Background: Nigeria contributes 30% to the global sickle cell anaemia burden. Cholelithiasis occurs commonly in children with sickle cell anaemia and may remain undiagnosed, mimic abdominal vaso-occlusive crises or become complicated by calculus cholecystitis. Early identification of children with sickle cell anaemia who have Cholelithiasis reduces the chances of misdiagnosis, mistreatment and improves outcomes. There is limited knowledge about the prevalence of Cholelithiasis among Nigerian children with sickle cell anaemia. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of Cholelithiasis in children with sickle cell anaemia in Gombe, northeast Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional analysis of children with sickle cell anaemia being followed-up at the sickle cell centre of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, northeast Nigeria. We consecutively recruited 294 children aged 2-17 years while in steady state from June to November 2017. Quantitative data were collected from parents/caregivers via a researcher administered questionnaire and cholecystosonography performed after a minimum of 8-hour fast. Predictors of Cholelithiasis were examined using binary logistic regression. Results: The mean age of children with sickle cell anaemia was 9.0 ± 4.5 years. The prevalence of Cholelithiasis in children with sickle cell anaemia in steady state was 4.8%. Children aged 15-17 years had 12 times higher odds of having Cholelithiasis [AOR = 12.268 (95% CI = 1.3-112.8)]. Conclusion: The prevalence of Cholelithiasis in children with sickle cell anaemia though generally low, increases progressively with age to peak during middle to late adolescence.

No abstract

No abstract

Background: Despite current availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in our hospital, neurologic complications of HIV are common. Aim: The aim of this study was to document brain computed tomography (CT) findings in HIV patients receiving HAART who developed neurological complications and to examine the relationship of these findings with CD4 cell counts. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with central nervous system symptoms out of 200 HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART at the HIV Clinic of Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, were retrospectively studied. The findings were reviewed alongside their clinical features, CD4 + count, and HAART history. Results: CT findings were positive in 12 (60%) of the patients, while no abnormality was seen in 8 (40%). The most common brain abnormality was atrophy (35%). Two out of five patients (40%) with CD4 counts >200 had abnormal CT findings compared with 9 out of 14 patients (64%) with CD4 counts <200 cells who had CT abnormalities. This finding was statistically significant (R = 0.864, P = 0.00). Conclusion: There is high incidence of neurological complications and positive brain CT scan among the patients who defaulted from HAART treatment and with CD4 cell counts of <200 cells/microliter.

No abstract