ABSTRACT
Background: Although children comprise a small fraction of the burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections; which is a major global health challenge; a significant number of them develop chronic HCV infection and are at risk of its complications. Aim: The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of HCV infection in school children in Enugu urban. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study involving children aged 10-18 years selected using multistage systematic sampling in Enugu metropolis; Southeast Nigeria. The anti-HCV was tested using a 3rd generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 16.0 with the level of significance set atP 0.05. Results: Four hundred and twenty children were selected and screened comprising 210 (50.0%) males and females. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV was 4 (1.0%). Three (75%) out of the four positive cases for the anti-HCV were females while one was a male giving a male to female ratio of 0.3-1. Traditional scarifications/tattoos were the putative risk factors observed to be significantly associated with anti-HCV seropositivity. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated an anti-HCV seroprevalence of 1.0% among children aged 10-18 years in Enugu with traditional scarification as the predominant associated risk factor. Proper health education including school health education and promotion of behavioral change among the public on the practice of safe scarifications/tattoos should be encouraged in our setting
Subject(s)
Child , Nigeria , Prevalence , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common childhood infection in the Tropics which causes significant illness and is frequently missed; probably because of its non-specific presentation and similarity with other common illnesses. Objectives: To determine the prevalence; common etiological agents; and the susceptibility of these pathogens to the commonly available antimicrobial agents in this center. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out at the Children's Outpatient Clinic and Children's Emergency Ward of Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (EBSUTH). The study was carried out between January 1; 2007 and December 31; 2009. Results: One hundred ten subjects of the 3625 children seen in the center during the period of study had UTI giving a case prevalence rate of 3.0. Majority of the patients (59; 53.6) were less than 2 years of age with a male:female ratio of 1:1.3. Fever was the commonest presenting symptom and the commonest organisms isolated in urine were Klebsiella (27; 24.5); and Staphylococcus aureus (24; 21.8). The drugs that were most sensitive to these organisms were Gentamicin (50; 45.5); Ceftriaxone (49; 44.5); and Ciprofloxacin (36; 32.7). Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of UTI among children. Klebsiella was the commonest causative organism isolated in the urine. Gentamicin; Ceftriaxone; and Ciprofloxacin were the antimicrobials with the highest sensitivity to all the isolated microorganisms