Spectrum of COVID-19 infection in children in Southern Nigeria

Background: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic that affects all age groups. Infected asymptomatic children can transmit the disease to vulnerable adults with co-morbidities resulting in severe disease in the latter. There are few reports of COVID-19 in children in Sub-Saharan Africa in general and in Nigeria in particular. Aim: To determine the prevalence, symptoms and risk factors for COVID-19 in Southern Nigerian children. Methods: This was a one-year retrospective cross-sectional study between April 2020 and March 2021. Data of all children tested for COVID-19 was extracted from the Epidemiology unit of Akwa Ibom state ministry of health. All patient identifiers were omitted and data was analyzed using STATA version 13. Results: Two hundred and fifty five children (2.25%) out of a total of 11,289 people were tested for COVID-19. Fifty -four children (0.47%) of the total number of persons tested for COVID-19 were positive. Twenty one percent of the 255 children tested were positive for COVID-19. Two hundred and fifty- four (99.6%) of children that were tested had a positive history of contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. Five (9.3%) of COVID-19 positive children were symptomatic. The commonest symptoms seen were Fever (90.9%), Anosmia (63.6%) and Aguesia (36.4%). Increasing age (15 years and above) was significantly associated with COVID-19 positivity (p=0.000). In addition, the presence of symptoms was significantly associated with COVID-19 positivity (p=0.04). Conclusion/Recommendation: The prevalence of COVID-19 in Southern Nigerian children is low. Majority of the children have asymptomatic disease. Increasing age is significantly associated with COVID-19 positivity. We recommend increased COVID-19 testing in the general children population.

Knowledge, awareness and perception of health care workers towards COVID-19 in Southern Nigeria

Context: Severe acute respiratory coronavirus disease 2019 (SARS-COVID-19) is a novel worldwide pandemic. Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of contacting the infection. Objective: To determine the knowledge, awareness and perceptions of HCWs towards COVID-19 in Southern Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire study carried out between May 2020 and July 2020. Healthcare workers responded to questions covering their sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of transmission, cure and outcome of COVID-19. Other questions asked were their perception about contacting the disease, and their facility preparedness to handle the pandemic. Data was analysed using Stata version 13. Results: A total of 366 healthcare workers completed the questionnaires. The mean age of respondents was 35.2 years. There were 209 (57.1%) males. Majority (44.5%) of the respondents were doctors. The top three symptoms identified by respondents were cough (97%), fever (92.9%) and sore throat (88%). Three hundred and sixty-four (99.5%) respondents had good level of knowledge of COVID -19. Two hundred and ninety (79.2%) of the respondents were worried about contacting COVID-19. Two hundred and thirty-five (64.2%) respondents said their facilities were not prepared to manage COVID-19 cases. Areas of concern were the absence of test kits and sample materials (70.5%), lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) (67.2%) and lack of dedicated intensive care units with ventilators (62%). Conclusion: There was good knowledge of COVID-19 among HCWs. However, there was a high degree of anxiety of contacting COVID-19 among HCWs and concerns about a general lack of preparedness for COVID-19 management. We therefore recommend the adequate provision of PPE and improved testing.

The Frequency and Distribution of ABO Blood Groups in Patients with Haematological Cancers in Uyo, Nigeria: A Hospital Based Retrospective Study

Background: The pattern and distribution of haematological malignancies vary depending on age, sex and geographical location. Studies on the association between haematological cancers and ABO blood types have been largely conflicting. Aim: To determine the frequency and distribution of ABO blood groups among a cohort of patients with haematological cancers. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study involving the review of records of patients with various haematological cancers, their demographic characteristics and ABO blood group distribution over a 5 year period. Results: The record of 132 patients with haematological malignancies over a 5 year period were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 47.93 ± 17.9 years. The peak age incidence for the various haematological cancer was the fourth and fifth decades of life. The male to female sex ratio was 2:1. NHL was the commonest haematological cancer among the patients. Majority of the patients were of the O-blood type, the different blood group distribution among the patients was statistically not different from that of the general population. Also, there was no significant association between haematological cancers and ABO blood type of the patients. Conclusion: The distribution, age and sex ratio of haematological malignancies in our study was comparable to those reported by other authors with NHL being the most common haematological cancer in our environment. Majority of the patients were of the O-blood type, comparable to the general population. There was no significant association between haematological cancers and ABO blood type of the patients.