with anaemia with a view to providing appropriate interventions

Day case adenotonsiletomy: experience of two private clinics in Nigeria

Background: adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy are among the common surgeries perform in children in otorhinoryngological practice. It was the aim of this study to evaluate the post operative mobility in patients undergoing day-case adenoidedtomy/tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy. Methodology: All pediatrics cases requiring adenoidectomy; tonsillectomy or both who presented at HANSA clinics Enugu (January 1990 to June 2004) and GENIKS specialist clinics Ibadan (January 2000 to June 2004) were counseled for day case surgery. The inclusion criteria were: Patients certified fit for surgery- ASA grade I or II for general Anaesthesia and had no intercurrent CVS disease or bleeding diathesis among others. Results: A total number of 144 patients requiring adenoidectomy; Tonsillectomy or both were seen at the study centers with only sixty six (45.8) meeting the inclusion criteria. Adenoidectomy constituted 47of the surgeries with over 80 of the patient age less than 7 years reactionary haemorrhage was noted in 3 (4.5) of the patient. the other complications Were non-persistent vomiting 13 (19.7); low grade fever 5 (7.6) and pain at time of discharge 23 (34.8). There were no fatalities. Conclusion: The complication rates were low. Day-case Adenoidectomy/tonsillectomy or denotonsillectomy is safe and the presence or closeness of the family members contributed greatly to patients/ post recovery as this as this had a soothing/calming effect on the patient/s