Clinical presentation and outcome of diphtheria in health facility in North-East Nigeria

Abstract Background Frequent outbreak of diphtheria occurs in Nigeria and some developing nations due to poverty, poor environmental sanitation, and vaccination coverage. Aim To determine the clinical presentation and outcome of diphtheria in cases admitted in a Yobe Specialist Hospital Potiskum, Yo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ballah Akawu Denue, Rakiya Mohammed Ngoshe, Habu Abdul, Cecilia Balla Akawu, Mohammad Lawan Gana, Anas Yusuf Hussaini, Ajayi Babajide Bamidele
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-11-01
Series:The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43162-024-00372-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Background Frequent outbreak of diphtheria occurs in Nigeria and some developing nations due to poverty, poor environmental sanitation, and vaccination coverage. Aim To determine the clinical presentation and outcome of diphtheria in cases admitted in a Yobe Specialist Hospital Potiskum, Yobe State, North-East Nigeria. Methods This is an observational study involving consecutive cases of diphtheria admitted in diphtheria treatment unit (DTU) in the hospital. Cases were admitted from 27th May to 30th October 2023. Results A total of 640 patients were admitted with median age of 9 (1–62), with males constituting 350 (54.6%). Only 9 (1)% of patients had vaccination. Common clinical features included pseudomembrane (90.7%), fever (79.7%), neck pain (78.3%), gross cervical lymphadenopathy (GCL; 69.1%), and sore throat (44.2%). The case fatality rate was 7%, higher in < 5 years (8.4%) than 5–14 years (7.4%) and ≥ 15 years (2.2%) respectively. Independent risk for fatality included delay in presentation (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.10, 1.42], p < 0.001), vomiting (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI [1.36, 9.6], p = 0.01), bleeding from orifices (AOR = 3.76, 95% CI [5.76, 6.98], p < 0.001), blood transfusion (AOR = 8.12, 95% CI [3.34, 19.74], p < 0.001), and diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) administration (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI [1.37, 7.25], p = 0.07). Conclusion Clinical presentation was consistent with diphtheria. Risk of fatality included vomiting, bleeding from orifices, anemia necessitating blood transfusion, delay in presentation, and DAT administration.
ISSN:2090-9098