Blood Group Distribution among COVID-19 Patients in a Nigerian Treatment Centre.

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers of susceptibility to COVID-19 are being investigated by many scientists all over the world. The ABO blood group antigens are the most frequently studied genetic markers. Reports from China and USA have shown that people with blood group A are more susceptible to COVID- 19 while those with blood group O are least susceptible. METHODS: The ABO blood group of 51 patients with COVID-19 admitted at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria was determined and compared with the ABO blood group distribution in the general population. RESULTS: Out of the 51 patients, 39 (76.5%) were males and 12 (23.5%) were females, giving a male: female ratio of 3.25:1. Out of the 51 patients, 29 (56.9%) had blood group O, 12 (23.5%) had blood group A, 10 (19.6%) had blood group B and none (0%) had blood group AB. This blood group distribution was comparable to the blood group distribution in the general population. CONCLUSION: Preliminary analysis of the blood group distribution of COVID-19 patients being managed at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Nigeria found no relationship between COVID-19 and ABO blood group. More studies are needed particularly in Africa to determine if ABO blood group can be a biomarker of susceptibility to COVID-19 among Africans.

CONTEXTE: Les biomarqueurs de sensibilité au COVID-19 sont étudiés par de nombreux scientifiques du monde entier. Les antigènes des groupes sanguins ABO sont les marqueurs génétiques les plus fréquemment étudiés. Des rapports de Chine et des États-Unis ont montré que les personnes du groupe sanguin A sont plus sensibles au COVID-19 tandis que celles du groupe sanguin O sont les moins sensibles. MÉTHODES: Le groupe sanguin ABO de 51 patients atteints de COVID 19 admis à l'hôpital universitaire d'Abuja, au Nigéria, a été déterminé et comparé à la distribution des groupes sanguins ABO dans la population générale. RÉSULTATS: Sur les 51 patients, 39 (76,5%) étaient des hommes et 12 (23,5%) étaient des femmes, ce qui donne un rapport homme: femme de 3,25: 1. Sur les 51 patients, 29 (56,9%) avaient le groupe sanguin O, 12 (23,5%) avaient le groupe sanguin A, 10 (19,6%) avaient le groupe sanguin B et aucun (0%) n'avait le groupe sanguin AB. Cette distribution des groupes sanguins était comparable à la distribution des groupes sanguins dans la population générale. CONCLUSION: Une analyse préliminaire de la distribution des groupes sanguins des patients COVID-19 pris en charge à l'hôpital universitaire d'Abuja au Nigéria n'a trouvé aucune relation entre le groupe sanguin COVID-19 et ABO. D'autres études sont nécessaires, en particulier en Afrique, pour déterminer si le groupe sanguin ABO peut être un biomarqueur de la sensibilité au COVID-19 chez les Africains. MOTS CLÉS: Groupe sanguin ABO, COVID-19, biomarqueur.

SELF-REPORTED OLFACTORY, GUSTATORY AND OTOLOGIC DYSFUNCTIONS AMONG COVID-19 POSITIVE ADULTS IN NIGERIA- A PRELIMINARY REPORT.

INTRODUCTION: The pathophysiology of COVID-19 is evolving. We investigated self-reported sudden loss of sense of smell and taste, and otologic disorders among COVID-19 patients. METHODS: This was a case-control olfaction, gustation and otology study of COVID-19 RT-PCR tested adults. The study took place at the isolation centres for COVID-19 positive individuals in Abuja and Ibadan, among the epicentres of the disease in Nigeria. The participants were 46 COVID-19 positive adults and 46 COVID-19 negative adults. They responded to a validated online questionnaire-based on olfactory, gustatory and auditory loss. Chi-square tests and correlation analysis was done. Level of significance was at P<0.05. RESULTS: Among cases, sudden loss of smell, taste and hearing were reported by 14 (30.4%), 8 (17.4%) and 5 (10.9%) cases respectively during the COVID- 19 infection. First symptom was loss of smell in 7 (15.2%) and loss of taste in 2 (4.3%) cases. The controls did not present with any of the symptoms. There was no significant correlation between loss of smell and age (r = 0.023, p=0.879); sex (r = -0.132, p=0.382) and co-morbidities (r = -0.028, p = 0.857). Similarly, there was no significant correlation between loss of taste and age (r = 0.052, p = 0.732); sex (0.040, p = 0.792) and co-morbidities (r = -0.014, p = 0.925). CONCLUSION: Sudden loss of smell and taste are commoner among COVID - 19 positive adults than those without the infection in Nigeria. There is evidence of associated reduction in hearing acuity but further study with objective audiometric testing is recommended.

