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Background: Tetanus especially neonatal has remained a public health problem and major contributor to morbidity and mortality in developing countries such as Nigeria despite the availability of effective vaccines for over 40years. The institution of preventive and control interventions for tetanus like immunization, essential obstetric care and good cord care as well as education are still very poor in most developing countries and are major contributing factors to the continued existence of tetanus. This study aims at reviewing the status of tetanus cases in UPTH with a view of determining if the end is in sight. Methods:The records of all cases of tetanus both neonatal and post neonatal treated at the department of Paediatrics University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital from the year 1995-2015 were reviewed for age, sex, presenting complaints, portal of entry, immunization status, duration of hospitalization and outcome of illness.Results: Four hundred and twenty seven cases of tetanus comprising of 253(59.3%) males and 172(40.3%) females. 2(0.4%) did not have any record of their sex. There were 313(73.3%) neonates and 114(26.7%) post neonatal cases. Amongst the post neonatal cases, most of them: 90(78.9%) were above 5years. Most mothers of the neonatal cases were unimmunized and delivered outside health facilities and also most of the children with post neonatal tetanus were either unimmunized or incompletely immunized. The case fatality rate was 45%. Conclusion:The number and characteristics of cases and mortality rate has remained high despite the availability of effective vaccines over the years. There is need to provide affordable and accessible obstetric care for mothers and strengthen the present immunization coverage in Nigeria to reduce this scourge.

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Background: Dipstick urinalysis, which is a simple but very important diagnostic procedure in paediatric nephro-urology, provides information about multiple physicochemical properties of urine. It detects common urinary abnormalities in children which could result from a wide range of conditions. Proteinuria, haematuria and glycosuria for example may be pointers to serious underlying pathologies in the newborn. This study was undertaken to determine baseline findings on dipstick urinalysis in healthy neonate in Port Harcourt as there is paucity of such a study in our environment. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in the post natal wards of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Dipstick urinalysis was carried out on clean catch urine samples from 180 healthy full-term and near term breast-fed neonates, without maternal morbidities or personal pathological antecedents within the first 48 hours of life. Results: Gestational ages ranged from 35 -42 weeks mean of 38.54± 1.38, mean birth weight of 3.26 ± 0.55kg and a male: female ratio of 1: 1.1. Haematuria glycosuria and ketonuria were not identified in any baby. All urine samples were also negative for nitrites and leucocytes. Proteinuria was present in 3 (1.7%) of the babies. Conclusion: Haematuria , glycosuria and ketonuria are not common in apparently healthy neonates in Port Harcourt. Presence of nitrites and leucocytes are unusual. Proteinuria, haematuria and glycosuria in the neonates should be further investigated for underlying pathologies.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a known complication of tetanus and contributes to morbidity and mortality among children with tetanus. The aim of this study was to ascertain the renal functions in patients with post neonatal tetanus over a 4year peroid.