Prevalence and pattern of bacteraemia among HIV-infected under -five children in a tertiary hospital in Kano, Nigeria

Introduction: Undernutrition is a major health problem in developing countries which may have adverse effects on growth and development of an individual. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence and grades of malnutrition in children below 60 months of age, attending outpatient department at Gandaki Medical College teaching hospital.Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted among 556 children below 60 months of age from August to December 2013. Weight and length/height were measured using standard technique and were plotted on WHO centiles curves and severity determined based on WHO classification. The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting were determined by anthropometry.Results: Based on WHO classification, out of 556 children, 20.2% were underweight, 34% were stunted and 15.1% were wasted respectively. Of them, severe underweight were 4.7%, severe stunted were 14.1% and severe wasted were 7.2% respectively.Conclusion: A high prevalence of undernutrition exists in under- five children attending a tertiary hospital in a western region of Nepal.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i2.10566J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(2):119-124

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Validity and accuracy of maternal tactile assessment for fever in under-five children in North Central Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005776 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (10) ◽

pp. e005776 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mohammed Baba Abdulkadir ◽

Wahab Babatunde Rotimi Johnson ◽

Rasheedah Mobolaji Ibraheem

Keyword(s):

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Febrile Child ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Predictive Values ◽

North Central ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children

ObjectivesThis study seeks to determine not only the reliability of parental touch in detecting fever as compared to rectal thermometry in under-five children, but also the sociodemographic factors that may predict its reliability.SettingThe study was carried out in the Emergency Paediatric Unit of a tertiary hospital in North Central Nigeria.Participants409 children aged less than 5 years with a history of fever in the 48 h prior to presentation and their mothers were recruited consecutively. All the children recruited completed the study. Children with clinical parameters suggestive of shock, and those who were too ill, were excluded from the study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome was the proportion of mothers who could accurately predict if their child was febrile or not (defined by rectal temperature) using tactile assessment only. Secondary outcomes were the validity and accuracy of touch in detecting fever and factors related to its accuracy.ResultsAbout 85% of the children were febrile using rectal thermometry. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values for touch as a screening tool were 63%, 54%, 88.3% and 21%, respectively. High maternal socioeconomic status and low maternal age influenced positively the accuracy of touch in correctly determining the presence or absence of fever.ConclusionsThis study has shown that tactile assessment of temperature is not reliable and that absence of fever in a previously febrile child should be confirmed by objective methods of temperature measurement.

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Anaemia in under five children attending a tertiary hospital in central Kerala: a cross sectional study

International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics ◽

10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20211684 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 904

Author(s):

Jessie Jose ◽

Riya Lukose ◽

Thekkumpat S. Athira

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Severe Anaemia ◽

Acute Malnutrition ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Under Five ◽

Under Five Children

Background: Anaemia is the most common nutritional problem in the world with significant impact on the neurological and cognitive development of young, growing children. India has a high prevalence of anaemia among its under-five children. The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia in children in the age group 6 months to 5 years.Methods: A hospital based descriptive study was done on 51 children attending the outpatient department of a tertiary hospital. They were evaluated by obtaining a detailed history, physical examination and haemoglobin and serum ferritin estimation.Results: The prevalence of anaemia in the present study was 41.2%. 13 (25.5%) had mild anaemia, 8 (15.7%) had moderate anaemia and none had severe anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia was present in 17 out of 21 children (81%) with anaemia (p<0.00001). There were significant associations between haemoglobin levels and age (p=0.049) and nutritional status (moderate acute malnutrition) (p=0.034) of the children in the study.Conclusions: The prevalence of anaemia in children under 5 years in Kerala, which has performed well in other health quality indicators, remains high. A multimodal strategy to address this public health problem is required.

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