Nigerian Journal of Medicine : Journal of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria

Background: Observation has shown a preponderance of irrelevant, unjustified and perhaps unnecessary radiological requests in the study area. The consequences of this on the patients' doses and population collective dose may be dire. Objective: To assess Clinicians/Referrers' knowledge of radiation doses of patients undergoing radiological examinations. Methodology: A prospective, non-experimental, cross-sectional survey of clinicians (except radiologists) in various hospitals in Calabar metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria, was conducted...

Background: To examine the complications following nasotracheal intubation by documenting the nasal traumas observed with the use of untreated cuffed polyvinyl chloride tube in unprepared nostrils. Methods: Patients who had maxillofacial surgeries under general anesthesia, muscle relaxation and nasotracheal intubation were included in the study. Nasotracheal intubation was carried out after induction of anesthesia was effected with intravenous propofol and suxamethonium by an Anesthetist using well lubricated cuffed polyvinyl chloride tube...

Background: Mentorship is important in residency training as it is necessary for personal and professional development of the resident trainees. Objectives: This study documents mentorship in orthopaedic residency training programme in Nigeria by assessing the awareness of orthopaedic residents on the role of a mentor, willingness to be mentored and their perceived reasons for the possible lack of mentors/ participation of senior colleagues in a mentorship programme...

Background: The advent of potent antiviral drugs has revolutionalised the clinical course of HIV / AIDS resulting in increased survival and improved quality of life. Metabolic derangements in HIV infected patients are becoming more common probably due to this increased survival from the use of HAART. There is limited data on the occurrence of glucose intolerance among HIV patients in Nigeria. Objective: To determine the prevalence of glucose intolerance and associated risk factors in HIV/AIDS patients...

Background: Malaria carries a high case fatality among patients with sickle cell disease. In Jos University Teaching Hospital, at the time of this study, the use of Proguanil was the acceptable mode of chemoprophylaxis for preventing malaria in these patients. Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine [SP] has shown great potential for reducing the prevalence of malaria and anaemia among pregnant women, infants and travellers. We hypothesised that monthly SP was superior to daily Proguanil in reducing malaria parasitaemia, clinical malaria attacks and sickle cell crises in such patients...

Background: Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium and transmitted by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. It continues to be a global challenge with about half of the world's population being at risk of the disease and under–5 children being the most vulnerable. Aims and Obejectives: To determine the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and some associated symptoms among febrile under-five children presenting at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria...

Background: Low back pain is one of the common health problems encountered in life with intervertebral disc herniation being a common cause of its occurrence. Magnetic resonance imaging has emerged the gold standard for diagnosing a herniated disc. Aims and Objective: To assess the frequency and pattern of occurrence of disc herniation as well as evaluate the association of disc herniation on magnetic resonance imaging with clinical symptoms. Method: A total of 120 adult patients who came for magnetic resonance imaging scan of the lumbosacral spine for a period of 1year in the department of Radiology University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital...

BACKGROUND: Several studies have been carried out to determine the patterns of skin diseases across Nigeria and results have shown changing patterns with the trend reflecting a higher tendency for allergic dermatoses in a majority of these studies. This study was carried out to evaluate the current clinical picture of patients presenting to our clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study of new patients seen in the skin clinic of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku- Ozalla, between November 2013 and August 2014 was carried out...

Signet ring cell lymphomas are a rare subtype of non Hodgkin lymphoma characterised by malignant lymphoid cells with cytoplasmic inclusions that displace the nucleus and imparts a “signet ring” appearance. This poses a diagnostic challenge as it can be mistaken for an adenocarcinoma or any other epithelial malignancy. A 54yr old male presented with a 6month history of generalised lymphadenopathy. Examination of excision biopsy of the lymph nodes show effacement of architecture by sheets neoplastic cells with abundant cytoplasm distended by eosinophilic amorphous substances...

Introduction: Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare disorder. It is defined as eosinophilia of greater than1.5x109 /L persisting for at least 6 months or death before 6 months without an identifiable cause and with eosinophil-mediated organ dysfunction. We present a rare case of hypereosinophilic syndrome with severe hypokalaemia in a Nigerian female patient. Case Presentation: A 43year old food vendor referred to the Haematology Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan on account of a 6-week history of cough productive of mucoid, brownish, foul smelling sputum with associated breathlessness, high grade intermittent fever, and intense pruritus...

