Background: Malaria and HIV infections are major health problems facing the world today. Sub-Saharan Africa with 10 percent of world's population harbors more than half the burden of the scourge. The present study determined the prevalence and clinical forms of malaria among febrile HIV-infected children aged 3months to 15years, seen in

4 and TSH at 24hours were higher than cord blood levels (p<0.001, 0.03, 0.05 respectively). The mean serum T 3 and T 4 at 72hours, were higher than cord blood levels (p = 0.07, 0.44), whereas TSH at 72hours was significantly lower than cord blood levels; (p<0.001).Conclusions: There was a rise, above cord level, of T 3, T 4 and TSH at 24hours, and a decline at 72hours, the latter being most marked in TSH. It is recommended that serum TSH taken at or greater than 72hours of life may be utilized for screening for congenital hypothyroidism in term babies, using postnatal age appropriate reference ranges. Serum T 3, T 4 should then be assayed for confirmation in all neonates with a positive TSH screening.

Introduction: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Few reports are available on DKA among children in North-west Nigeria.  Objective: To describe the clinical profile and outcome of children managed for DKA in the Paediatric Endocrinology Unit of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, North-western Nigeria over a ten-year period (January 2011- December 2020). Methods: This was a retrospective review of the case records of all children managed for T1D between 2011 and 2020.  Socio-demographic and clinical data of those with DKA were extracted and analysed using SPSS version 23. Results: Ten (62.5%) out of 16 children with T1D had DKA, comprising 8 males and 2 females; M: F ratio 4:1. Majority (90%) were adolescents aged 10-15years. The mean age ± standard deviation (SD) at diagnoses of T1D was 11.1 ± 3.14 years; DKA was the presenting manifestation of diabetes in 4 (40%) children, while 6(60%) were known diabetics with an average of 2-episodes per patient. The median duration of symptoms was 5 days (range 1-42 days). Abdominal pain (90%), polyuria (80%), fast breathing (70%), vomiting (70%), altered consciousness (70%), dehydration (100%) and Kussmaul respiration (70%) were the common presenting features. The mean blood glucose, bicarbonate and venous PH at admission were 23.28± 7.14 (range; 12.3-33.3) mmol/L, 14.1± 3.41 (10-21) mmol/L and 6.96± 0.06 (6.92-7.00) respectively. Co-morbid conditions included infections (80%), predominantly malaria (70%). There was no mortality. Conclusion: DKA is common in male adolescents, with good management outcome in our facility.  Abdominal pain, dehydration, polyuria and Kussmaul respiration were the commonest presenting features. A high index of suspicion of DKA is recommended in any child, particularly, male adolescents with the aforementioned features. Effort should be made to confirm diagnosis and prompt treatment instituted.

Background: In developing countries most women deliver at home for some reasons and such deliveries are not attended by a skilled birth attendant. In Nigeria 63% of births occurred at home. Objective: To determine the reasons and experiences of home and hospital deliveries among women in Kano, Nigeria. Methods: The study was a comparative cross-sectional study. The study employed a mixed method study. A total of 614 women were selected by multistage sampling technique and enrolled for the study. Focus group discussions with a group of women and husbands as well as key informant interviews with health care workers were conducted in the communities. Quantitative data was analysed using Minitab V17 software. Thematic content analysis was performed for the qualitative data. Data was gathered and analysed using triangulation methods. Results: The questionnaires response rate was of 96.7%. The mean age of respondents was 32.6 ± 6.5 years for home delivery group, and 28.1 ± 5.6 years for the hospital delivery group. Reasons for home deliveries were custom (24.5%), unfriendly attitude of health workers (17.5%), financial barriers (15.5%), and safety was the main reason for hospital delivery (56.7%). Determinants of choice of place of delivery were lower age at first pregnancy AOR=4.06 95%CI (1.633-10.076) and higher education AOR=2.70 95%CI (1.927-3.792) respectively. Conclusion: Mothers have different reasons and experiences with regard to choice of delivery location. Hospital deliveries should be encouraged

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious disease killer worldwide, despite significant progress against the disease in recent years. Most cases of TB in children occur in the TB endemic countries but the actual burden of paediatric TB is unknown. With early diagnosis and treatment using the first-line anti-tuberculous drugs, most people who develop the disease can be cured and onward transmission of infection curtailed. Objective: To determine the pattern and outcome of paediatric tuberculosis managed at a tertiary facility in Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Records of children managed for TB at the Directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) clinic over a three-and-a-half-year period were reviewed retrospectively. All children (≤ 15 years) treated for TB over the study period was included. Relevant information was retrieved from the register and analysed accordingly. Results: 74 children were treated with 33(44.6%) being males, giving a M: F ratio of 1:1.2. Mean (±SD) age was 85.78 (±55.40) months and 34 (45.9%) belonged to the 0.0-5.0-year age group. Seventy-one (95.9%) were new cases and three (4.1%) were relapse. Pulmonary TB (PTB) was seen in 50 (67.6%), more females had PTB than males, which was not significant (χ2=0.4, p=0.52). Acid fast bacilli (AFB) were positive in only 8 (10.8%) while GeneXpert MTB/RIF sensitivity was detected in 7 (9.2%). Majority 36 (48.6%) were lost to follow up, 30 (40.5%) completed treatment, only 4(5.4%) were cured with no recorded mortality. Successful treatment outcome was low (45.9%). Conclusion: Treatment outcome using DOTS strategy was poor, far below the WHO benchmark. There is need to improve adherence to DOTs therapy to prevent development of multi drug resistant TB.