Globally, diarrhoea is the second commonest infectious cause of death in children less than 5 years old. It is estimated that more than one billion diarrhoea episodes occur every year causing up to 700,000 deaths amon...Globally, diarrhoea is the second commonest infectious cause of death in children less than 5 years old. It is estimated that more than one billion diarrhoea episodes occur every year causing up to 700,000 deaths among children younger than 5 years of age. Seventy-two percent of these deaths occur in children below two years and enteric viruses have been recognized as a major cause of childhood diarrhoea. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of enteric Adenoviruses and Rotaviruses in children with diarrhoea in rural Enugu communities of Enugu State South East Nigeria. Methods: Stool samples were collected from children less than 5 years with diarrhoea seen in any of the participating hospitals in Enugu State. Samples were collected between June 2015 and May 2017. Detection of rotavirus and enteric adenovirus antigens were performed using commercially available ELISA kit (Oxoid-ProspecT®). Demographic data of the children were also collected. Results: Of the 290 stool samples that had sufficient materials for adenovirus and rotavirus ELISA, 14 (4.8%) and 89 (30.7%) were positive for enteric adenovirus and rotavirus respectively. 3 (1%) were co-infected with adenovirus and rotavirus. Rotavirus positive cases were more among hospitalized patients while enteric adenovirus was more among outpatients. Marked peaks of rotavirus positivity were seen in January of each year but no peak was seen among adenovirus positive cases. Higher vomiting frequencies and severe dehydration were more among rotavirus positive cases compared to adenovirus positive cases (p = 0.030 and 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Many diarrhoea cases among children aged <5 in the population studied were associated with enteric adenoviruses and rotavirus. This finding suggests that enteric viral agents (adenovirus and rotavirus) are important aetiologies for childhood diarrhoea in Enugu state Nigeria. Appropriate preventive, diagnostic and treatment interventions should be instituted so as to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with these viruses.展开更多
Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) is established for evaluating several acute and chronic medical conditions of neurological basis. In much of Nigeria and Africa, it is largely unavailable and underutilized due...Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) is established for evaluating several acute and chronic medical conditions of neurological basis. In much of Nigeria and Africa, it is largely unavailable and underutilized due to scarcity of neurologists and high costs of the equipment. It offers a relatively simple and efficient way to help manage many encephalopathies if well utilized in trained hands. Aim: This study aimed to determine how physicians practicing in Enugu perceive and utilize electroencephalography routinely. Method: Physicians attending a statewide meeting in Enugu in August 2018 were consecutively recruited and a pretested questionnaire was administered after obtaining prior consent. Sociodemographic data as well as their knowledge, attitude and practice of electroencephalography were documented and analyzed. Results: There were 486 respondents (males 335: females 151) and 345 (71%) were specialists in various disciplines while 141 (29%) were general practitioners. Only 7 doctors (1.4%) claimed ignorance of electroencephalography and 6 (1.2%) stated it was not useful. Majority, 333 doctors (69.1%) believed it had no impact on routine patient management. This perception was highest for Dental Surgery (100%) and lowest for Internal Medicine (23%) specialists. Most doctors (425, 87.4%) agreed that neurologists should analyze recordings. Most physicians had no access to electroencephalography (61.7%) and had no interest in acquiring the machine (50.8%). Conclusion: Electroencephalography is an underappreciated investigative modality amongst physicians in Enugu, despite a high burden of neurological diseases in the population. More education, training and awareness of its utility are needed for medical students and doctors to reverse the trend.展开更多
