Epistaxis: The demographics, etiology, management, and predictors of outcome in Jos, North-Central Nigeria.

Background: Epistaxis, though a mere nuisance can have life-threatening consequences. This first study from Jos on epistaxis aims to determine its sociodemographic characteristics, causes, the treatment modalities and the predictors of patient outcome. Study Design: A retrospective chart review. Methods: Health records of patients that met the inclusion criteria for epistaxis at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria, between February 2011 and December 2015 were retrieved manually using standardized codes in the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision and studied for age, gender, associated comorbidities, treatment modalities offered, and outcome of treatment. Results: We managed 154 patients. Records of 92 patients were retrievable aged between 1 and 85 years (Mean = 37.7; standard deviation ± 16.2) with male to female ratio of 2.3:1. Patients in the third decade were the largest group. The most common cause was idiopathic. Anterior nasal bleeding occurred in 51.1%, posterior nasal bleeding in 34.8%. Conservative management was effective in 84.8%. Etiological factors other than chronic liver disease and otolaryngological malignancies showed statistically significant association with good patient outcomes (P = 0.013, P = 0.044, and P = 0.026, respectively). A mortality rate of 5.4% was recorded. Conclusion: Epistaxis of idiopathic origin occurring mostly in young males is the most common with most resolving on conservative management. Early hospital presentation, normal blood pressure at presentation and all management modalities were positive predictors of outcome in our patients.

RésuméContexte: Epistaxis, bien qu'une simple nuisance peut avoir des conséquences mortelles. Cette première étude de Jos sur l'épistaxis vise à déterminer ses caractéristiques sociodémographiques, ses causes, les modalités de traitement et les prédicteurs de l'issue du patient. Conception de l'étude: Une revue rétrospective des dossiers. Méthodes: Les dossiers médicaux des patients répondant aux critères d'inclusion de l'épistaxis au Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigéria, entre février 2011 et décembre 2015 ont été récupérés manuellement à l'aide de codes normalisés dans la 10e révision de la Classification internationale des maladies. , les comorbidités associées, les modalités de traitement offertes et les résultats du traitement. Résultats: Nous avons géré 154 patients. Les dossiers de 92 patients étaient récupérables entre 1 et 85 ans (moyenne = 37,7; écart-type = +16,2) avec un ratio hommes / femmes de 2,3: 1. Les patients de la troisième décennie étaient le groupe le plus important. La cause la plus fréquente était idiopathique. Saignement nasal antérieur est survenu chez 51,1%, saignement nasal postérieur chez 34,8%. La gestion conservatrice était efficace dans 84,8%. Des facteurs étiologiques autres que la maladie hépatique chronique et les tumeurs malignes otolaryngologiques ont montré une association statistiquement significative avec de bons résultats pour les patients (P = 0,013, P = 0,044 et P = 0,026, respectivement). Un taux de mortalité de 5,4% a été enregistré. Conclusion: L'épistaxis d'origine idiopathique survenant principalement chez les jeunes hommes est le plus commun avec le plus de résolution sur la gestion conservatrice. La présentation hospitalière précoce, la pression artérielle normale à la présentation et toutes les modalités de prise en charge ont été des prédicteurs positifs des résultats chez nos patients.

The undergraduate medical student's perception of professional mentorship: Results from a developing nation's medical school.

INTRODUCTION: There are no documented formal mentoring programs for medical students in Nigeria. This study aims to determine the perception of undergraduate medical students at the University of Jos on professional mentorship, with a view to informing University authorities on creating and developing a mentoring program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted in December 2017 in which self-administered questionnaires were distributed among the sixth-year medical students in a University in North-Central Nigeria, eliciting information regarding biodemographic data, knowledge of and experiences with mentoring, desired benefits of mentoring, and the willingness to participate in a mentoring relationship. Data collected was analyzed with EPI Info statistical software® version 7.2.1 (EPI Info, Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, 2017). RESULTS: In a class of 166, the response rate was 83.5%. Mean age = 27.4 years; standard deviation = ±2.6 with a male: female ratio of 1.9:1. Moderate knowledge of mentoring was reported by 47 (44.3%). Attitude toward mentoring was very positive in 23.6%. One hundred and four (98.1%) students agreed mentoring are effective in developing potential. Nearly 95.3% agreed a mentorship program would benefit medical students with 70.8% expressing high willingness to participate. A weak positive statistical correlation between the age of students and those who expressed willingness to participate was recorded (r = 0.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.6-1.16; and P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sixth-year medical students of the University of Jos have a moderate knowledge of and a good attitude toward mentorship. The implementation of a formal mentoring program for medical students at the University of Jos is strongly recommended.

