Infections were the predominant causes of non-traumatic coma in EBSUTH. In view of the high mortality among this group of patients, efforts at the control of malaria and other infections would significantly reduce the incidence of non-traumatic coma in this study site.

Background:Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common childhood infection in the Tropics which causes significant illness and is frequently missed, probably because of its non-specific presentation and similarity with other common illnesses.Objectives:To determine the prevalence, common etiological agents, and the susceptibility of these pathogens to the commonly available antimicrobial agents in this center.Materials and Methods:This was a retrospective study carried out at the Children's Outpatient Clinic and Children's Emergency Ward of Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (EBSUTH). The study was carried out between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009.Results:One hundred ten subjects of the 3625 children seen in the center during the period of study had UTI giving a case prevalence rate of 3.0%. Majority of the patients (59, 53.6%) were less than 2 years of age with a male:female ratio of 1:1.3. Fever was the commonest presenting symptom and the commonest organisms isolated in urine were Klebsiella (27, 24.5%), and Staphylococcus aureus (24, 21.8%). The drugs that were most sensitive to these organisms were Gentamicin (50, 45.5%), Ceftriaxone (49, 44.5%), and Ciprofloxacin (36, 32.7%).Conclusion:The study revealed a high prevalence of UTI among children. Klebsiella was the commonest causative organism isolated in the urine. Gentamicin, Ceftriaxone, and Ciprofloxacin were the antimicrobials with the highest sensitivity to all the isolated microorganisms.

Background Diabetic complications have been identified as the major cause of morbidity and mortality in persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Lack of appropriate glycaemic control is a significant risk factor for the onset and progression of long term complications of diabetes. Identifying the determinants of glycaemic control is therefore imperative. Aim To identify the socio-demographic determinants of glycaemic control among children with type 1 diabetes mellitus in south eastern Nigeria Method It was a cross-sectional hospital-based study of children aged 3-18 years with T1DM. Seventy-one children with type 1 diabetes mellitus were consecutively enrolled after obtaining consent. A questionnaire was completed recording their demographic variables and their HbA1c was estimated. Result There were 71 subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus enrolled. 38 (52.5%) of them were males. Mean age (years) was 13.7±0.3. Mean age at onset of diabetes was 11.6 years (range 3-16), mean duration of diabetes was 2.3 years (range 0.4-8 years), mean HbA1c value was 10.5% (range 6.4%-14%), Age, age at onset of diabetes, duration of diabetes and caregivers involvement in diabetes management were strong determinants of glycaemic control (p<0.05). Conclusion Younger age, young age at onset of diabetes, and short duration of diabetes and caregivers involvement in diabetes management were strong indicators for better glycaemic control.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of type I collagen (COL I), characterised by excessive bone fragility with low bone mineral density (BMD). Type II is associated with extreme bone fragility leading to intrauterine or early infant death. Objective: To highlight a case of OI type II and the need for an early detection of this rare bone disorder through non invasive prenatal diagnosis. Case Report: We report a case of a full term male neonate with progressive respiratory distress from birth. He was seen in children's emergency room two hours after vaginal delivery in a peripheral clinic. Pregnancy and delivery were uneventful and the baby was born to non-consanguineous, monogamous parents. On examination he was dyspnoeic, cyanosed with malformed and fractured upper and lower limbs. A working diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta type II was made and baby was placed on oxygen via face mask. However respiratory distress worsened and baby died at 6 days of life. Conclusion: Antenatal ultrasonography might have led to diagnosis in utero. If detected prenatally a more appropriate management can be instituted to reduce morbidity and mortality.