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This is a retrospective study of salivary gland tumor (SGT) specimens seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) over a 20-year period. It is aimed at determining the epidemiological pattern of these tumors. The materials for this study that consisted of available slides and paraffin-embedded blocks of all SGT specimens received during the study period were evaluated. Data on age, sex, anatomical sites and histologic diagnosis were obtained from the departmental surgical records. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0. SGTs are very rare, accounting for 0.32% of specimens received in the UBTH. The female to male ratio was 1:1.3, and the ratio of benign to malignant tumors was 1.8:1. The mean ages for benign and malignant tumors were 37.0 and 43.5 years, respectively. The peak age for benign SGTs was in the 3 ^rd decade, while malignant tumors showed a peak in the 6 ^th decade. The parotid gland was most commonly affected (57%). Overall, pleomorphic adenoma was the most common SGT seen, accounting for 53.2% of all the cases. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most frequently encountered malignant SGT (10.1%). The epidemiological pattern of SGT in the study populace is similar to those of other African-based studies but differ slightly from those of the Caucasians.

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Context: The children emergency room (CHER) in Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA) is one of the units o pediatrics department specialized in meeting the unique needs of children during medical emergencies. A description of the pattern and outcome of its admissions and factors that may contribute to their outcome will help proffer solutions in health care planning with regards emergency care in Abakaliki. Aims: To determine the pattern and outcome of CHER admissions at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA). Materials and Methods : A retrospective study of CHER admissions from 1 ^st of January to 31 ^st of December 2012. The Nurses book of statistics and case notes of patients in the CHER of FETHA Ebonyi state, a multi-specialty, children's referral, tertiary health hospital in Ebonyi State were used. Statistical analysis used: Descriptive analysis using SPSS version 20 (IBM statistics). Results: Over the period, 1022 patients were seen with a mean age of 1.9 + 2.6 years. Males were 58.8%, 41.2% were females. The most common diagnosis was diarrheal disease (36.1%) followed by malaria (16.2%) and pneumonias (11.7%). A mortality of 10% was recorded while 66.6% were discharged home, 3.8% discharged against medical advice while 19.6% were transferred to other units in the ward. Majority of deaths were in infancy (57.8%), more in males (69.6%), and from diarrheal disease (43.1%). Conclusions: There is a high mortality ratio of patients at CHER in our setting, attributable mainly to preventable causes like diarrhea. This raises concerns that parental education on health promoting and preventive measures may be low.

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Context: Pregnant women in resource-scarce countries are vulnerable to helminthic infestation. Aims and Objectives: to document the prevalence and pattern of soil-transmitted helminthic infestation among booked expectant mothers in this region. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study. Pregnant women who were counseled and consented to the study were randomly recruited at the booking clinic. They were interviewed and had their blood and stool specimens collected for laboratory analysis. Data was analysed using epi info statistical package version 3.4.1. Result: One hundred and thirty one (32.4%) stool samples out of the four hundred and four samples yielded positive results. The helminth species isolated included Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworm, Trichuris trichuria, Strongyloides stercoralis and Enterobius vermicularis. Ascaris lumbricoides (65.6%) was the most prevalent. Two women (1.5%) had mixed infections. Though the intensity of infection was generally low. Conclusion: Antenartal clinic attendees in Abakaliki have some degree of helminthic infestation, routine deworming during the prenatal period is advocated.

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Background: Skin the largest organ in the human body plays a vital role in one's health care. This anatomical barrier regulates the body temperature and interface with the environment for protecting the body against pathogens. The type of skin problems varies in different geographical areas, climate, economic and other factors including personal characteristics such as age and sex. Objectives: The main objective of this study is to find out the age and sex wise distribution of diseases of skin and subcutaneous tissue during the study period of 5 years. Materials and Methods: It is a hospital based retrospective study of 5 years. Hospital Medical records department follows the guidelines of WHO ICD 10 for the classification of diseases. The data were collected from the medical records and analyzed by using Microsoft excel. 'Z' test was applied for finding out the comparison of proportions. Result: Out of 4276 patients admitted in the hospital during the study period, 2518 (58.88%) were males and 1758 (41.12%) were females. 0-15 years have highest skin problems (31.7%) compared to other age groups. The age groups 15-30 years (P = 0.001), 45-60 years (P = 0.003) shows significant difference between males and females in skin diseases. Infective type is more common, it is 63.21% and non-infective type is 36.79%. Conclusion: The present study shows the preponderance of males and 0-15 year's age group. Infectious types are more common type compared to non-infective type. Infective types are higher in poor hygiene and insanitary conditions. Public awareness regarding personal and healthy living is necessary to reduce the burden of skin disease and for improved quality of life.

