Estimation of Height Using Body Weight and Segmental Measurements in Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the proxy measurements for height in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Materials & Methods: In a cross-sectional descriptive study, the length/height of Nigerian children with CP was studied over eighteen months using descriptive statistics. The study subjects comprised children aged 15 months to 17 years with CP. Height/length, weight, arm span, forearm length, mid-upper arm circumference, foot length, head circumference, hip circumference, leg length, and tibia length were measured to the nearest 0.1 cm using standard procedures. The relations between segmental measurements and weight with height were investigated using linear regression. Results: A total of 31 children were studied. The correlation between height/length and other linear measurements has a significantly strong positive relationship. Regression analysis showed that when used singly, the weight and thigh length offered a high explanation for the height variability with little estimation error. On the other hand, weight had a lower mean difference between observed and predicted height (0.21 and -0.76, respectively), with thigh length overestimating the height. Conclusion: Weight measurement may be the preferred proxy for height in children with CP.

Evaluation of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Programme at a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Southwestern Nigeria.

Most children acquire human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection through mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). The risk of MTCT of HIV is generally 15%-40% without prophylaxis. MTCT has been responsible for approximately 370,000 infant HIV infections worldwide, with Nigeria accounting for 30% of cases. The study evaluated the effectiveness of a prevention program for MTCT of HIV infection by determining the rate of MTCT of HIV in infants who underwent the program by reviewing health records of mother-infant pairs at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital. This cross-sectional study conducted over 12 years used medical records of 545 mother-infant pairs. The rate of MTCT of HIV infection was 2.9% in this study compared to 7.1% reported by the center earlier. The rate of MTCT of HIV infection was the lowest among mother-infant pairs who received prophylaxis. Ages at recruitment are a strong determinant of the risk of infection. Late usage of the MTCT prevention service is a risk for HIV infection in exposed infants.

Neurological diseases at the Pediatric Neurology Clinic in a semi-urban Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Neurological diseases in children may be associated with mortality and long-term morbidity when they recover from acute ailments. The pattern of neurological disorders in an outpatient service may highlight the burden of these diseases. The objective of the present study is to describe the pattern of neurological disorders at the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Nigeria. A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients in a Pediatric Neurology Clinic of OOUTH, from 1st January 2011 till 31st December 2014, was carried out. A total of 4,476 patients attended the pediatric outpatient unit. Of these, 433 children had neurological disorders with a prevalence of 9.67%. The most frequent pediatric neurological disorders included seizure disorders (37.7%), cerebral palsy (37.7%), and central nervous system infections with complications (6.2%). The subjects with cerebral palsy were the youngest, while the subjects with seizures were the oldest. This study emphasizes that neurological disease contributes substantially to childhood morbidity in a semi-urban African tertiary hospital.

Thanatophoric dysplasia: a case report.

A case of thanatophoric dysplasia with sudden death at term is hereby presented. Thanatophoric dysplasia is an uncommon, lethal skeletal dysplasia which is associated with mutation in the extracellular region of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). It is an autosommal dominant condition that has sporadic occurrence and early ultrasound scan has not been of great benefit in its detection. Diagnosis is mostly made in the third trimester. The fetal death is usually due to severe respiratory insufficiency from a reduced thoracic capacity and hypoplastic lungs and/or respiratory failure due to brainstem compression. In view of the autosomal dominance of TD, it will be advisable for a woman with previous history to have prenatal screening to relieve parental anxiety and prevent late detection.

Does infant feeding method influence the incidence and pattern of morbidities among human immunodeficiency virus-exposed uninfected nigerian infants?

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed infants enrolled into the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV program generally receive antiretroviral therapy (ARV), but the feeding methods differ based on several socioeconomic and cultural differences. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the incidence and pattern of morbidities among HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) Nigerian infants and determine any relationship with infant feeding methods. METHODS: A review of the hospital records of all HEU infants attending the Virology Clinic of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria, between July 2013 and June 2015, was done. The recorded data included biodemographic profile, social parameters, feeding methods, anthropometry, and morbidities. The feeding method groups were statistically compared in relation to the various morbidities. RESULTS: Out of 119 children, 81.5% were exclusively breastfed, whereas 18.5% had exclusive breast milk substitute feeding. About half had various morbidities which included upper airway infections (UAIs) (16.8%), malaria (15.9%), malnutrition (8.4%), diarrhea (8.4%), and pneumonia (2.5%). The frequencies of these conditions were similar among infant groups irrespective of feeding method. The infants with and without morbidities were comparable in terms of the frequency of exclusive breastfeeding (80.3% vs. 82.8%). Low family socioeconomic status (SES) (odds ratio [OR] = 7.7) and ARV use (OR = 0.4) among infants were predictors of morbidities among HEU infants. CONCLUSION: The incidence and pattern of morbidities among HEU infants showed no relation to the mode of feeding. Rather, family SES and the use of antiretroviral drugs were predictors of morbidities among HEU infants.