Meningococcal Meningitis Outbreak (2009) among Children in Maiduguri North-Eastern Nigeria: Epidemiology and Determinants of Outcome
Journal Title: International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health - Year 2017, Vol 28, Issue 1
Abstract
Introduction: Large scale epidemic meningococcal meningitis outbreaks had occurred in the African meningitis belt every 5-12 years for the past century. Children are at high risk yet little attention had been directed toward them. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study among all the children with clinical suspicion or diagnosis of cerebrospinal meningitis during the meningococcal meningitis outbreak from January to December 2009. Results: One hundred and seventeen children were confirmed with meningococcal meningitis with incidence of 10.1%. The results of the unadjusted regression analyses, headache (p=0.046, OR 2.895 95% CI 1.019 – 8.229), duration of symptoms before first antibiotic (p=0.035, OR 3.289 95% CI 1.090 –9.920), dehydration (p=0.002, OR 5.225 95% CI 1.885 – 15.391) and type of antibiotic combination; crystalline penicillin and chloramphenicol (p=0.009, OR 4.043 95% CI 1.426 – 11.463) the only factors that correlate significantly with the death rate. However multivariate (adjusted) logistic regression using only factors with p < 0.05 in univariate analysis, only the type of antibiotic combination: Crystalline penicillin/Chloramphenicol and Ceftriaxone/Gentamicin (p=0.030, OR 5.782, 95% CI 1.191 – 28.080) that showed independent association with mortality rate in meningococcal meningitis among children. Conclusion: Children remained the large population affected with high morbidity and mortality especially in the African meningitis belt. The factors contributing to such effect includes lack of immunization, poor recognition of the disease and lack of policy directed at children wellbeing.
Authors and Affiliations
Pius, Simon, Ibrahim, Halima Abubakar, Akuhwa, Randolph Tartenger, Alhaji, Mohammed Arab, Ikunaiye, Nasiru Yakubu, Mava, Yakubu, Denue, Ballah Akawu, Bello, Mustapha
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP312665
- DOI 10.9734/IJTDH/2017/38025
- Views 41
- Downloads 0
Unusual Findings in Morgellons Disease and Delusions of Parasitosis
We are presenting four new cases of delusions of parasitosis, two of which also had features of Morgellons disease. This illustrates the difficulties in therapy of these patients having almost universal refusal to accept...
Assessing the Performance Characteristics of the “CareStartTM Malaria HRP2 pf (CAT NO: G0141, ACCESSBIO)” Rapid Diagnostic Test for Asymptomatic Malaria in Mutengene, Cameroon
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and density of malaria parasites in asymptomatic school children in Mutengene and evaluate the performance characteristics of the ‘CareStartTM Malaria HRP2 pf (C...
Risk Factors of Otitis Media with Effusion among Preschool Children in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is the commonest cause of hearing loss in children worldwide. It has a lot of host related and environmental factors that influence it’s development. These factors had remaine...
Effectiveness of Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine in Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy at Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta
Objective: To determine the effectiveness of sulphadoxine – pyrimethamine (SP) in intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy at Federal medical centre, Abeokuta. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Settin...
Evolution of a Disease Surveillance System: An Increase in Reporting of Human Monkeypox Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2001-2013
Objective: Evaluating the effectiveness of a surveillance system, and how it improves over time has significant implications for disease control and prevention. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Integrated D...