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Background: Emergency contraception (EC) has a definite place in family planning in most populations but physicians' attitude has been shown to greatly influence the utilization and spread of this method hence this study. Study Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge and attitude of doctors in Delta State towards emergency contraception as an impact factor in the spread of this globally accepted contraceptive method in our environment. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study using a structured questionnaire randomly administered to doctors while attending continuous medical education (CME) programs in the state. Results: Responses from 249 doctors merited analysis. A total of 192 respondents (77.1%) were males while 57 (22.9%) were females. Only 112 respondents (45%) correctly defined EC. Thirty-five doctors (14.1%) could not name any contraceptive methods that are suitable for EC. Ninety-three doctors (37.3%) could identify only one method, 76 doctors (30.5%) knew two, 42 doctors (16.9%) knew three and only 3 doctors (1.2%) knew four methods. A total of 187 respondents (75.1%) said EC is effective but only 133 (53.4%) thought that EC is safe. Only 123 doctors (49.4%) knew that ECs are applicable up to 72 hours after an unprotected sexual intercourse. Eighty doctors (32.1%) felt EC can be dispensed over-the-counter (OTC) without a physician's prescription while 129 (57.8%) would not support such a policy. Conclusion: Despite poor knowledge of the definition, applicable methods and other intricate details about ECs, doctors in the state were favorably disposed to the promotion and controlled use of EC and majority would not support religious bias against their use.

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Medication errors are hardly reported because of fear of retribution. A blame culture hinders reporting and jeopardizes patient safety. Root cause analysis following medication errors should be geared towards preventing recurrence rather than towards apportioning blame/punishment. We report a medication error and the outcomes of an informal root cause analysis.

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Aim/Objectives: This is to determine the actual cause of deaths of guests that walked in-to lodge in hotels in south eastern part of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A sectional study of all reported deaths in hotels in Abia state, South Eastern Nigeria was undertaken. A total of seven (7) bodies were reported within the period of 2010-2013. All victims affected were males with an age range of 45-58 years and a mean age of 48.9 years. A detailed autopsy of all bodies was done at different time when they inquest (from coroner) was served by the law enforcement as the results of autopsies/court sermons kept intact. Results: All the bodies were seen to have died of cardiovascular-related disorder despite the ploy of report on the youngest of all-35 years that was said to have died in the swimming pool; we found out that he was already dead by the time the body was recovered from the pool. Conclusion: This shows that sexual activity is associated with augmented adrenergic stimulation that increases sympathetic output which resulted in increased heart rate with ventricular ectopic/fibrillation thus resulting to myocardiac infarction.

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Background: Perinatal mortality is a major public health issue in Nigeria with alarming statistics that has been given inappropriate attention both in the past and now. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study of all cases of perinatal deaths managed at the Baptist Medical Centre between 1 ^st January 1994 and 31 ^st December, 2003. Information was obtained from birth and labor ward registers, patients and mothers case notes and analyzed. Statistical analyses were applicable was performed with the INSTAT statistical package version 3.36 from the Statistical services center of the University of Reading. Results: There were 5,153 deliveries and 485 perinatal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) was 94.1/1000 deliveries, still birth rate was 53/1000 deliveries and early neonatal deaths was 41.1/1000 deliveries. There was a definite trend in PNMR during the 10 year study period marked by a steady increase. The highest perinatal deaths occurred in those greater than 35 years and those with parity ≥5 (14.1%). There were more significant perinatal deaths among the unbooked (22.4%) and this was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Perinatal mortality decreases with increasing birth weight. Prematurity/low birth weight (LBW) (21.5%), multiple pregnancy (20.2%) and birth asphyxia (18.0%) were the chief fetal causes of perinatal mortality while obstructed labor (15.1%) and severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (4.1%) were the most common maternal causes of perinatal deaths. Conclusion: PNMR of 94.1/1000 was very high in this study. There was no change in the PNMR when this study period was compared to current findings in other centers. Unbooked status was a significant risk factor for perinatal mortality. The common causes of perinatal mortality were prematurity/LBW, multiple pregnancy, severe birth asphyxia, prolonged obstructed labor and severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. Government and all stake holders in health care delivery should ensure the provision of emergency obstetric care for all women at all levels to reduce perinatal deaths. Interventions should be aimed at preventing, antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum complications of babies.

