International Research Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences


The prevalence and demographic pattern of childhood malignancies amongst patients in Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria 2007 – 2014


Merenu IA1

Diwe KC,1

Uwakwe KA1

Duru CB1

Iwu AC2

Emerole CO3

Chineke HN1

Ndukwu EU2

Oluoha RU2


Article Number: irjmbs.16.006  |   Pages: 29-33  |   Vol.1 (3), May 2016   |   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15739/irjmbs.16.006

 Received: March 12, 2016  Accepted: April 18, 2016  Published: May 26, 2016

Abstract

Background: Childhood cancers represent an important global public health problem. With effective immunization control of childhood infections in the developing world, non- infectious diseases such as malignancies have become increasingly important causes of childhood morbidity and mortality.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and demographic pattern of childhood malignancies amongst patients in Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria 2007 – 2014.
Methods: It was a descriptive cross sectional retrospective study using a pro forma as means of data abstraction. This study assessed the prevalence and demographic pattern of childhood malignancies among patients attending Imo State University Teaching Hospital Nigeria 2007 – 2014.
Results: A total number of 14,993 children were seen at the hospital between 2007- 2014; of these,  64 were diagnosed with malignancies, giving a prevalence rate of 0.43%. Most of the cases of malignancies were seen in children 0- 4 years of age (37.5%). Malignancies were more in males than females (F:M  ratio of 1:1.6). Diagnosis of malignancy were by both laboratory and clinical methods. Amongst the children, Burkitt’s Lymphoma was the most common malignancy accounting for 40.6% of all malignancies. On the other hand Hepatoblastoma was the least diagnosed (1.6%).
Conclusion and recommendations: This study shows a higher prevalence of childhood malignancy in children  0- 4 years of age, in males, rural dwellers  and  the commonest malignancy was burkitt’s lymphoma. Efforts should be made by caregivers to identify the disease in time for early treatment because most of these malignancies, especially Brukitt’s Lymphoma respond well to aggressive chemotherapy when started early.

Keywords: childhood, malignancies, neoplasm, Burkitts lymphoma, Imo, Nigeria

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