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Cholecystitis in children in Zaria, Nigeria
1Department of Surgery, Ahmadu Bello University Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. ameh@abu.edu.ng
Insights
Reports on childhood cholecystitis in tropical Africa are rare. This study highlights that acalculous cholecystitis is common in Nigerian children and often presents with severe complications, necessitating increased awareness for early diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Public Health
Background:
- Limited data exists on childhood cholecystitis in tropical Africa.
- Cholecystitis is a significant condition in pediatric populations globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on cases of cholecystitis in children in Zaria, northern Nigeria.
- To highlight the clinical presentation, complications, and management of pediatric cholecystitis in this region.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series of seven children diagnosed with cholecystitis over a 10-year period.
- Review of clinical records, diagnostic findings, and surgical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Six of seven children had acalculous cholecystitis; one had calculous cholecystitis with choledocholithiasis.
- Five patients presented with complications: three with perforation, one with gangrene, and one with empyema.
- Pre-operative diagnosis was achieved in only three cases; cholecystectomy was performed safely in all.
Conclusions:
- Childhood cholecystitis in this region is often acalculous and associated with severe complications.
- Increased awareness and a high index of suspicion are crucial for early diagnosis and timely intervention to prevent life-threatening outcomes.
Abstract:
Much has been published on cholecystitis in childhood from Europe and North America but reports from tropical Africa are few. This is a report of seven children with cholecystitis seen over a 10-year period in Zaria, northern Nigeria. Six of the children had acalculous cholecystitis but a predisposing condition (adenomatous hyperplasia) was identifiable in only one. Five presented with complications (perforation, three; gangrene, one; empyema, one). One child without haemolytic disease had calculous cholecystitis and choledocholithiasis. Pre-operative diagnosis of cholecystitis was made in only three cases. Cholecystectomy, two as interval procedures, was safely performed in all patients. In environments such as ours, where cholecystitis in childhood is uncommon, awareness and a high index of suspicion are necessary for early diagnosis and prompt treatment in order to avoid potentially life-threatening complications.