IntroductionSirenomelia, also known as mermaid syndrome, is a very rare fatal congenital abnormality in which the legs are fused together, giving them the appearance of a mermaid's tail. It is commonly associated with abnormal kidney development, genital and rectal abnormalities. A handful of cases have been reported in other parts of the world, however, no cases have previously been reported in a Nigerian neonate. To the best of our knowledge, we believe that this is the first case reported from West Africa and in a triplet.Case presentationA 16-hour-old baby boy, the second of a set of Nigerian triplets, presented to our facility with fusion of the entire lower limbs, imperforate anus, indiscernible genital structures, single umbilical artery and a neural tube defect. His parents were from the Hausa ethnic group and not related.ConclusionSirenomelia has not been previously described in a set of triplets, and it is hoped that this report from West Africa will give information about the non-racial predilection of this condition.
Background: The scare from the morbidity and mortality caused by the novel COVID-19 disease has continued with no specific cure in sight and many persons, including health care providers have resorted to self-medication. The study was intended to ascertain the prevalence of self-medication against COVID-19 among health workers in Rivers State.
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey of health workers in Rivers State was carried out using self-administered questionnaires on self-medication against the COVID-19 disease from January 2021 to March 2021. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Results are presented in charts and tables and a p-value of <0.05 was significant.
Results: A total of 220 responses were received from health workers, 50% of whom worked in private hospitals. Only 35 (15.9%) of them reported to have ever indulged in self-medication for COVID-19. The most common drugs used for self-medication were Vitamin C, Zinc. Azithromycin, antimalarials (other than Hydroxychloroquine) and Hydroxychloroquine. Most medications were self-prescribed and procured from the pharmacies. Most persons (80%) who self-medicated did so for fear of being infected following contact with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases or following sudden emergency illnesses.
Conclusion: Self-medication against COVID-19 is present among health workers in Rivers State and commonest among those who have tertiary level of education, those who are doctors and those who work in a public health facility.
Key words: Self-medication, Health workers, Covid-19, Pandemic, Nigeria.
Background:
Group A beta-haemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans where it causes symptomatic pharyngitis and the non-suppurative sequelae of acute rheumatic fever and post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis. Regional evaluation of streptococcal throat infections may be helpful in disease surveillance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of GABHS throat infections among primary school children in a rural community in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Methodology:
This cross-sectional study was carried out between May and July 2015 in Emohua local government area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Pupils were recruited using a multistaged random sampling technique. Throat swabs obtained were cultured using sheep blood and sent for microscopy and Lancefield grouping.
Results:
A total of 456 pupils aged 6–12 years were recruited, of which 54 (11.8%) had a positive throat culture of beta-haemolytic Streptococcus (BHS). The isolates were Lancefield Groups B (23; 42.6%), A (18; 33.3%), D (9; 19.6%), C (3; 5.6%) and F (1; 1.8%). No Group G BHS was isolated. Age, sex, socioeconomic class, classroom and household overcrowding did not significantly influence the prevalence of BHS throat infections.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of BHS throat infections in this rural community was similar to that in the urban areas in Nigeria. There was no significant difference between the prevalence of BHS in symptomatic and asymptomatic pupils.
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