Archive 2010 - No 2

ADESINA OO* BALOGUN ST** EZIMAH ACU* OKON K***

Correspondence to: ADESINA OO Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Sciences University of Maiduguri Maiduguri Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Background: Blood banking in a malaria endemic area could result in transfusion-associated problems such as transfusion malaria. The emergence and wide dissemination of drug resistant malaria parasites underscore the need for prevention of posttransfusion malaria. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of subclinical malariaparasitaemia among blood donors to ascertain the need for inclusion of malaria testing in pre transfusion procedures. Methods: Screening for malaria parasites was done in 182 bloodsamples collected from blood donors (169 males and 13 females) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria out of 246 subjects, who came for donation at the Blood Bank Section of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) during the month of April to September, 2009. Blood film examination was done to identify malaria parasites and estimate parasite density assuming leukocyte count of 8000 cells/μl blood. Results: The overall prevalence of subclinical malaria was 18.7% (34/182) and was significantly higher in female (53.8%, 7/13) than male (16.0%, 27/169) donors (χ2 = 11.4, df = 1, p = 0.00074). The prevalence was significantly higher during the rainy season than dry season (18.7% vs 4.3%; p < 0.0001). Parasite density was generally low with < 1000 parasites/μl blood accounting for the highest proportion (58.8%) (χ2 = 15.18; df = 2; p = 0.000). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of subclinical malaria in this locality as reflected by the high malaria parasitaemia among donors and this could impact negatively on the health of blood recipients in Maiduguri. We advocate that the routine malaria screening should form part of the pre-transfusion testing procedure.

ALIYU MK, ABIMIKU SL, BABAGANA MA, MUSA E
Correspondence to: ALIYU M. KODIYA National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna, P.M.B 2438, Kaduna, Nigeria Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Background: Recurrent respiratory papilloma (RRP) is a benign but potentially devastating disease of viral origin. It may lead to serious morbidity or mortality with great management challenges. Endoscopic LASER excision with or without adjuvant therapy remains the gold standard in treatment. This is usually not available in health facilities of developing countries like Nigeria. Methodology:A 6year retrospective review of cases of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) with confirmed histology seen at national ear care centre, Kaduna, Nigeria. Results: A total of 22 cases were reviewed, age ranged from 8months to 30years, mean age of 10years with M: F ratio of 1.2:1.0. About 68% were under 10years of age and all presented with hoarseness (100%) followed by dyspnoea (45.5%). All had simple conventional rigid laryngoscopy and excision without any adjuvant. Three (13.6%) presented with recurrence within one year. None had tracheostomy. Conclusion: Conventional surgery for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis where the main stay of treatment (endoscopic LASER excision) is not available especially in developing countries is effective. Early diagnosis is desirable in order to eliminate the possible added morbidity by tracheostomy which may be necessitated by severe airway compromise.

BALLA HJ* ZAILANI SB** ASKIRA MM* MUSA AB* MURSAL A***

Correspondence to: MRS H.J.BALLA Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Background: Urinary schistosomiasis is one of the most common water- borne tropical diseases which poses serious health hazard due to its associated morbidities. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among the study subjects. Methods: Two hundred and eighteen (218) urine samples were collected from Primary school pupils and 282 samples from Almajiris between March and July 2009. The samples were examined microscopically after centrifugation, and haematuria was tested using reagent strip. The subjects were classified based on the presence or absence of visible haematuria and whether they were positive for Schistosoma haematobium ova (infected) or negative (not infected). Result: Out of the 282 Almajiris screened, 205(72.7%) were infected; 137 (48.6%) of the sample population were positive for S. Haematobium with haematuria; 68 (24.1%) were positive without haematuria. The subjects within the age group 11-15years had the highest prevalence of 86 (89.6%). Out of the 218 Primary school pupils examined, 24 (11%) were infected. 15 (6.9%) pupils were positive with haematuria, 9 (4.1%) were positive without haematuria. The subjects within the age group 11-15years had thehighest prevalence of 15 (14.2%). Conclusion: The high prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among the subjects examined indicates the  endemicity of the disease in the study area. Public enlightenment and provision of safe drinking water could reduce the high prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in the community.

MUHAMMAD Z* GARBA NA**
Correspondence to: DR. MUHAMMAD ZAKARI Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bayero University/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Background: Most women in developing world are at considerable risk of developing cervical cancer because the risk factors are still prevalent, and this situation is further worsened by the fact that, many of these women are poorly informed about thedisease and its prevention. Objectives of the study: To determine the risk factors in patients with cervical cancer in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, and suggest ways of reducing these risk factors and incidence of cervical cancer. Study design: A two year descriptive study from 1st of January, 2007 to 31st of December, 2008, in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. All patients that were admitted into gynaecological ward with cervical cancer were included. Results: There were 133 patients with cervical cancer admitted into the gynaecological ward from 1st of January, 2007 to 31st of December 2008.Of these 108 case notes were retrieved, giving a retrieval rate of 81%. The mean age of the patients was 51.7±12.5 with a range of 32-78 years. The peak age incidence was 50-59 years, with majority (85.2%) occurring in patients above 40 years. Majority (44.4%) of the patients were Para 6-10, with a range of 0-17 and mean of 7.7±4.6. Of 108 patients, 77.8% had only Q u r ` a n i c / I n f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n . T h e a g e a t f i r s t intercourse/marriage ranged from 13-20years with mean of 14±1, with 85.2% having initiated sexual activity before the age of 15years. Majority (59.2%) had multiple numbers of marriages that ranged from 1-8 with mean of 2.2±1.6; and 88.8% of the male partners were polygamous with number of wives that ranged from 1-9 with mean of 2.6±1.5. Conclusion: The risk factors for the development of cervical cancer were high in this study. Public enlightenment should be intensified with regards to the risk factors for this disease. Female education should be encouraged to avoid early age at marriage and sexual initiation

SK MUSTAPHA, IM KIDA, A DAYAR, LB GUNDIRI
Correspondence to: DR. S.K. MUSTAPHA Department of Medicine, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital P.M.B 1414, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is one of the most commonly performed endoscopic procedures and provides valuable information in patients with gastroduodenal disorders. It is performed primarily to detect and/or correct a problem in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Objective: To determine the common indications for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective study in which records of 650 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy from 2002 to 2008 were reviewed. The endoscopies were performed u s i n g P e n t a x F G - 2 9 W f o r w a r d v i e w i n go esophagogastroduodenoscope. Results: Three hundred and twenty six (50.2%) of those endoscoped were males while 324 (49.8%) were females. Their ages ranged from 14 to 90 years with a mean of 39.2±14.2 years. The most common indication for endoscopy was dyspepsia accounting for 79.4% of cases. Other indications included upper gastrointestinal bleeding (10.0%), suspicion of malignancy (4.0%), persistent vomiting (3.4%), gastric outlet obstruction (1.8%), dysphagia (0.9%) and anaemia (0.5%). Soreness of the throat (5.7%) was the only complication observed. Conclusion: The indications for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Maiduguri are similar to those in other centres in Nigeria and elsewhere, with dyspepsia being the commonest indication.