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Background: Head injury is the leading cause of death worldwide. Measurement of outcome is essential in determining how the quality of care, the extent of injuries, and other variables affect the quality of lives in these patients. Aims and Objectives: To determine the general outcome of head injury in a young neurosurgical center and the effects of Glasgow Coma Scores at presentation on the outcome. Patients and Methods: It is a prospective descriptive study of patients who presented with head injury in a young neurosurgical center in tertiary hospital with poor infrastructural support from July 2010 to December 2012. Data were collected using structured proforma in accident and emergency, intensive care unit, wards and out-patient clinic. The data was analyzed with Environmental Performance Index (EPI) info 7 Software. Results: One hundred and seventy-seven patients were seen within the period. Males were 136 (76.8%). Those involved in road traffic accident were 130 (73.4%). There were 99 mild, 43 moderate, and 35 severe head injuries. The functional outcome was good in 89.3% (158) and the mortality was 10.1% (18). Glasgow Coma Scores at presentation significantly affected the outcome. Conclusion: The overall functional outcome in this study was good. Glasgow Coma Score at presentation influenced the outcome. Lack of infrastructural support should not discourage Neurosurgeons from starting neurosurgical center.

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Background: Pelviureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) is the functional or anatomic obstruction to urine flow from the renal pelvis to the proximal ureter. Objective: To determine the outcome of management of patients with late presentation of PUJO. Materials and Methods: We reviewed all the cases of upper urinary tract obstruction due to PUJ obstruction that presented in our unit between August 2003 and July 2010. Patients that were less than 1-year-old were excluded from the study. Results: Twenty-seven patients were seen. There were 15 (55.5%) males and 12 (45.5%) females. The right side alone was affected in 12 (44.4%) patients, 12 (44.4%) patients had left sided lesion while 3 (11.1%) patients had bilateral affectation. The mean age of the patients was 28.8 ± 18.9 (range 1-75 years). The mean period of delay before presentation was 11.7 years (range 1-40). The commonest presenting symptom was loin pain, which was reported in 20 (74.7%) patients. Seventeen patients had Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty, whereas simple nephrectomy was done in 10 patients who had a non-functioning kidney and three patients had conservative treatment. Conclusion: Delayed presentation or recognition of PUJO can result in severe upper urinary tract obstruction and renal damage which may result in renal loss.

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Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential erosive effects of an antihistamine containing syrup on the primary teeth. Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 teeth samples were selected after stereomicroscopic assessment Out of these, 15 samples in the control group were subjected only to pH cycling and the other 15 samples in the experimental group were subjected to pH cycling and antihistamine exposure for 5 days. At the end of the cycle, all these samples were evaluated using the Atomic Force Microscope for surface roughness values. Results: Independent t-test was used to evaluate the erosive effects of antihistamine containing drug on the primary surfaces. The mean difference in the surface roughness values between the control and experimental groups was found to be statistically highly significant. Conclusion: To conclude, the antihistamine containing syrup Piriton ^® was found to be erosive.

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Background: Patients who presented with infertility could have a structural deformity that can be responsible for it. Hysterosalphingography (HSG) is a special contrast examination that is used to assess the structural integrity of the cervical canal, uterine cavity and fallopian tubes. This study reviewed the pattern of HSG findings in patients with infertility in Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Descriptive retrospective study of patients who have been referred for HSG examination to our center. A total of 317 patients that had HSG examination done in our center from July 2009 to August 2012 were reviewed. The information retrieved from their records included biodata, indication for examination, summary of radiologist report. Data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Software SPSS version 18 for windows Results: A total of 317 patients were involved in the study, their ages ranged from 17 to 48 years. (mean 32.5 ± 5.5 years). The indications were primary infertility 143 (45.1%) and secondary 174 (54.9%) patients. Report showed that 139 (41.7%) patients had normal HSG findings and the remaining 178 (58.3%) had abnormalities in the cervical canal, uterine cavity or fallopian tubes. Tubal pathologies constituted the commonest finding 112 (33.6%) followed by uterine (25.5%) and cervical the least 45 (13.5%) patients. It was observed that majority of the lesions occurred in combination. Conclusion: HSG has a very high diagnostic yield in the management of infertility and should be routinely employed in patients being evaluated for infertility.

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