Background:Clinically evident microvascular complications are rarely seen among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), although early signs develop during childhood and accelerate during puberty.Aim:The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of early signs of microvascular complications in children and adolescents aged 9–19 years with a short duration of T1DM by screening for retinopathy and nephropathy.Methods:A cross-sectional study and participants were consecutively enrolled from the Endocrinology Clinic at Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Physical examination and mydriatic ophthalmoscopy were conducted. Three early morning spot urine specimens for albumin/creatinine ratio were estimated 3 months apart. Serum creatinine levels were estimated, and the glomerular filtration rate was calculated. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was determined.Results:Twenty-four individuals participated, 15 (62.5%) were male and the mean age at diagnosis was 12.4 ± 2.3 years. The mean duration of diabetes was 23.8 ± 20.6 months. The mean HbA1c was 11.4%. Retinopathy was seen in 16.7%, whereas 33.3% had microalbuminuria. Blood pressure range was within the 50th–90th percentile for all the participants.Conclusion:The study outcome demonstrated a high prevalence of early signs of microvascular complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy among youths with short duration of T1DM. Poor glycemic control, if not halted, is associated with early signs of microvascular complications which may become clinically evident; contrary to the belief that they are rare in childhood.

BackgroundThe diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes is commonly missed in most health facilities in Nigeria. Adequate knowledge of childhood diabetes is necessary for the recognition and possible intervention for the control of the disease. However, research to assess knowledge deficiencies and their relationship to attitude is lacking in most developing countries including Nigeria. This study intends to survey the beliefs and perceptions of caregivers of children towards diabetes in childhood. It also aims at determining the caregivers’ depth of knowledge of diabetes in children, the relationship between knowledge and practices as well as the association between level of education and gender with practices and knowledge. The study outcome will help in the formulation of policy and education of the communities with regards to the preconceived myths and realities of childhood diabetes.MethodsA descriptive study involving 500 respondents, population groups were selected by multi-staged sampling from different areas in Enugu metropolis, south-East of Nigeria. A validated structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. Ethical approval was obtained, and only consenting subjects were interviewed. Data was analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.ResultAlmost all the respondents (99.8%) had heard of diabetes in adults. However, a lower proportion of respondents 43.2% knew about diabetes in childhood. Only 24.8% had good knowledge of the different aspects of diabetes. Although females were more knowledgeable about the effects of healthy life style modifications on diabetes, there was no gender predisposition in knowledge about diabetes in childhood.A positive association existed between knowledge and education [p < 0.001] concerning childhood diabetes. Irrespective of this association 82.6% of the respondents with good knowledge of the disease still had a poor attitude towards healthy life style practices.ConclusionThis study has shown that beliefs and perceptions of childhood diabetes among the adult caregivers in Enugu, south – East Nigeria is mostly erroneous and their knowledge deficient. Literacy did not improve both knowledge and attitude to healthy lifestyle practices.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-018-5744-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objectives Despite the high prevalence of children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in West Africa, there is paucity of data on the height velocity and prevalence of growth failure in SCA patients. With advances in clinical care of SCA patients, could there be a spatial and secular trend in the growth pattern of these children? Hence, the compelling needs to embark on this study. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of growth failure among patients with SCA and its correlation with age, gender and age at diagnosis. Methods A Prospective longitudinal study of a cohort of sickle cell anaemic paediatric patients from Pediatrics SCA Clinic, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla. Patients were enrolled over a period of two years using a non-parametric convenient sampling method. Their heights were measured at baseline, three months, six months and at 12 months intervals and subsequently plotted on a standard WHO growth chart. The height velocities at different monthly intervals were calculated and compared with the WHO standard normal linear growth rates) for children (used as control) to identify those with GF. (i.e. <10th percentile). The main outcome measures were the mean height velocities at different months' intervals calculated and compared using the repeated measurement analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Wilcoxon signed test. Results A cohort of 316 children aged 1–18 years with SCA was evaluated with a male preponderance of 161 (57.4%). The mean age and age at diagnosis were 11.04 ± 5.56 and 4.2 ± 1.7 years, respectively. The prevalence of growth failure and short stature was 84.7%. The burden of GF was highest among post-pubertal participants (94.1%). The most important predictor of growth velocity deficit was age (R2=0.045, standard β coefficient = −0.22, t=−03.51, p=0.001). Conclusions The study demonstrated high prevalence of growth failure in children and adolescents with SCA which intensified with advancement in age and older age at diagnosis.

Introduction diabetic complications have been identified as the major causes of morbidity and mortality in persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Lack of appropriate glycaemic control is a significant risk factor for the onset and progression of long term complications of diabetes. Identifying the determinants of good glycaemic control is therefore imperative. Methods this was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study of children aged 3-18 years with T1DM. Subjects were consecutively enrolled after obtaining consent from their parents and assent from children aged ≥7 years. A questionnaire was completed recording their clinical history and sociodemographic variables. Their HbA1c was estimated and values ≤7.5% was defined as the cut-off for optimal glycaemic control. Results seventy-one children with T1DM were enrolled for the study. Thirty-eight (53.5%) of them were males. Mean age (years) was 13.7±4. Mean age at onset of diabetes was 11.6 years (range: 3-16 years), mean duration of diabetes was 24.4 months (range: 4-84 months), mean HbA1c value was 10.5% (range: 6.4%-14%); a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify determinants of optimal glycaemic control. Only caregivers' involvement in diabetes management P<0.016, odd ratio 13.03 (95% CI: 1.60-105.95) was identified as determinant of good glycaemic control. Conclusion our data suggest that of all the sociodemographic factors studied, caregivers' involvement in diabetes management was the only strong determinant for optimal glycaemic control.