Demographic and biochemical features associated to children infected with intestinal helminths

The objective of the study was to characterize demographic and clinical presentations of children with intestinal helminthiasis and also assess the effects of ascariasis on some plasma biochemical parameters. It was a cross-sectional community-based study carried out amongst rural children aged between 0-16 years. One stool sample per child was collected and examined microscopically for parasites. Stool smear positive children were studied and evaluated for clinical signs and symptoms. Blood was obtained from them and total protein, serum albumin, packed cell volume, vitamin C and E were determined in them as well as among children with stool parasite negative which served as controls. A total of 239 children were enrolled and had their stool samples collected, 147[61.5%] of the stool were infected. The most prevalent intestinal helminth was Ascaris lumbricoides 105[43.9%], Trichuris trichuria 28[11.7%] and Hookworm 14[5.9%]. The commonest complain among the children was diarrhea 40[27.2%] and the least vomiting 4[2.7%]. The commonest clinical finding was pallor 15[10.2%] and the least wheezing 3[2.0%]. Biochemically, the plasma total protein, albumin, Vitamin C and E as well as the PCV were significantly reduced in children with moderate and heavy Ascaris infection than controls. Heavy and moderate ascariasis are associated with various morbidities evident by both clinical and biochemical findings. Our findings should re-emphasize the need for all stakeholders to support and implement community-based control programmes of intestinal helminthiasis in Nigeria and other tropical countries

Assessment of serum lipids in nigerians with type 2 diabetes mellitus complications

To assess the serum lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with complicated type 2 Diabetes Mellitus [DM]: Hypertensive diabetics and diabetic nephropathy. This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 52 type 2 DM patients and 20 healthy controls were studied. The patients' population consisted of 23 normotensive diabetics, 16 hypertensive diabetics and 13 patients with diabetic nephropathy. The serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were assayed in patients and controls, using standardized assay methods. The mean serum total cholesterol was higher in patients than controls. The normotensive diabetic patients had the lowest total cholesterol among the patients' groups 4.01 +/- 0.82 mmol/L compared to the hypertensive diabetics 6.01 +/- 0.93 mmol/L and the diabetic nephropathy patients 6.90 +/- 1.20 mmol/L, [P<0.0001]. The prevalence of dyslipidaemia in the patients was between 25%-69%, lowest in the normotensive diabetics and highest in the diabetic nephropathy patients. We hope that these findings will draw specific attention to the management of dyslipidaemia in patients with complicated type 2 DM especially diabetic nephropathy and hypertensive diabetics