Background: Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused psychoactive substances in the country. Studies have shown sharp increases in alcohol consumption among Nigerians. This increase is likely to continue because of ...Background: Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused psychoactive substances in the country. Studies have shown sharp increases in alcohol consumption among Nigerians. This increase is likely to continue because of increased local production and availability of alcohol in the country. Knowledge of the prevalence and pattern of current alcohol use is important considering the public health and socio-economic effects of alcohol use. Methods: Using a semi-structured questionnaire, we estimated the prevalence of current alcohol use among adults 18 years and older living in urban slums in Enugu South East Nigeria. Current use of alcohol was defined as use of any or all alcohol beverages in the past 4 weeks. The safe limit of alcohol was defined using WHO guidelines. Study duration was 5 months. Results: A total of 1411 individuals were recruited into the study. Males were 658 (46.6%) and females were 753 (53.4%). The overall prevalence of current use of alcohol was 66.7%;males 75.7% and females 58.8% (p Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of current alcohol use among urban slums in Enugu. Public health educational measures for reducing alcohol consumption should be encouraged. Efforts should be made to educate the populace on the need for abstinence.展开更多
Background: Diabetes in Nigeria presents a rising public health challenge and many cases are probably undetected. Poor glycemic control is a risk factor to both micro and macro vascular complications of diabetes and a...Background: Diabetes in Nigeria presents a rising public health challenge and many cases are probably undetected. Poor glycemic control is a risk factor to both micro and macro vascular complications of diabetes and a major factor in the burden of the disease world-wide. The aim of the present study was to determine the pattern of glycemic control among adult diabetes patients attending a medical outpatient clinic in Enugu. Methods: Using a semi-structured questionnaire, we conducted a cross sectional descriptive study of patients with diabetes attending the medical out-patient clinic of one of the tertiary Hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria. Good glycemic control was defined as fasting blood glucose of less than 100 mg/dl. Study duration was 6 months. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS software. Results: A total of 119 participants were recruited for the study: 74 (62.2%) females and 45 males (37.8%) with a mean age of 62.2 (11.7) years. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 138.4 (24.3) mmHg and 81.2 (12.9) mmHg respectively. Eight (6.7%) had a docu-mented history of diabetes-related coma in the past. The mean fasting blood glucose was 127.9 (22.4) mg/dl. Good, fair and poor glycemic control was achieved in 16.8%, 30.3% and 63% (52.9%) respectively. Correlation statistics showed that low level of adherence and abstaining from alcohol/tobacco are correlated with poor glycemic control. Conclusion: Majority (52.9%) of patients with diabetes attending a tertiary health center in Enugu, Nigeria has poor glycemic control status. Medication adherence and substance use are correlated with poor control.展开更多
文摘Globally, diarrhoea is the second commonest infectious cause of death in children less than 5 years old. It is estimated that more than one billion diarrhoea episodes occur every year causing up to 700,000 deaths among children younger than 5 years of age. Seventy-two percent of these deaths occur in children below two years and enteric viruses have been recognized as a major cause of childhood diarrhoea. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of enteric Adenoviruses and Rotaviruses in children with diarrhoea in rural Enugu communities of Enugu State South East Nigeria. Methods: Stool samples were collected from children less than 5 years with diarrhoea seen in any of the participating hospitals in Enugu State. Samples were collected between June 2015 and May 2017. Detection of rotavirus and enteric adenovirus antigens were performed using commercially available ELISA kit (Oxoid-ProspecT®). Demographic data of the children were also collected. Results: Of the 290 stool samples that had sufficient materials for adenovirus and rotavirus ELISA, 14 (4.8%) and 89 (30.7%) were positive for enteric adenovirus and rotavirus respectively. 3 (1%) were co-infected with adenovirus and rotavirus. Rotavirus positive cases were more among hospitalized patients while enteric adenovirus was more among outpatients. Marked peaks of rotavirus positivity were seen in January of each year but no peak was seen among adenovirus positive cases. Higher vomiting frequencies and severe dehydration were more among rotavirus positive cases compared to adenovirus positive cases (p = 0.030 and 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Many diarrhoea cases among children aged <5 in the population studied were associated with enteric adenoviruses and rotavirus. This finding suggests that enteric viral agents (adenovirus and rotavirus) are important aetiologies for childhood diarrhoea in Enugu state Nigeria. Appropriate preventive, diagnostic and treatment interventions should be instituted so as to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with these viruses.
