Paediatric empyema thoracis in Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

From 1977 to 1986 at the Ahmadu Bello University Hospital in Zaria, the diagnosis of empyema thoracis was made in 150 children representing 0.35% of all paediatric admissions. Empyema was a complication of pneumonia in 98 of 100 cases reviewed, of whom 70 were 3 years old or younger. There was no sex or side preference. Fifty-nine patients were severely ill on admission, with a mean symptom duration of 21 days. In many of them, anaemia, protein-energy malnutrition, measles and gastro-enteritis were present as associated illnesses. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent bacterial isolate (39%), of which 83% of the cultures were sensitive to cloxacillin. Adequate rehydration, systemic antibiotics and tube thoracostomy drainage performed in 80 patients were more successful than repeated needle aspiration. Fourteen of the children died, six absconded and 80 were discharged home.

Feasibility of a simple drainage system in Cameroonian children after thoracotomy and decortication for empyema thoracis

“…[1][2][3] The incidence of empyema has also increased dramatically recently in children in the western world. [4] Respiratory tract infection complicated with empyema is one of the major causes of death in children below 2 years of age.…”

“…[1][2][3] In Cameroon, Surgeons are confronted to many difficulties in treating thoracic empyema: Lack of proper equipment and infrastructure, poverty due to very low income and the absence of health insurance coverage for the majority of the population. In this study, we are reporting our experience of surgical treatment in the management of life-threatening empyema in children using a simple drainage system.…”

Immunohistochemical and molecular subtypes of breast cancer in Nigeria

“…Most clinical series from Nigeria and other developing countries suggest that there are differences between the epidemiological characteristics of breast cancer in developing and developed countries [3][4][5][6][7][8], in particular, that the biology of breast cancer in Africans is different from that of non-Hispanic whites in the United States. While there are few systematic international comparisons, studies within the United States suggest that African-Americans have bigger gross tumor size, higher nuclear grade and more extensive tumor necrosis compared with non-Hispanic whites [9].…”

Congenital pneumonia with empyema at birth; a rare presentation

“…5 The etiological agent from previous reports found both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms with staphylococcus auras been most predominant. 5,6 However, culture was negative in the index case either because of broad spectrum antibiotic treatment begun before draining the fluid or microbiological reason like inappropriate selection of culture medium. Experience in the management of neonatal empyema is lacking and no standard protocol is currently available.…”