Journal of Medicine in Africa

Evaluation of the computed tomograms of stroke patients in a teaching hospital in Nigeria

2024-06-13T15:55:26+00:00

Background: The incidence of stroke and its avertable mortalities have been on the rise in developing countries. This trend negatively impacts the socio-economic development of low- and middle-income countries. The study was therefore conducted to evaluate the cranial computerized tomography (CT) pattern in stroke patients in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar.
Method: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study conducted at the Radiology department of UCTH within a 21-month period on cranial non-contrast CT findings of 94 patients diagnosed of acute stroke. Images were acquired using Somatom-go.Now, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Henkestr. 12791052 Erlangen, Germany 2020, a 32-slice CT machine. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 24.
Results: Ischemic stroke was more common (66, 70.21%) than hemorrhagic stroke (28, 29.79%). Most of the subjects were males (50, 53.19%) and within the 45 – 54 years age group (27, 28.72%). Majority of the stroke lesions were on the left hemisphere of the brain (55, 58.51%) and were unifocal (81, 86.17%). The most common anatomical site for ischemic stroke lesions and hemorrhagic stroke lesions were internal capsule (22, 22.68%) and thalamus (9, 25%) respectively. Anterior cerebral vascular territory was most affected (70, 74.47%) by stroke lesions.
Conclusion: Ischemic stroke is the commonest subtype of stroke in Calabar. The incidence of stroke is higher in males than females who are largely in their early middle age and commonly affects the left side of the brain.

Urinary tract infection in children with rotavirus diarrhoea attending a tertiary facility in Nigeria

2024-06-13T16:11:24+00:00

Background : Acute diarrhoea caused by rotavirus infection is common in infants and children. Urinary tract infection(UTI) is the second most common bacterial infection. This study investigated the incidence of UTI and rotavirus infection in children aged less than five years presenting with acute diarrhoea to the Children Emergency Room (CHER) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
Method: This was a cross sectional study. A total of 115 children were sequentially recruited. Urine and stool samples were aseptically obtained from each child. Urine sample was examined macroscopically for appearance and microscopically for pus cells and bacteria. Urine samples were cultured on cysteine factors electrolyte deficiency agar. The resulting bacterial growth was counted and recorded as significant or non-significant for bacteriuria using the standard loop method. Rotavirus assay was performed using Prospect Rotavirus microplate Assay method.
Result: Rotavirus was detected in 51(44.3%) stool samples and three (2.60/o) samples yielded bacteria. A
total of 25 (21.7%) of the 115 urine samples were significant for bacteriuria. Twenty-five (25) were coinfected with rotavirus diarrhoea, of which 20 were in children less than 12 months of age. Echerichia cofi
was isolated in both urine (92%) and stool (66%) samples. Age and gender were not significantly associated with co-infection of acute diarrhoea and UTI. Children who were exclusively breast fed and those fed with family diet hada significantly lower coinfection of rotavirus and UTI compared to children who were bottle (formula) fed ( p < 0.05).
Conclusion: This study revealed a high incidence of co-infection of rotavirus and UTI in the study population. Therefore, in children with acute diarrhoea, investigation for UTI may be needful.

Prevalence of rotavirus infection in children with acute watery diarrhoea in Calabar, Nigeria

2024-06-13T16:29:01+00:00

Background: Diarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause of death in under-5 children with Rotavirus being the commonest causative organism. This study evaluated the prevalence of rotavirus in diarrhoeal stools of children presenting with acute watery diarrhoea to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
Methodology: This was a cross sectional study and 115 children aged less than five years were randomly selected into the study. Stools were collected in universal containers and rectal swabs were also collected from participants who could not provide stool sample. Rotavirus assay was performed using Prospect Rotavirus micro plate Assay method.
Results: Of the 115 diarrheal stool samples examined, 51 (44.3%) were positive for rotavirus. The commonest age group affected were less than 12 months (37.%) and the least in 25-60 months (29.4%).There was no significant difference in the prevalence of rotavirus diarrhoea in the different age groups (p>0.05). Among the study population, 15 wear exclusively breastfed, of which two (13.3%) were positive for rotavirus, 31 were bottle (formula) fed of which 25 (80.6%) were positive for rotavirus. Sixty-nine of the children were fed with family diet and 24 (34.8%) had rotavirus diarrhoea. There were significant (p <0.05) high rate of rotavirus diarrhea among children fed with formula (80.6%) compared to children fed with family diet (34.8%) and lowest in exclusively breastfed infants (13.4%).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the importance of rotavirus organism as a cause of acute diarrhoea among children in Calabar and the relationship of the disease with the mode of feeding.

Dangers of ciprofloxacin use in the elderly: case reports.

2024-06-13T16:49:41+00:00

The fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin is a potent antibiotic with proven efficacy against both gram-positive and especially gram-negative organisms. Because of its potent activities and successes, it has found tremendous clinical use in conditions of upper and lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal tract infections, and many other soft tissue infections. It is not recommended for use in patients below 12 years due to the danger of damage to growing cartilage and arthropathy. Tendonitis is a recognized side effect of ciprofloxacin and said to be rare, potentially more serious in adults where it is reported to lead to tendon rupture in high-risk patients of advanced age, renal insufficiency and concurrent steroid use.
The following case reports not only confirm the gravity of this side effect in the elderly but also the frequency of occurrence. This necessitates attention and urgent need for vigilance and reassessment of ciprofloxacin use in the elderly. If further investigations and reports support this, then the use of Ciprofloxacin in the elderly should be avoided.

Effect of graded levels of Dacryodes edulis (African pear seeds) flour on serum C-reactive proteins of Wistar rats

2024-06-13T17:01:59+00:00

The effect of graded doses of African pear seed flour on serum C-reactive proteins was investigated in wistar rats. Twenty four (24) albino rats weighing 150-250g were randomly distributed into four groups of six (6) rats each thus; group I, II, III and IV. Group I served as control and received normal rats pellet and water ad libitum. Groups II, III and IV served as the experimental groups and were fed with respective doses of 10%, 20%, and 30% African pear seed flour in normal rat feed for 28 days. The animals also received distilled water throughout the feeding duration. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and blood extracted by cardiac puncture. The blood sample was collected into a centrifuge tube along with an anticoagulant and centrifuged for a period of 5 minutes at a speed of 3000rpm. The serum was obtained and used for biochemical estimation of plasma C-reactive protein levels. The results obtained showed C-reactive protein levels of 1.52 + 1.22mg/L, 1.33 + 0.10mg/L, 1.13 +
0.11mg/L, and 1.15±0.01mg/L in I, II, III, and IV groups respectively. From the results, it can be concluded that the fortified diets of graded doses of African pear seeds flour were safe and of nutritional benefit to the experimental animals. Thus, grinded African pear seed flour could be used to fortify diets to alleviate micronutrients malnutrition, as it appears to have immunoprotective capabilities.