文摘Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) is established for evaluating several acute and chronic medical conditions of neurological basis. In much of Nigeria and Africa, it is largely unavailable and underutilized due to scarcity of neurologists and high costs of the equipment. It offers a relatively simple and efficient way to help manage many encephalopathies if well utilized in trained hands. Aim: This study aimed to determine how physicians practicing in Enugu perceive and utilize electroencephalography routinely. Method: Physicians attending a statewide meeting in Enugu in August 2018 were consecutively recruited and a pretested questionnaire was administered after obtaining prior consent. Sociodemographic data as well as their knowledge, attitude and practice of electroencephalography were documented and analyzed. Results: There were 486 respondents (males 335: females 151) and 345 (71%) were specialists in various disciplines while 141 (29%) were general practitioners. Only 7 doctors (1.4%) claimed ignorance of electroencephalography and 6 (1.2%) stated it was not useful. Majority, 333 doctors (69.1%) believed it had no impact on routine patient management. This perception was highest for Dental Surgery (100%) and lowest for Internal Medicine (23%) specialists. Most doctors (425, 87.4%) agreed that neurologists should analyze recordings. Most physicians had no access to electroencephalography (61.7%) and had no interest in acquiring the machine (50.8%). Conclusion: Electroencephalography is an underappreciated investigative modality amongst physicians in Enugu, despite a high burden of neurological diseases in the population. More education, training and awareness of its utility are needed for medical students and doctors to reverse the trend.
文摘Background: Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused psychoactive substances in the country. Studies have shown sharp increases in alcohol consumption among Nigerians. This increase is likely to continue because of increased local production and availability of alcohol in the country. Knowledge of the prevalence and pattern of current alcohol use is important considering the public health and socio-economic effects of alcohol use. Methods: Using a semi-structured questionnaire, we estimated the prevalence of current alcohol use among adults 18 years and older living in urban slums in Enugu South East Nigeria. Current use of alcohol was defined as use of any or all alcohol beverages in the past 4 weeks. The safe limit of alcohol was defined using WHO guidelines. Study duration was 5 months. Results: A total of 1411 individuals were recruited into the study. Males were 658 (46.6%) and females were 753 (53.4%). The overall prevalence of current use of alcohol was 66.7%;males 75.7% and females 58.8% (p Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of current alcohol use among urban slums in Enugu. Public health educational measures for reducing alcohol consumption should be encouraged. Efforts should be made to educate the populace on the need for abstinence.
文摘Background: Diabetes in Nigeria presents a rising public health challenge and many cases are probably undetected. Poor glycemic control is a risk factor to both micro and macro vascular complications of diabetes and a major factor in the burden of the disease world-wide. The aim of the present study was to determine the pattern of glycemic control among adult diabetes patients attending a medical outpatient clinic in Enugu. Methods: Using a semi-structured questionnaire, we conducted a cross sectional descriptive study of patients with diabetes attending the medical out-patient clinic of one of the tertiary Hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria. Good glycemic control was defined as fasting blood glucose of less than 100 mg/dl. Study duration was 6 months. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS software. Results: A total of 119 participants were recruited for the study: 74 (62.2%) females and 45 males (37.8%) with a mean age of 62.2 (11.7) years. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 138.4 (24.3) mmHg and 81.2 (12.9) mmHg respectively. Eight (6.7%) had a docu-mented history of diabetes-related coma in the past. The mean fasting blood glucose was 127.9 (22.4) mg/dl. Good, fair and poor glycemic control was achieved in 16.8%, 30.3% and 63% (52.9%) respectively. Correlation statistics showed that low level of adherence and abstaining from alcohol/tobacco are correlated with poor glycemic control. Conclusion: Majority (52.9%) of patients with diabetes attending a tertiary health center in Enugu, Nigeria has poor glycemic control status. Medication adherence and substance use are correlated with poor control.
