Delayed presentation of patients with posterior urethral valve with complications like severe urosepsis, uremia, and anemia are seen in our setting. Renal replacement therapy which should have been offered to these patients is not readily available for children in our country. The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of late presentation and outcome of management of posterior urethral valve in a resource-limited setting. A descriptive retrospective study (1997–2009) was conducted. Data including pattern of presentation, duration of symptoms, complications, and outcome of initial management were analyzed. Twenty-one patients were seen. The median age was 3 years (2 days–13 years). The mean duration of symptoms before presentation was 2.6 years. Nineteen patients (91%) presented with urosepsis while 8 patients (36%) presented with significant renal insufficiency. Laboratory findings varied from-mild-to marked elevation in serum creatinine. Radiological findings confirmed the diagnosis of posterior urethral valve. We concluded that late presentation is common in our setting. This is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Efforts at improving awareness and early diagnosis among the health team should be made to stem the tide.

Antibiotics are being abused in children with diarrhea and caregivers need to be educated against this urgently.

Background: Iron deficiency anaemia has been described as the commonest type of nutritional anaemia in infancy and childhood. The associated adverse health sequelae include permanent behavioural and cognitive impairments. Early detection and prompt treatment are necessary to prevent these complications. Aim: To determine the prevalence and socio-demographic distribution of iron deficiency anaemia among anaemic under five children in Enugu. Subjects and methods: Under-five children presenting at a tertiary hospital were consecutively enrolled and screened for iron deficiency anaemia using haematocrit and serum ferritin levels. Iron deficiency anaemia was defined as haematocrit level <30% and ferritin level <12ng/ml. Results: Three hundred and twelve children (187 males, 125 females) aged below 60 months had a PCV check out of which 178 (57.1%) were anaemic (PCV< 30%). Of the anaemic group, 61(34.3%) had iron deficiency anaemia. Prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia was higher among the males (38.0%) [p=0.235], age group 13-23months (40.0%)[p=0.575] and children from lower socioeconomic class (43.5%)[p=0.158]. There is a positive but weak correlation between serum ferritin and haematocrit levels [r= 0.11 p=0.130]. Conclusion: The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in the study population was high and varies with the child's age group, gender and parental socioeconomic class.

Child safety restraints and seat belts are regarded as the most successful safety and cost-effective protective devices available to vehicle occupants, which have saved millions of lives. This cross-sectional descriptive study evaluated the practice and use of child car restraints (CCRs) among 458 purposively selected respondents resident in two local government areas in Enugu State, Nigeria. Self-administered questionnaires were sent to parents of children attending private schools who owned a car. Chi-square and multivariate analyses were used to assess the determinants of the use of car restraints in children among respondents. In all, 56% and 45% of adults and children, respectively, used car restraints regularly. The awareness of child safety laws and actual use of age-appropriate CCRs among respondents was negatively and weakly correlated (r=−0.121, P=0.310). Only respondent’s use of seat belt during driving (P=0.001) and having being cautioned for non-use of CCRs (P=0.005) maintained significance as determinants of the use of CCRs in cars on multivariate analysis. The most frequent reasons given for the non-use of CCRs included the child being uncomfortable, 64 (31%); restraints not being important, 53 (26%), and restraints being too expensive, 32 (15%). Similarly, for irregular users, exceptions for non-use included the child being asleep (29%), inadequate number of CCRs (22%), and the child being sick (18%). There is a need for a strategy change to enforce the use of CCRs in Nigeria.

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