Clinical and Socio-Demographic Characteristic of Children who receive Emergency Blood Transfusion in Orlu, Imo State Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Severe anaemia requiring urgent blood transfusion
is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in the developing world. This often tasks the blood transfusion services of any typical tropical leading to transfusion of blood obtained from private laboratories whose services are often questionable. Under these circumstances the children are exposed to an increased risk of HIV and other blood borne infections.
Aims and Objective: To determine the clinical and sociodemographic
characteristics of children who receive urgent blood transfusion in Orli, Imo State, Nigeria.
Methodology: This is a retrospective review of records of 53 children who received emergency blood transfusion during the period 1st June 2006, to December 31st 2007 at the Children’s emergencyward of the Imo State UniversityTeaching Hospital, Orlu,Nigeria.
Results: Out of the 63 patients who were admitted within the period under review, 53(8.4%) received urgent blood transfusion. More than 80% of these patients were below 5 years old. There was no sex predilection. The patients from the medium social class presented with severe anaemia more frequently than other social classes. The need for urgent blood transfusion correlated significantly with medium social class. Malaria was the commonest case of severe anaemia requiring urgent blood
transfusion either singly (52.8%) or in combination with other disease conditions (24.5%).
Conclusion: Severe anaemia associated with acute malaria is a major cause ofmorbidity and mortality in children especially in those less than 5 years old. The need for urgent blood transfusion correlated significantly with being from a medium social class family.

Niger Med J. Vol. 49, No.3, July– Sept, 2008: 67 – 69.

Keywords: Severe anaemia, emergency blood transfusion, children.