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Aim and Objective: This study aimed to describe the point-of-admission serum electrolyte profile of children with acute diarrhoea and to determine the associated factors. Materials and Methods: The serum electrolyte at admission, bio data, clinical features and outcome of children aged 29 days to 15 years with primary diagnosis of acute diarrhoea, seen between January 1st, and December 31st, 2016 in the department of Paediatrics, UDUTH, Sokoto, were retrospectively analysed. Results: Of the total of 154 subjects, 101(65.6%) were males giving a M: F ratio of 1.9: 1. Majority, 140(91.0%) were ? 36 months. Twenty four (15.6%), 105(68.2%), 14(9.1%) were mildly, moderately and severely dehydrated respectively while 11(7.1%) were not dehydrated. Hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia and metabolic acidosis occurred in 100(64.9%), 67(43.5%) and 21(13.6%) subjects, respectively. There were 10(6.5%) deaths. Only potassium level was significantly affected by degree of dehydration (p = 0.02). Duration of diarrhoea greater or equal to 3 days and greater or equal to 7 days before presentation was significantly associated with metabolic acidosis and hypokalaemia (p= 0.03 and 0.001) respectively. Diarrhoea duration more than 3 days and under nutrition were associated with death. Conclusion: The degree of dehydration appears to be a good predictor of the occurrence of hypokalaemia. Diarrhoea duration is a risk factor for metabolic acidosis, hypokalaemia and death. We recommend intensified community health education on appropriate home treatment and prompt hospital presentation once diarrhoea duration is more than three days, to prevent deleterious diarrhoea consequences.

Aim and Objective: This study aimed to describe the point-of-admission serum electrolyte profile of children with acute diarrhoea and to determine the associated factors. Materials and Methods: The serum electrolyte at admission, bio data, clinical features and outcome of children aged 29 days to 15 years with primary diagnosis of acute diarrhoea, seen between January 1st, and December 31st, 2016 in the department of Paediatrics, UDUTH, Sokoto, were retrospectively analysed. Results: Of the total of 154 subjects, 101(65.6%) were males giving a M: F ratio of 1.9: 1. Majority, 140(91.0%) were ? 36 months. Twenty four (15.6%), 105(68.2%), 14(9.1%) were mildly, moderately and severely dehydrated respectively while 11(7.1%) were not dehydrated. Hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia and metabolic acidosis occurred in 100(64.9%), 67(43.5%) and 21(13.6%) subjects, respectively. There were 10(6.5%) deaths. Only potassium level was significantly affected by degree of dehydration (p = 0.02). Duration of diarrhoea greater or equal to 3 days and greater or equal to 7 days before presentation was significantly associated with metabolic acidosis and hypokalaemia (p= 0.03 and 0.001) respectively. Diarrhoea duration more than 3 days and under nutrition were associated with death. Conclusion: The degree of dehydration appears to be a good predictor of the occurrence of hypokalaemia. Diarrhoea duration is a risk factor for metabolic acidosis, hypokalaemia and death. We recommend intensified community health education on appropriate home treatment and prompt hospital presentation once diarrhoea duration is more than three days, to prevent deleterious diarrhoea consequences.

Introduction: Childhood allergic diseases are common globally, with 250 million children affected. Over 25% of the world's population suffers from allergic diseases which include asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, conjunctivitis and drug reactions. Asthma and allergic co-morbidities affect quality of life of children and also constitute a significant burden to their parents. Objectives: To determine the allergic co-morbidities associated with childhood asthma in Sokoto and to assess relationship between asthma severity with presence of allergic co-morbidities. Methods: Descriptive, prospective cross sectional study of asthmatic children attending the Pulmonology and Allergy clinic of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto over a 1-year period.  Relevant information was obtained using a questionnaire and level of significance was set at p ? 0.05. Results: Of the 78 children enrolled, 45(57.7%) were males, 45(57.7%) were under-fives while 44(56.4%) belonged to the high socio-economic class (SEC). Allergic co-morbidities were seen in 67(85.9%); with allergic rhinitis being the commonest in 84.6%.   No significant association was observed between asthma severity and presence of allergic co-morbidities (Fischer