<p>A Ten-Year Review of the Pattern and Outcome of Childhood Diabetes in Two State Teaching Hospitals in South-West Nigeria</p>

Abstract

Background Childhood diabetes mellitus is a poorly researched topic in Nigeria. Its contribution to morbidity and mortality is vague. This study intends to provide additional information to the background data in Nigeria and hopefully proffers strategies to improving the outcome of this disease. Methods This is a retrospective descriptive study of all children managed for childhood diabetes mellitus at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) and LAUTECH Teaching Hospital (LTH), South West Nigeria, over a 10 year period. Relevant information was obtained from the case notes of all affected children. Data obtained were analysed with SPSS version 20 software. Results A total of 20 children were treated for diabetes mellitus (DM); there were 7 (35.0%) boys and 13 (65.0%) girls giving a M:F ratio of 1.0:1.9. Age range at presentation was 5 to 16 years and the mean age at presentation was 12.7 ± 2.89 years. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was the most common form of presentation in 13 (65.0%). Most [18 (90.0%)] of the patients had type 1 DM. Type 2 DM and glucocorticoid-induced diabetes mellitus were recorded in a case each, Eighteen (90%)patients had not been previously diagnosed by any form of screening prior to their presentation and admission in the hospital. Seven (35.0%) of the patient's care were affected by parental financial constraints. Five mortalities were recorded and one left against medical advice while the majority [14 (70.4%)] were discharged well and alive. The association between the greater numbers of deaths recorded in children with financial constraints was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion Type 1 DM remains the most predominant form of diabetes in children and most of the patients presented in DKA. The proportion of deaths in this study is unacceptably high. There is a need to proffer strategies for earlier detection and management of children with diabetes mellitus prior to the onset or development of DKA and there is a need to assist with the funding of the care of children with diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Children with Type-1 Diabetes in a Tertiary Hospital in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria: Clinical Profile and Outcome

“…Their conclusion was supported by their findings of a female: male ratio amongst the newly diagnosed T1D (with DKA) of closer to an equal sex distribution, and the number of admissions involving females with recurrent episodes of DKA being almost double that of males. Majority of our study population were adolescents aged 10-15years, in agreement with reports from Nigeria [10,29], other African countries [1,19] and Asia [5,26,27], probably because majority of our study population were 10 years and above at the time of diagnosis of T1D and they either presented with DKA at time of diagnosis or at a later time, thus diabetes was more frequently diagnosed in adolescents than younger children in our series and this also applies to DKA, a complication of T1D.…”

Prevalence, patterns of clinical presentation, and the outcome of treatment of diabetes mellitus among paediatric patients in a tertiary care facility

“…This was similar to studies conducted in some parts of Nigeria and agreed with the study conducted in Saudi Arabia that showed that the condition occurred more among adolescents. 17,27,28,34 The mean and standard deviation were 14±2.83years and this was similar with studies conducted in Saudi Arabia and some parts of Nigeria. 17,28,22,29,35 There was no family history of DM in 45.0% of the study population while 30.0% had family members with DM.…”