Although perforation of the uterus by an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) is commonly encountered, intravesical translocation and secondary calculus formation is a very rare complication. We report a case of a 60-year old multiparous woman in whom an intrauterine contraceptive Copper-T device inserted 12 years earlier translocated from the uterus to the bladder and resulted in formation of a calculus. Diagnosis was established with pelvic ultrasonography and plain abdominal radiograph. The cystoscopic removal was not successful due to the large size of the calculus...

Sclerosing mesenteritis (SM) is a rare idiopathic disorder characterized by chronic non-specific inflammation involving the adipose tissue of the bowel mesentery. It may be asymptomatic but it commonly presents with abdominal pain. Some individuals may have a palpable abdominal mass and affected individuals may develop small bowel obstruction or acute abdomen. We report a case of 27-year old man who presented to the Surgery Department at Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku Awka, Anambra State with acute abdomen and intestinal obstruction...

Background and Introduction: The achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly goals 5 and 6, is strongly underpinned by the progress that can be made on sexual and reproductive health education of young adults. The large population of young single adults in tertiary institutions in Nigeria and the present dearth of human resources for health necessitates that interventions for this group of individuals are tailored to meet identified gaps in awareness and sexual behaviour...

Background: Prostate cancer has become a global health challenge because of its rising morbidity and mortality in males. It is the second cause of cancer death following lung cancer in men. It is rare under the age of 40 and its incidence has been shown to increase exponentially with age. Previously, Prostate cancer was thought to be a disease rare in blacks owing to the fact that not so much was known of the disease. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study was to review the prevalence, pattern of presentation and clinic-pathologic findings of prostate cancer in the Department of Radiotherapy, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), between January 2001 to December 2010 in comparison to previous and recent studies globally...

Background: Individuals with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) have lower systemic blood pressures compared to individuals with haemoglobin Hb AA phenotype. Objective: Seventy-nine (79) individuals with SCA (subjects) in steady state and 50 age-matched individuals with Hb AA (controls) were prospectively studied. Height, blood pressure (BP), weight, creatinine clearance (by 24-hour urine collection), full blood count (FBC) and reticulocyte count were obtained from all subjects and controls...

Background: Adolescent overweight and obesity has been linked to obesity in adult life, with its associated risks of chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases. Thus, prevention aimed at early screening and surveillance should be the key. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among schooling adolescents in Port Harcourt. Mateials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out on 2,282 secondary school students aged 10–19 years, using a structured questionnaire to obtain data...

BACKGROUNDS: Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgeries in children. Controlling pain after tonsillectomy is still controversial. In this study, the efficacy of peritonsillar injection of lidocaine, tramadol, ketamine, and placebo is compared on post tonsillectomy pain. METHODS: In a randomized double-blind clinical trial, 120 patients referring for tonsillectomy to Imam Khomeini hospital in Ahvaz, Iran were recruited into four groups: ketamine, tramadol, lidocaine, and normal saline...

Background: Poor referral linkages had been noted and documented by various researchers on the health care delivery system in Nigeria. This study is designed to find out the situation of referral practices and make recommendations on how to improve the situation. Material and Method: A total sample of 170 primary health care workers was involved in the study:85 in each of the Local Government Areas. The study involved three stages, the pre-intervention, the intervention phase, and a post intervention phase of the study...

Background: Data on Computed tomographic (CT) pattern of stroke abound in literature but they are predominantly from studies done in the Western world. Though most of the reports agree that ischaemic rather than haemorrhagic stroke is prevalent in most climes,no strictly radiology based study can be quoted in the Port Harcourt area. Thus there is the need for accurate data on stroke pattern in Nigerians of the South-South region. Aims: This study was done to establish the CT pattern of stroke seen in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and to determine the relationship between the different stroke patterns and age, sex, including time of presentation...

Background: Farmers like most groups of workers are faced with a multiplicity of hazards and biological hazards like Soil Transmitted Helminths - a major Public health problem in the tropical like Nigeria is one of them. This study was to determine the prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STHs) infections among farmers in Ukwa West Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, South East Nigeria. Methods: Following ethical clearance,290 consenting farmers were recruited to participate in this descriptive cross sectional study...