• Sadoh E Wilson, Uzodimma C Chinyere, and Daniels Queennette.
• Department of Child Health University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin Nigeria.
• Afr Health Sci. 2014 Sep 1; 14 (3): 609616609-16.

IntroductionAcquired heart diseases (AHD) are not uncommon in children. The current multi-center study aims to provide a more representative data of AHD in Nigeria.MethodsOver 42 months, children referred for echocardiographic evaluation who had confirmed AHD in three centers in Nigeria were recruited. The data was collected on biodata and types of AHD.ResultsThere were 116 children with 132 cases of AHD, with a mean age of 6.7 ± 5.7 years. The males were 63(54.3%). Myocarditis/ dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) 38(28.8%) was the commonest AHD followed by pericarditis 34 (25.8%), rheumatic heart disease (RHD) 23 (17.4%) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 18(13.6%). Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) 3(2.3%) was uncommon.ConclusionNigerian children face a quadruped of AHD namely, myocarditis, DCM, pericardial disease and RHD. As other types of AHD other than RHD are becoming prevalent, there is need to improve the scope of intervention facilities in the country to meet with the demands of the growing afflictions.

27 keywords...

hide…