Pediatric otorhinolaryngology emergencies at the Jos University Teaching Hospital: Study of frequency, management, and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Studies from Nigeria on pediatric otorhinolaryngology (ORL) emergencies are rare in literature with most focusing on emergencies involving individual systems. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of all ORL emergencies among children in our region to provide a baseline data for future health planning. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a 1-year retrospective cross-sectional study of patients aged 16 years and below presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria. RESULTS: A total of 203 otolaryngology emergencies were attended of which 129 (63.5%) were pediatric emergencies. Records of 87 patients were retrievable with age range 2 months to 15 years (mean 3.44 years; standard deviation ± 3.35). There were 55 males and 32 females with a male to female ratio of 1.7:1. The majority of cases were aged under 5 years (64; 73.6%). Acute tonsillitis accounted for 32 (36.7%) cases with 6 (6.9%) having peritonsillar abscesses. Acute pharyngitis accounted for 11 (12.6%) presentations followed closely by foreign bodies (FBs) in the ear with 10 (11.5%) presentations. FB in the throat occurred in 4 (4.6%) patients who had removal under general anesthesia. Three (3.4%) cases of maxillofacial injuries occurred as a result of insurgent terror attacks and 3.4% presented following corrosive substance ingestion. Conservative management was commenced in 76 (87.4%) patients, 23 (26.4%) had surgery with 68 (78.2%) admitted and discharged, 18 (20.7%) treated as outpatients, and 1 (1.1%) died on admission. Otolaryngologists attended most (95.4%) patients. CONCLUSION: Pediatric ORL emergencies are common in our region involving a wide range of pathologies. Expansion is required in the ORL training of the emergency room physician to enhance emergency services.

The impact of tinnitus on adult Nigerians: health related Quality of Life assessment of sufferers using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the RAND-36 item health survey 1.0 questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is a distressing ailment with limited options for therapy and affecting the quality of life of sufferers. This study aims to investigate the impact of tinnitus on the health related quality of life, the psychological and emotional wellbeing of patients in our environment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with tinnitus presenting to the Otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic of the Jos University Teaching Hospital and The Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, Jos were assessed and administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the RAND-36 item health survey 1.0 questionnaires. RESULTS: We studied 49 patients, age range 22- 79 years (mean = 36.8; median = 35.5; SD = ± 12.7) consisting of 22 (44.9%) males and 27 (55.1%) females, male to female ratio of 1:1.2. Patients in the age range 31 to 40 were in the majority (n = 20; 40.4%). Depressive symptoms were recorded in 14 (28.6%) female patients and 11 (22.4%) male patients. Anxiety symptoms were recorded in 18 (36.7%) female patients and 16 (32.6%) male patients. 34 (69.4%) of our patients scored low on all QoL domains except pain levels irrespective of age or gender with statistically significant positive correlations between all the QoL domains studied for all patients (P-value 0.5). Univariate analysis shows statistically significant inverse correlation between emotional distress (anxiety and depression) scores and each of emotional wellbeing scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates high prevalence of tinnitus amongst the younger population in our region especially females with significant reduction in their HRQoL. This should help in raising the awareness of the impact of tinnitus on the QoL, psychological and emotional wellbeing of patients in our region with a view to improving outcome for tinnitus sufferers. We recommend a further study on a larger sample population to determine the socioeconomic impact of tinnitus on the Nigerian population.