Body mass index of healthy Nigerian children.

BACKGROUND: To study the Body Mass Index of healthy Nigerian school children from different socio-economic backgrounds resident in Kaduna, northern Nigeria. METHOD: A cross-sectional prospective study of Body Mass Index was carried out on 3,802 healthy Nigerian school children aged 5 to 13 years resident in Kaduna, northern Nigeria. The subjects consist of 1,871 children from private schools (privileged) and 1,931 children from public schools (less privileged). The schools and pupils were selected by multi-staged clustersampling method. RESULT: Over 75% of the 'privileged' and the 'less privileged' children are from upper and lower socioeconomic classes respectively The mean Body Mass Index of the 'privileged' boys was 15.1 +/- 0.7 compared with 14.7 +/- 1.2 for the 'less privileged' boys. The corresponding mean Body Mass Index values for the 'privileged' and the 'less privileged' girls were 15.1 +/- 0.5 and 15.0 +/- 1.7 respectively. The difference in this index, between the boys as well as between the girls was statistically insignificant (p = 0.05 and 0.12 respectively). CONCLUSION: There was no statistical significant difference between the BMI of the 'privileged' and the 'less privileged' groups of children.

Giant congenital pigmented naevus with unusual presentation and early malignant transformation in a Nigerian infant: case report and review of the literature.

A six month-old female infant with a giant congenital pigmented naevus is reported because of the rarity and unusual presentation and early malignant transformation. It was the first case to be documented in our centre. There was an extensive giant, darkly pigmented naevus of the "bathing trunk" distribution noted at birth, associated with multiple darkly pigmented smaller naevi scattered over the trunk and limbs. Bv the third month of life large pigmented lesion began to demonstrate small papillomatous projections studding the entire surface and at age six months nodular and warty excrescences appeared including a large pedunculated spherical mass attached to the anal verge. The labia majora became anatomically disfigured by these nodular, warty lesions of various sizes associated with the large pigmented hairy naevus. Histological examination of the excised large perianal and vulvar nodules showed the typical picture of an intradermal naevus consistent with giant congenital pigmented (melanocytic) naevus. The deeper portions of the lesion showed features of malignant transformation. The rapidity of evolution of the lesions including histologic features of early malignant transformation and the gross disfiguring of the genitalia and perineum are uncommon presentation of this melanocytic naevus. In view of the early malignant transformation immediate surgical treatment was indicated. Unfortunately the patient was lost to follow-up. The case report is complimented with a review of the literature.

Detergent induced lysis of erythrocytes in kwashiorkor.

The effect of the non-ionic detergent Nonidet P40 on lysis of erythrocytes in children suffering from kwashiorkor was studied. The concentration of the detergent causing 50% haemolysis was significantly reduced in these patients. Detergent haemolysis was more sensitive than osmotic fragility (which was reduced). The abnormality was only slight in marasmic children.

Serum aminotransferases and gamma-glutamyl transferase in protein energy malnutrition.

Forty six children suffering from Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) were classified according to the Wellcome classification. Their aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase were measured. Aspartate aminotransferase was raised in 20 patients (43.5%) and alanine aminotransferase was raised in 12 patients (26%). Y-glutamyl transferase was raised in only one patient suffering from marasmic kwashiorkor, who, in contrast to the rest of the patients had a marked rise in aminotransferases. The aminotransferase elevation correlated positively with a Severity Index calculated from height and weight retardation and serum albumin levels. It is suggested that the moderate rise in aminotransferases found in PEM is not due to damage to the liver. However, marked enzyme elevations can occur in a small minority of patients, suggestive of liver injury, probably caused by hepatotoxins.