Main Article Content
Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of children who received emergency blood transfusion in a secondary health facility at Awka.
Abstract
Background: Severe anaemia is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries and could be managed
by urgent blood transfusion to save life, though with its attendance risks like exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other blood
borne infections.
Objective: To determine the socio demographic and clinical characteristic of children found to have received emergency blood transfusion in
Awka, Anambra state.
Patients and methods: The hospital records of children aged above one month to 18 years who received emergency blood transfusion at
children’s ward of Amaku General Hospital Awka (AGHA) between march 1, 2007 to August 31st, 2009 were studies.
Results: Of the 391 patients and admitted during the period, 35 (8.9%) had emergency blood transfusion. The youngest child was 7 months and
oldest 14 years. More than 65% of those transfused were less than 5 years. There was no statistically significant sex difference among those
transfused ( p > 0.05). The middle socio-economic class patients presented with severe anaemia more than other social class. Malaria was the commonest cause of anaemia requiring emergency blood transfusion accounting for 51.4% as a single entity or 28.6% in combination with other
conditions.
Conclusion: Severe anaemia requiring urgent blood transfusion was caused mostly by malaria. Measures aimed at addressing poverty and
malaria attacks were suggested as a way forward. These will help reduce the incidence of severe anaemia and thus the need for emergency blood
transfusion.
by urgent blood transfusion to save life, though with its attendance risks like exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other blood
borne infections.
Objective: To determine the socio demographic and clinical characteristic of children found to have received emergency blood transfusion in
Awka, Anambra state.
Patients and methods: The hospital records of children aged above one month to 18 years who received emergency blood transfusion at
children’s ward of Amaku General Hospital Awka (AGHA) between march 1, 2007 to August 31st, 2009 were studies.
Results: Of the 391 patients and admitted during the period, 35 (8.9%) had emergency blood transfusion. The youngest child was 7 months and
oldest 14 years. More than 65% of those transfused were less than 5 years. There was no statistically significant sex difference among those
transfused ( p > 0.05). The middle socio-economic class patients presented with severe anaemia more than other social class. Malaria was the commonest cause of anaemia requiring emergency blood transfusion accounting for 51.4% as a single entity or 28.6% in combination with other
conditions.
Conclusion: Severe anaemia requiring urgent blood transfusion was caused mostly by malaria. Measures aimed at addressing poverty and
malaria attacks were suggested as a way forward. These will help reduce the incidence of severe anaemia and thus the need for emergency blood
transfusion.
