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Hookworm presenting as acute febrile illness and surgical abdomen

1,2Efunshile, A. M., 1,2Ojide, C. K., 1Nwangwu, C. C., 2Emelobe, G., and 3Akpa, C.

1Department of Medical Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria 

2Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria 

3Department of Haematology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria 

*Correspondence to: drefunshile@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Hookworm is estimated to infect about 500 million people worldwide. It is usually associated with diarrhoea, abdominal pain and iron deficiency anaemia, but diagnosis can be missed because it sometimes presents unusually or mimics other diseases. We present in this report the case of an 18-year-old asthmatic medical student who was referred to a general surgeon on account of abdominal pain of 8 days duration. His problem started initially with fever, chills and rigor which was managed as malaria but no improvement. The diagnosis shifted from enteric fever to peptic ulcer disease, and his worsening condition was later reviewed as acute abdomen. Abdominal X-ray and ultrasound were normal. Stool microscopy showed numerous ova of hookworm. He was then treated with albendazole leading to full recovery on subsequent follow up. Hookworm disease can mimic a lot of other clinical conditions. A careful review of literature is a reminder that the clinical presentation of hookworm can be diverse and misleading. The current report emphasizes the fact that hookworm should always be considered a possible differential in endemic regions when clinicians are confronted with acute non-malaria febrile illnesses or cases of acute surgical abdomen. 

Keywords: acute abdomen, fever, hookworm. Continue reading “Hookworm presenting as acute febrile illness and surgical abdomen”

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Profile of septic work up among patients admitted into the intensive care unit in University of Abuja teaching hospital Gwagwalada, Abuja

T. Yunusa, A.M. Adeoye, O.A. Akitoye

 

Abstract

Background: Several infectious agents are responsible for sepsis in all age groups presenting with fever which can have devastating consequences if not adequately treated. Sepsis may arise from bacteria, fungi and viral origin but are localized in particular organ or system with systemic affectation. Febrile illness is a leading reason for admission to the intensive care unit of hospitals in the tropics and these patients comes mostly from inpatients rather than from outpatients. Diagnostic apparatus needed for sepsis work up are usually not available in most cases and the data regarding septic work up are very scanty. Therefore, this research set out to determine the pattern of isolates from septic work-up among patients admitted to the intensive care unit in Abuja.
Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Sixty-four consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit with symptoms such as fever were involved in the study in a view to determine the septic state of the patients. Samples were collected. Blood culturing was performed using the BACTEC 9050® system and biochemical analytical profile index were used for identification and confirmation of bacterial isolates.
Results: The mean age of the patients admitted to ICU was 40.9±3.2 with the highest proportion within the age range of 31-40 years accounting for 31.7% of the patients enrolled and the lowest proportion being 10-20 years group accounting for 5.0%.Out of the 64 patients investigated in the ICU 60 patients had clinical and positive cultures with an overall positive and negative infection rate of 93.8% and 6.3% respectively. From the positive cultures yields 86.7% were bacteremia and 13.3% were fungaemia. Multiple infections were observed among the male patients, Multi-drug resistance bacteria were observed among Klebsiella pneumonia, E. coli and P. aeroginosa isolates.
Conclusion: Bacterial and fungal isolates were found in this study but increased rate of polymicrobial isolation and nosocomial infections calls for concern.

Key words: Profile of infectious agents, sepsis, fever, septic work up, Abuja

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Profile of septic work up among patients admitted into the intensive care unit in University of Abuja teaching hospital Gwagwalada, Abuja

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Detection of human immunodeficiency virus among individuals presenting with febrile illness in Lagos, Nigeria

O.B. Salu, F.O. Nwaokorie, T.E. Banwo, B.O. Oke, A.B. James, S.A. Omilabu

 

Abstract

Introduction: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the aetiological agent of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is a chronic and potentially life-threatening condition. Fever is mostly associated with the early stage of virus replication known as acute HIV infection or  syndrome; as such, determination of HIV status during this critical period is a good means of improving clinical outcome in those infected. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV among febrile individuals in Lagos, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study of 250 febrile individuals attending General Hospitals at Isolo, Mushin and Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. Analysis was carried out at the Virology Research Laboratory, Central Research Laboratory, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos from July to October 2017. Sample analysis was done according to the Nigerian National Testing Algorithm to determine HIV status using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) and data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.

Results: Out of the 250 febrile participants, 8 were positive for HIV, with an overall prevalence of 3.2%. Further analysis however showed that 90% of the HIV positive participants had four or more episodes of fever in a month. HIV infection was still majorly among the ages 15-24 and 25-34 for male and ages 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54 for females.

Conclusion: This findings showed that different cohorts are significantly at risk of HIV infection. Hence, policies and all efforts to reduce the burden of HIV are paramount for a HIV free future for Nigeria.

Keywords: Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS), Fever, Asymptomatic and  Enzyme–Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

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Detection of human immunodeficiency virus among individuals presenting with febrile illness in Lagos, Nigeria

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Detection of human immunodeficiency virus among individuals presenting with febrile illness in Lagos, Nigeria

O.B. Salu, F.O. Nwaokorie, T.E. Banwo, B.O. Oke, A.B. James, S.A. Omilabu

 

Abstract

Introduction: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the aetiological agent of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is a chronic and potentially life-threatening condition. Fever is mostly associated with the early stage of virus replication known as acute HIV infection or  syndrome; as such, determination of HIV status during this critical period is a good means of improving clinical outcome in those infected. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV among febrile individuals in Lagos, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study of 250 febrile individuals attending General Hospitals at Isolo, Mushin and Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. Analysis was carried out at the Virology Research Laboratory, Central Research Laboratory, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos from July to October 2017. Sample analysis was done according to the Nigerian National Testing Algorithm to determine HIV status using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) and data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.

Results: Out of the 250 febrile participants, 8 were positive for HIV, with an overall prevalence of 3.2%. Further analysis however showed that 90% of the HIV positive participants had four or more episodes of fever in a month. HIV infection was still majorly among the ages 15-24 and 25-34 for male and ages 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54 for females.

Conclusion: This findings showed that different cohorts are significantly at risk of HIV infection. Hence, policies and all efforts to reduce the burden of HIV are paramount for a HIV free future for Nigeria.

Keywords:Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS), Fever, Asymptomatic and  Enzyme–Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). 

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Detection of human immunodeficiency virus among individuals presenting with febrile illness in Lagos, Nigeria