Profound childhood deafness in Nigeria: a three year survey.

A 3 year survey at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital was conducted to determine causes of childhood deafness in children seen for that condition. Of the many factors causing this handicap, measles, seizures, and meningitis were identified most frequently. Due to poor medical facilities and widespread malnutrition, communicable diseases in children produce high rates of morbidity and mortality. As a result, a high percentage of infants acquire disabilities, including profound deafness. Improvement of the health care delivery system, breastfeeding, and compulsory immunization of all babies against infectious diseases, as well as making specialist centers accessible to all are suggested as the most efficacious ways to arrest the high incidence of profound deafness in childhood in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Tracheoesophageal fistula. A complication of foreign body.

The case presented is one in which a coin in the esophagus resulted in a tracheoesophageal fistula. It is of interest not only because the occurrence is unusual, but also because the coin remained in the esophagus for an extraordinarily long period before the condition became symptomatic. The various factors responsible for the delay in getting medical help, including the nonavailability of medical services in many parts of Nigeria, are discussed.