Subject(s)
Ascorbic Acid Deficiency/etiology , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Ascorbic Acid/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/bloodABSTRACT
Peak expiratory flow rate was estimated in 569 school children in Ibadan to determine normal values in Nigerians. Two hundred and seventy-six boys and 293 girls, aged 6-18 without antecedent history of respiratory disease, from different socio-economic backgrounds were selected. The peak expiratory flow rate (PFR) was estimated using the Wright peak flowmeter. The results indicated that the mean values of Nigerian children were lower than those of Caucasians of the same height, sex and age. The possible reasons for this are discussed. The PFR values were found to correlate highly (P less than 0.01) with age, weight and height, and also with FVC and FEV1. In this study, PFR correlated more closely with weight than height, contrary to the results observed in Caucasian children. Since there is a positive correlation between PFR and FVC or FEV1, PFR can therefore be used in assessment of respiratory function in clinical practice, particularly in younger children, who cannot adequately cooperate when the spirometer is used for lung-function studies.
Subject(s)
Forced Expiratory Flow Rates , Lung/physiology , Peak Expiratory Flow Rate , Adolescent , Age Factors , Body Height , Body Weight , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Nigeria , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
Lung function studies were performed on 522 school children in Ibadan to determine normal values among Nigerian School children. From four schools 257 boys and 265 girls aged 7 - 18 with different socio-economic background were selected. The forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) wee estimated using the wedge bellows vitalograph. It was observed from the results that the mean FVC and FEV1, values were lower than the predicted mean values matched for age, sex, height and weight. It was further observed that the values obtained were lower than those of the caucasian children. However, it was observed that the FVC values correlate significantly with age, weight and height (P less than 0.01).
Subject(s)
Forced Expiratory Volume , Vital Capacity , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Nigeria , White PeopleABSTRACT
Skin sensitivity tests using the prick method were performed on 174 patients with bronchial asthma and 160 controls, using 20 common allergens. The results revealed a high incidence of positive skin test reactions to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, grass and flower pollens, feathers, and some ingesta such as cow's milk and fish. The difference in the reactions between the asthmatic patients and the controls was statistically significant. The results suggest that house-dust mite allergy is the most significant factor in the aetiology of bronchial asthma in Nigerians.
Subject(s)
Asthma/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Allergens , Asthma/etiology , Child , Dust , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mites/immunology , Nigeria , Skin TestsABSTRACT
During a five-year period, 45 Nigerians with radiographic appearances of diffuse pulmonary infiltration with at least six sputum specimens negative on culture for tubercule bacilli were investigated at University College Hospital, Ibadan. The value of pulmonary function studies and open or closed lung biopsy in discovering the cause of diffuse lung disease was examined. Cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis was the most common cause (13 cases). Other diagnoses included malignant disease (11 cases), sarcoidosis (three cases), progressive systemic sclerosis (three cases), miliary and non-caseating tuberculosis (three cases) and pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (one case): this last is believed to be the first case diagnosed in Africa South of the Sahara. This study emphasizes the fact that, even in developing countries where tuberculosis is highly prevalent, there are other causes of diffuse pulmonary infiltration.
Subject(s)
Lung Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Aged , Child , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Lung/pathology , Lung Diseases/diagnosis , Lung Diseases/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Radiography , Respiratory Function Tests , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosisABSTRACT
A trial of daily short courses (6 months) chemotherapy of previously untreated cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in Nigerians was carried out, using two regimens containing rifampicin. All patients had sputum conversion at 3 months, with over 90% of them being sputum-negative at 2 months. There was evidence of radiographic clearance in all the patients at 6 months. It is suggested that patients who still had extensive radiographic lesions at 6 months, though bacteriologically sterile, should have their chemotherapy extended to 9 months to reduce the chance of developing a bacteriological relapse. It was observed that the addition of streptomycin did not make any important contribution to the therapeutic success of rifampicin-isoniazid regimen. No bacteriological relapse was encountered 3 months after the cessation of chemotherapy. Rifampicin was well tolerated and toxic reactions were virtually non-existent. This study confirms the efficacy of short course regimens containing rifampicin. The regimen is advocated, especially in areas where patients' co-operation at taking the 18 month standard treatment cannot be guaranteed.
Subject(s)
Isoniazid/therapeutic use , Rifampin/therapeutic use , Streptomycin/therapeutic use , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Drug Combinations , Drug Therapy, Combination , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A case of pulmonary avleolar microlithiasis is reported. This is of especial interest as it is the first case to be reported from Africa South of the Sahara. The clinical presentation of the patient follows a similar pattern as that of cases already described by other workers. The diagnosis in this case was made in life by a combination of radiological examination and a lung biopsy. The clinical presentat on and aetiology of the condition are briefly discussed.
Subject(s)
Calculi/diagnosis , Lung Diseases/diagnosis , Pulmonary Alveoli/pathology , Calculi/diagnostic imaging , Child , Female , Humans , Lung Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Nigeria , RadiographyABSTRACT
Two hundred and sixteen patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were reviewed. Childhood and adult patterns of tuberculosis as noted in other countries were recognised. However, some children were seen with an adult pattern most probably due to a reinfection. There were also adults with the childhood pattern most probably due to a failure in the localisation of the primary intra-pulmonary parenchymal lesions with subsequent haematogenous spread. The prognosis in children with the adult pattern, and in adults with the childhood pattern was poor. The lesions (noted in this study) were severe and widespread, and with a high incidence of complications such as adenopathy and exudative lesions. The high incidence of associated diseases such as measles and malnutrition would account for the severity of tuberculosis and the high percentage of negative tuberculin tests in these patients. No lobes were exempted from involvement. But the upper lobes especially the right were the most affected. Negative tuberculosis tests make repeated sputa examinations imperative in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in this environment. The high predominance of male patients among those with miliary tuberculosis in our study remains unexplained. The genotype distribution amongst our patients shows no statistical difference between them and that of the population.
Subject(s)
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnostic imaging , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Lung/diagnostic imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Nigeria , Pleural Effusion , Radiography , Retrospective Studies , Sickle Cell Trait/complications , Tuberculin Test , Tuberculosis, Miliary/diagnostic imaging , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/complications , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/pathologyABSTRACT
A comparative trial of a combination of thiacetazone 150 mg with isoniazid 300 mg in a once daily dose and that paraaminosalicyclic acid 12 gm uith isoniazid 300 mg daily in divided doses was carried out on 72 specially selected patients with pulmonary tuberculosis over a period of 12 months. The result of the trial showed that patients treated with thiacetazone/isoniazid combination responded equally favourably to therapy as the patients treated with PAS/isoniazid combination. The result of sputum conversion was similar in both groups. Radiological changes after treatment showed a significant similarity in both groups. It was observed that the thiacetazone/isoniazid combination is no more toxic than the PAS/isoniazid combination. There was no case of blood dyscrasia during the trial. Of the 72 patients who started the trial, a total of 19 (26 per cent) patients defaulted before the end of the third month. However, the remaining 53 patients (74 per cent) completed the trial, and the final analysis was based on this number. It was concluded that thiacetazone (150 mg/day) was of similar efficacy when compared with PAS (12 gm/day) as a companion drug for isoniazid (300 mg/day) in producing sputum conversion, and radiological changes in Nigerian tuberculosis patients and is therefore to be preferred because of its relative cheapness and once-a-day administration.
