Zero tolerance for complacency by government of West African countries in the face of COVID-19.

A novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing a cluster of respiratory infections (Coronavirus Disease 2019, COVID-19) first discovered in Wuhan, China, is responsible for a new illness that has been found to affect the lungs and airways of patients with associated symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. In the light of few cases recorded so far in West Africa there is tendency for complacency. The region needs to make strategic plans based on available evidence to enable them effectively deal with this rapidly evolving pandemic. At this very moment countries like China, Italy, France, Spain, Iran, UK and many others are witnessing sustained and intensive community transmission of this virus and increasing numbers of severe disease and death particularly among elderly patients with other comorbidities. The reality of the seriousness of this pandemic is alarming. Government of member states of ECOWAS need to prepare themselves by building capacity as well as implement evidenced-based steps to mitigate this rapidly evolving pandemic by testing persons presenting with symptoms (fever, cough and shortness of breath), isolating and treating those found positive, tracing and quarantining contacts, implementing social distancing as well as optimizing human and material endowment to allow healthcare workers offer safe quality clinical care for affected patients to prevent secondary infection among healthcare workers.

Prevalence of some hepatitis B virus markers among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Specialist Hospital Sokoto Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus infection is a global public health problem. The virus has infected more than one-third of the global population. It has been estimated that 360 million chronic carriers are living around the world with a high risk for developing cirrhosis, hepatic carcinoma and hepatic failure. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of some hepatitis B markers among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Sokoto Specialist Hospital, Nigeria. METHODS: The hepatitis testing was carried out using the Skytec-Rapid Diagnostic HBV-5 rapid kit (Skytec-Rapid Diagnostic, USA). The kit is based on lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb in human serum or plasma. Panel format can conveniently test for five targets at once and utilizes all markers to help distinguish between acute and chronic infections. RESULTS: Out of 117 pregnant women tested, 15 were positive for HBsAg (12.8%), 6 positive for HBsAb (5.1%), 1 for HBeAg (0.9%), 14 tested positive for HBeAb (12.0%), and 14 tested for HBcAb (12.0%). The prevalence of HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBcAb and HBcAb was compared based on ethnicity. HBsAb was significantly higher among the Hausa ethnic group (p= 0.001). The prevalence of HBsAb, HBeAg, HBcAb and HBcAb was not affected by ethnicity (p> 0.05). The prevalence of HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBcAb and HBcAb was compared based on age. Infection by the hepatitis B virus markers was higher among young adult and middle age groups. The difference was however not statistically significant (p> 0.05). The prevalence of HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBcAb and HBcAb was compared based on the educational status, previous history of blood transfusion, jaundice, employment status and previous history of still births among the pregnant subjects. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus markers (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study observed a high prevalence of various hepatitis B viral markers among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Specialist Hospital Sokoto. There is need for routine screening of all pregnant women and infants born to hepatitis B positive mothers. Government and non-governmental organizations should intensify efforts to enlighten the general population on the public health importance of the disease and the importance of hepatitis screening. There is also need for the development of a treatment protocol for the management of pregnant women positive for hepatitis B to prevent mother to child transmission. There is an urgent need for the implementation of evidenced-based best practice of providing universal vaccination against hepatitis B for all hepatitis B negative women of child bearing age in particular and all Nigerians in general.

Anaemia and thrombocytopenia among pregnant women attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State, North Western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy induces a number of physiologic changes either directly or indirectly that affect the haematologic parameters. The most frequent haematologic complication associated with pregnancy is anaemia and thrombocytopenia. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the prevalence of anaemia and thrombocytopenia among one hundred and twenty consecutively-recruited pregnant subjects and sixty age-matched non-pregnant controls. METHOD: Socio-demographic and clinical data were obtained using a questionnaire. Three milliliters of blood were obtained from both the pregnant subjects and non-pregnant controls and distributed into EDTA and used for full blood count was determined using the fully automated Mythic 18 3-part differential haematology analyzer. RESULT: The socio-demographic distribution among the subjects showed that the age group 25-29 years had the higher number of participants 41 (34.2%) followed by 30-34 years 39 (32.5%). Distribution based on socio-demography indicated that majority of the subjects were of Hausa ethnic group 47 (78.3), had no formal or Islamic education 53 (44.2%) and predominantly housewives 74 (61.7%). Distribution based on obstetric variables indicated that majority of the subjects were multiparous 86 (71.7%), had no problem in their previous pregnancies 99 (82.5%) and are not having problem in this current pregnancy 109 (90.8%). The HBG and HCT were significantly lower among the pregnant subjects compared to controls (p= 0.05 and 0.0308) respectively. The prevalence of anaemia and thrombocytopenia among the pregnant subjects was 75% and 6.7% respectively. The prevalence of anaemia (80%) and thrombocytopenia (8.0%) was higher among pregnant women in the second trimester compared to those in the first and third trimesters. CONCLUSION: The values obtained from this research showed an increase in prevalence of anaemia and thrombocytopenia among pregnant women compared to the non-pregnant controls. It is vital to routinely monitor the indices of anaemia and thrombocytopenia among pregnant women to reduce the incidence of these diseases and of their complications.

Some haematological parameters, manganese and zinc levels among diabetic patients of African descent attending Specialist Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: World Health Organization statistics identifies that there are about 150 million people with diabetes mellitus worldwide and suggest that this figure may double by 2025. OBJECTIVE: This research was conducted to determine the status of full blood count, zinc and manganese levels among Diabetic patients attending Specialist Hospital, Sokoto. METHODS: The participants were divided into two groups; 58 diabetic subjects and 29 non-diabetic controls. Five milliliters of blood were collected into EDTA and plain containers for full blood count, serum zinc and manganese analysis. The FBC investigation was carried out using automated Mythic Haematology analyzer (Orphee, Switzerland) while Zn and Mn investigations were carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The FBC, Zn and Mn status of both control and subjects were compared statistically. RESULTS: The results obtained in this study showed a significant increase in RBC, PCV, Hb, Basophils, Eosinophil, Lymphocyte count and Manganese levels of diabetic subjects (p⩽ 0.05) when compared with controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the other FBC parameters and Zinc levels between diabetic subjects and non-diabetic controls (p> 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the Hb, PCV and lymphocyte of diabetic patients based on gender (p< 0.05). FBC, Manganese and Zinc have no effect based on age group, while other socio-demographic factors also have no effect on the FBC, Manganese and Zinc parameters of diabetic patients. The study also showed no statistical difference in the FBC, Manganese and Zinc of smokers and non-smokers (p> 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, this research shows that some haematological parameters (RBC count, Basophils, Eosinophil, Lymphocyte, Hb and Manganese) of the diabetic patients are significantly higher compared to non-diabetic controls. Marital status had a significant effect on the Hb, PCV and Lymphocyte of the diabetic patients (p< 0.05). The age group had no significant effect on the Hb, PCV and Lymphocyte of diabetic subjects (p> 0.05).CONCLUSIONS There is need to routinely monitor the full blood count, zinc and manganese levels among diabetic subjects in the area to optimize the care offered to these patients.