Aplasia cutis congenita: a report of two cases from National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria and review of the literature.

Aplasia cutis congenita is a rare congenital abnormality first described in 1767 by cordon. It mostly appears as a solitary lesion involving various layers of the skin and sometimes the bone on the scalp, limbs or abdomen. Genetics, environmental and exogenous causes have been implicated as potential causes. Only about 500 cases have been reported globally as of 2013. Two cases of Aplasia Cutis Congenita (ACC) who presented with scalp and bone defects at birth are reported, one in a syndromic child delivered to a consanguineous family, with associated cardiac, skin and nail anomalies (likely Adams Oliver syndrome) and the other as an isolated scalp lesion. Both were large defects managed conservatively by a multidisciplinary team. The challenges of investigating and managing such complex scalp anomalies in sub-Saharan Africa are highlighted.

Audit of prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme interventions in HIV-Exposed children at national hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Ninety percentage of children acquire human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the form of Mother-to-child Transmission (MTCT). In the absence of interventions, transmission rates range from 15% to 45%. This can be reduced to below 5% with effective interventions. The last published national guideline (NG) on prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) was in 2010. Clinical audits are essential in improving the quality of care delivered to patients. OBJECTIVES: The study objectives were to determine the rate of MTCT of HIV in exposed infants at a follow-up clinic between 2011 and 2014 and to determine the level of adherence to 2010 NG on the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, feeding options, antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis and the use of co-trimoxazole (CTZ). METHODS: A retrospective review of data was done over 4 years. The population consisted of babies delivered through PMTCT programme and those referred to the clinic from other centres. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. RESULTS: Out of 699 babies enrolled, MTCT occurred in 22 babies (3.2%) and PCR testing was done in 445 babies (64.7%), most in the 1-2 months' age group. Breastfeeding was practiced in 402 (58.2%) babies, while about 88.0% of them received post-exposure ARV prophylaxis (PEP). CTZ prophylaxis was offered to only 226 (34.6%) babies. The regression model showed that maternal use of HAART and PEP for babies was independently associated with a reduction in transmission rate. CONCLUSION: The MTCT rate was 3.2%. There is a need to strengthen service provision to adhere to NG, especially on breastfeeding and CTZ prophylaxis.