Comparison between olfactory function of pregnant women and non-pregnant women in reproductive age group in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Pregnant women require normal olfactory function in order to develop good appetite for healthy living and normal fetal development. This study was carried out to investigate and compare olfactory function of pregnant women with non-pregnant women. Methods: This was a case control study of women in reproductive age group at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria from July 2014 to February 2015. Consecutive 70 pregnant women and 70 non-pregnant women (controls) without rhinologic symptoms were studied. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain participants' information on socio-demographics, pregnancy history, and ability to perceive smell. They subjectively rated their olfactory function on a visual analogue scale of 0 ­ 100. Olfactory threshold (OT), discrimination (OD), identification (OI) scores and TDI of both groups were determined with"Sniffin' sticks"kits and compared. The level of significance was P<0.05. Results: The mean age of the pregnant women was 30.5±3.9years and control was 28.5±6.6years. There were more pregnant women (7.1%) with hyposmia than the non-pregnant women (2.9%). The subjective rating of olfactory function was 68.2±24.9 (median 70) and 72.3±21.6 (median 69) in pregnant women and controls respectively. The mean OT, OD, OI, TDI scores were higher in pregnant women than the controls. However, it was only in OI (P=0.000) and TDI (P=0.012) that the differences were significant. Conclusions: Pregnant women have olfactory dysfunction more than the non-pregnant women of reproductive age group. Also, they have tendency to develop loss of cognitive olfactory information more than the non-pregnant women

Adult Chronic Rhinosinusitis:Spectrum of Clinical Features and Management in aTertiary Health Institution and Literature Review

Background:Rhinosinusitis is defined as inflammation of the nasal and paranasal sinus mucosa.Chronic rhinosinusitis occurs when this inflammation and the symptoms persist for more than 3 months.The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and management of adult chronic rhinosinusitis in a tertiary health institution and to review the literature for its current modalities of management.Methods:This is a 5-year retrospective study of all adult patients managed for clinically and radiologically diagnosed chronic rhinosinusitis at the study center.Their medical records were reviewed for essential data which included demographic data; clinical presentations; skin sensitivity test; radiologic reports and treatment offered.The data were collated and analyzed using simple descriptive statistics.Results: There were 228 patients; 97(42.54) males and 131(57.46) females with a male:female ratio of 1:1.35; age ranged between 18 - 67 years (mean =35.2).The five major presenting symptoms were nasal discharge 228(100.00); nasal obstruction 224 (98.25); equent throat hawking 189 (82.89); itching of eye; ear; nose or throat 138 (60.53) and excessive sneezing 136(59.65).About 6of the patients developed complications.Allergy accounted for the cause in 93 (40.79)patients. Maxillary antral mucosal thickening and engorged inferior turbinates were the commonest radiological features. About 51of the patients were treated with intranasal inferior meatal antrostomy with or thout inferior turbinectomy.There was recurrence of symptoms in about 18of these patients from 3 to 8months after surgery.Conclusions: Both subjective and objective measures should be employed in the diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis and intranasal inferior meatal antrostomy may rarely produce satisfactory clinical improvement

Malaria Infection among Blood Donors in Onitsha Urban; Southeast Nigeria

Blood safety is a major issue of global concern in transfusion medicine especially in developing countries; where national blood transfusion policies and services as well as financial resources are lacking or inadequate. Transfusion-transmitted malaria is a potential health hazard but is often neglected in many malarious areas. Malaria infection among blood donors in Onitsha urban; Southeast Nigeria was studied between August and October 2008. Venous blood of donors was screened for malaria parasites using Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films. The ABO and Rhesus phenotypes were classified using a haemaglutination standard test and demographic data of donors documented. Of the 410 blood donors analysed; 304 (74.1) were infected. Plasmodium falciparium was identified in all positive cases and mixed infection with P. malariae was seen in 5(1.6) cases. Infection significantly varied with age and not with sex and occupation (p0.05). People with blood group O+ showed significantly higher rate of infection (p0.05). Since there is scarcity of voluntary donors in Nigeria; donor deferral done in non-malarial endemic regions cannot be practiced in Nigeria. The high prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in this area; suggests the need for careful screening of blood samples for malaria parasites. Positive samples should be indicated on the blood packs and transfusion of malaria positive blood requires the administration of curative dose of antimalarials to the patient. Commercial donors should be freely given mosquito treated bed nets and be encouraged to sleep under them

Tracheostomy Decannulation: Suprastomal Granulation Tissue in Perspective

Background: Suprastomal granulation tissue is a complication of tracheostomy which maymake decannulation difficult and presents a therapeutic challenge to the Otorhinolaryngologists. The aims of this study therefore were to evaluate tracheostomy in black African population; determine the prevalence of suprastomal granulation tissue and provide updated information on it that will enable the otorhinolaryngologists to better understand and manage the lesion. Methods: We reviewed case files of patients who had tracheostomy between 1993 and 2007 at University College Hospital; Ibadan; Nigeria for essential clinical data.Results: Of the 256 patients who had tracheostomy; 133(51.95) had prior orotracheal intubation for 10 21days. Suprastomal granulation tissue complicated 16 (6.25) cases; this accounted for 88.89of cases of failed decannulation. Indications for tracheostomy in these patients included severe head injury in 12 (75); tetanus in 3 (18.75)] and intubation granuloma in 1(6.25) of these cases. Sixteen (4.3) cases had stomal infection. Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of suprastomal granulation is high among our patients. There is a need for good surgical tracheostomy technique to prevent this complication and stomal infection should be promptly treated while cuffed orotracheal intubation for more than two weeks in unconscious and tetanus patients should be avoided

Reproductive Health Knowledge and Practices among Junior Secondary School Grade one Students in Enugu State: Threat to Achieving Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria

Objective: This was designed to provide background information for the implementation of family life and HIV/AIDS education in post primary schools in the Enugu State. Methods: A cross sectional survey of the reproductive health knowledge and practices of 412 junior secondary school pupils from 12 schools in Enugu State; Nigeria was undertaken using a uniform set of structured self-administered questionnaire. Results: The results revealed that while the pupils demonstrated fair knowledge of human biology; they lacked knowledge of selfprotective mechanisms as it related to sexual health. About (50) of the participants reported that they have had sex; at the age of less than 11 years when they must have been in the primary school and most (89.3) at age 11-14 years. Half (50.9) of the respondents hold the belief that a girl would not get pregnant in her first sexual encounter. Statistically more of those who have ever had sex were betrayed this ignorance (p=0.004). The boys were less certain about what constitutes the wrong ideas about reproductive health systems than the girls (p=0.042). In the same vein; there was a difference (p0.0001) in the proportion of the rural residents; vis-a-vis their urban counterparts that could correctly identify the wrong ideas about human reproduction. Conclusion: This situation urgently calls for concerted efforts at addressing the poor reproductive health knowledge of these sexually active young people; for the millennium development goals (MDGs) target to be realized in Nigeria

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

Paranasal sinusitis in the aetiology of orbital cellulitis

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of paranasal sinusitis as a cause of orbital cellulitis and to identify the commonest sinus(es) involved in our setting. Methods: A retrospective review of the case notes of 47 patients with orbital cellulitis admitted into the ophthalmic ward of the University College Hospital; Ibadan within a ten-year period (1988-1987) was done.Results: Sinusitis 34.2) was the most common cause of orbital cellulitis with the maxillary sinus being the most involved (38). Patients in the second decade of life had the highest prevalence of 56. More cases were seen during the dry season C November to February. Conclusion: Paranasal sinusitis is probably the most frequent cause of orbital cellulitis with the maxillary sinus being the most involved