Knowledge of Radiation Hazards, Radiation Protection Practices and Clinical Profile of Health Workers in a Teaching Hospital in Northern Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Use of ionizing radiation in medical imaging for diagnostic and interventional purposes has risen dramatically in recent years with a concomitant increase in exposure of patients and health workers to radiation hazards. AIM: To assess the knowledge of radiation hazards, radiation protection practices and clinical profile of health workers in UDUTH, Sokoto, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 Radiology, Radiotherapy and Dentistry staff selected by universal sampling technique. The study comprised of administration of standardized semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire (to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of radiation hazards, and radiation protection practices of participants), clinical assessment (comprising of chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound and laboratory investigation on hematological parameters), and evaluation of radiation exposure of participants (extracted from existing hospital records on their radiation exposure status). RESULTS: The participants were aged 20 to 65 years (mean = 34.04 ± 8.83), most of them were males (67.3%) and married (65.7%). Sixty five (59.1%) had good knowledge of radiation hazards, 58 (52.7%) had good knowledge of Personal Protective Devices (PPDs), less than a third, 30 (27.3%) consistently wore dosimeter, and very few (10.9% and below) consistently wore the various PPDs at work. The average annual radiation exposure over a 4 year period ranged from 0.0475mSv to 1.8725mSv. Only 1 (1.2%) of 86 participants had abnormal chest X-ray findings, 8 (9.4%) of 85 participants had abnormal abdominal ultrasound findings; while 17 (15.5%) and 11 (10.0%) of 110 participants had anemia and leucopenia respectively. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated poor radiation protection practices despite good knowledge of radiation hazards among the participants, but radiation exposure and prevalence of abnormal clinical conditions were found to be low. Periodic in-service training and monitoring on radiation safety was suggested.

Communication disorders in Nigerian children.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Communication disorders have been acknowledged as a major public health issue because they compromise early childhood development, restrict vocational attainment and undermine the economic well being of the society. The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of communication disorders among children in a developing country and the requisite intervention services. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos between January 2002 and June 2003 among children aged 6 months to 15 years that presented in the audiology clinic of the hospital with communication disorders. All the patients had neurological, otolaryngological, audiological and speech evaluations. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients were seen during the period out of whom 136 (74%) were between the ages of 6-47 months. Hearing impairment was documented in 120 (65.2%) children, speech disorders in 56 (30.4%), rhinolalia 2.2% and stuttering 2.2%. Of those with hearing impairment, 70% had delayed speech and language. Among children with speech disorders 78.6% had specific language impairment (SLI). Aetiological factors recorded for the communication disorders were seizures 10.9%, measles 8.7% meningitis 8.7%, birth asphyxia 6.5%, otitis media with effusion (OME) 4.3%, kernicterus 4.3%, congenital deformity 4.3%, ototoxicity 2.2%, cerebral palsy 2.2%, and undetermined causes 47.9%. CONCLUSION: Hearing impairment is the commonest communication disorder. Early detection and appropriate follow up is recommended for all children in their first year of life. The role of parents and caregivers in seeking early help should be strengthened while capacity building for the training of more audiologists and speech therapists should be pursued rapidly.

Adult onset otitis media with effusion in Lagos.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The documented reports on adult onset OME is scanty world wide, this study was prompted by the increasing trend of OME in our adult patients with the aim of determining the prevalence, predisposing factors and treatment outcome of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out over a two year period at the Otolaryngology Clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital Lagos Nigeria, on 195 patients referred to the clinic with provisional diagnosis of OME. The patients had clinical evaluation, pure tone audiometry, tympanometry while a few had fibre optic nasopharyngoscopy and biopsy done. RESULTS: A hospital based prevalence of 2.6% was recorded in the Otolaryngology clinic during the study period, with infective and allergic sinusitis as the major predisposing factors to OME in adult patients. Majority 58 (92.06%) patients were treated conservatively and recurrence was seen in 8 (12.7%) of the patients without any untoward effects. OME, though recognised as a childhood disease may be as prevalent in adult as in childhood but with less complication. CONCLUSION: OME as a single clinical feature or in association with allergy or sinusitis is most unlikely to habour NPC therefore nasopharyngoscopy and biopsy are likely to give a low yield of positive biopsy in isolated OME in adult and the cost implication of this must be borne in mind.