HIV Co-Infection with Hepatitis B and C and Liver Function in Children and Adolescents on Antiretroviral Therapy in a Tertiary Health Institution in Abuja.

BACKGROUND: HIV has direct and indirect effects on the liver, just as hepatitis B and C viral infections are both hepatotropic viruses. Co-infection is an emerging clinical problem among HIV infected individuals, therefore its prevalence and impact on hepatic functions in children requires evaluation. METHODS: A cross sectional hospital-based study was conducted among HIV infected children and adolescents aged 2 months to 18 years on antiretroviral therapy at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital from October 2017 to March 2018. Determination of hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis C, liver function tests and liver sizes were carried out on the children. RESULTS: Of a total of 153 subjects recruited, 89(58.2%) were males, 69 (45.1%) were adolescents and 117(76.5%) from lower socio-economic class. Hundred and forty (91.5%) subjects were mono-infected, 7(4.6%) had co-infection with HBsAg, 1(0.7%) had HBsAg/HBeAg, 6(3.9%) had HCV, while none had triple infection. No under-five had co-infection with HBV and no variable had significant association with HBV coinfection. There was however significant association of HCV co-infection with age (p=0.00), blood transfusion (p=0.03), and religion (p=0.01) and all the infected were less than 10 years. The mean values for alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, liver sizes of the mono and co-infected were all within normal and none had severe or life threatening hepatotoxicity. CONCLUSION: The prevalence and impact of HIV co-infection on liver function in this study was low. Use of liver biopsy, the gold standard for assessing disease severity in liver conditions may also be required for in-depth assessment.

Bacteria urinary tract infection in HIV-infected children and adolescents in Abuja, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) remains the second commonest opportunistic infections among HIV infected children. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and causative bacteria of UTI in HIV infected children and adolescents on antiretroviral medications in our health institution. Method: The study was a cross sectional design conducted between October 2017 and March 2018 among HIV infected children and adolescents aged 2 months to 18 years on follow up attendance at the Paediatric Outpatient Special Treatment Clinic (POSTC) of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH). Early morning midstream urine was collected from each participant for urinalysis, microscopy and aerobic bacterial culture. Bacteria were identified from culture by standard microbiological methods and antibiogram of the isolates was determined by the disk diffusion method. Result: Of 166 HIV infected children and adolescents studied, 106 (63.9%) were males, 82 (49.4%) were in age group 5-10 years, and 110 (66.3%) were from lower socio-economic class. Significant bacteria (UTI) were isolated in 54 (32.5%) subjects, with 38 (70.4%) from females, and 51 (94.4%) from those on first line antiretroviral therapy. Isolates recovered were Escherichia coli 20 (37.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 16 (29.6%), Staphylococcus aureus 8 (14.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 6 (11.1%), and Proteus mirabilis 4 (7.4%). Leucocyturia in 19 (35.2%), nitrituria in 10 (18.5%), and haematuria in 15 (27.8%) subjects with significant bacteriuria were also recorded. Isolates were sensitive to ofloxacin (81.5%), nalidixic acid (74.1%) and cefuroxime (61.1%), while they were resistant to cotrimoxazole (100%), ampicillin (98.1%) and piperacillin (94.4%). Significant difference was observed in the mean CD4 cell count and viral load of subjects with significant bacteriuria compared to those without; 838.6 ± 177.8 versus 1009.9 ± 234.7 cells/µL (p=0.02), and 10, 360.5 ± 471.0 versus 5, 840.8 ± 563.8 copies/ml (p=0.003) for CD4 cell count and viral load respectively. Conclusion: This study reported a high prevalence of UTI among HIV infected children and adolescents, especially in those with high viral load. Routine screening for UTI should be offered to HIV infected children and adolescents with high viral load