Paediatric Osteomyelitis in a Tertiary Hospital in South-South Nigeria; Clinical Experience at ...

Background: As compared to high-income countries, the incidence of osteomyelitis is disproportionately higher in low-income countries (43-200 per 100,000 children) (1.94-13 per 100,000 children). In low-income countries, these infections continue to pose a major threat to children's proper growth and development, owing in part to late presentation to hospitals and unorthodox pre-hospital intervention by traditional healers.

The aim of this study was to figure out the clinical and microbiological profile of paediatric osteomyelitis at the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba.

Methods: From January 2014 to December 2018, a four-year retrospective examination of all paediatric osteomyelitis treated in this hospital was conducted. Important information such as the type of osteomyelitis (acute, subacute, or chronic), the bone involved, the affected bone sites (epiphyseal, metaphyseal, or diaphyseal), microbiological culture findings (implicated microorganisms), genotype, treatment, and treatment outcome were expressed as frequencies and mean standard deviations, with Pearson's Chi square test used to calculate associations. Statistical significance was described as a P value of less than.05.

Results: A total of 40 children out of 3657 were diagnosed with osteomyelitis, with 17 (42.5%), 4 (10%), and 19 (47.5%) having acute, subacute, and chronic osteomyelitis, respectively. In this report, the prevalence of osteomyelitis was 1%. The children ranged in age from 6 months to 17 years old, with an average age of 8.1 4.23 years and an average stay of 19 14 days. The risk of infection was significantly correlated with low and middle socioeconomic status (P =.04). The tibia (47.5%) and femur (25%) were the most commonly involved bones. Staphylococcus aureus was found in 52.5 percent of cases, with the metaphysis being the most common site of infection. The genotype ratio of sickle cell heamoglobin to normal heamoglobin is 1:3. In 87.5 percent of the cases, the outcome was positive.

Conclusion: In our community, low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for paediatric osteomyelitis. Early detection and care are critical for a successful outcome.

Please see the link :- https://www.journaljammr.com/index.php/JAMMR/article/view/30694