Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative ubiquitous bacterium affecting over half of the world's population. Most infections are acquired in early childhood with highest prevalence in Africa and Asia. Infected individuals develop antibodies against H. pylori which persist up to 6 months after eradication. Low socioeconomic status, poor sanitation, poor personal hygiene, and absence of potable household water supply are prevalent in our environment and also linked with increased frequency of the disease with attendant health consequences. Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection and potential sociodemographic factors among children in Owerri. Methods: One hundred and twenty children aged 6 months to 15 years were studied from March to June 2016. Sociodemographic data was documented in a pretested structured questionnaire while rapid test kit that detects antibody to H. pylori by chromatographic flow was used to identify subjects with infection. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 with level of statistical significance at P < 0.05. Results: H. pylori infection prevalence was 20.0%, increased with age and highest in the 10–15 years age group (P = 0.001). Increasing age and low socioeconomic class (SEC) were found to be significant risk factors of H. pylori seropositivity among study subjects. Conclusion: Prevalence of H. pylori infection was high, increased with age and lower SEC as well as highest among children aged 10 years and older. Efforts should be made to exclude H. pylori infection in children with suspected symptoms considering the high burden of the disease in our setting.
Gross haematuria is an unusual complication of Honey bee stings. Herein, we report a rare case of gross haematuria following multiple honeybees stings in an 8-year-old Nigerian child with sickle cell anaemia. The patient had evidence of massive intravascular haemolysis and was transfused with a unit of fresh whole blood. However, he died within 36 hours on admission despite medical intervention.
Background: Diarrhoea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children below five years of age especially in developing countries. One of the consequences of diarrhoea in children is zinc deficiency, which may worsen the diarrhoea itself, and thus increase morbidity and mortality. Aim and Objectives: The study aimed to determine the serum zinc status of under five children with diarrhoea attending Federal Medical Centre Owerri. Also, to compare the serum zinc level between children with diarrhoea and their age and sex-matched controls, as well as determine the relationship, if any between types of diarrhoea, and frequency of diarrhoea episodes. Methodology: The study was a comparative cross-sectional study carried out at the Emergency Paediatric Unit, The Children’s Outpatient Clinic and The Children’s Ward of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. A total of 402 study participants were analyzed. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data including participants’ socio demographic characteristics, the clinical presentation of the present diarrhoeal episode, as well as the frequency and duration of diarrhoeal episodes in the preceding year. Serum zinc was assessed using Varian AA240 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results: The prevalence of zinc deficiency in children with diarrhoea was 84.1% while that of children without diarrhoea was 56.2%. Mean serum zinc level was significantly lower in children with diarrhoea when compared to their age and sex matched controls (p=0.000). All children with persistent diarrhoea and dysentery had zinc deficiency. Children with persistent diarrhoea had significantly lower serum levels when compared to children with acute watery diarrhoea. There was a negative correlation between serum zinc level and frequency of stool, duration of the present episode of diarrhoea, frequency of diarrhoea episodes, and the duration of each episode of diarrhoea in the preceding year and the severity of dehydration. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the present recommendation of the World Health Organization for zinc supplementation in children with diarrhoea, and recommends that children with persistent diarrhoea should have longer treatment with zinc tablets.
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