Pediatrics & Therapeutics
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0665
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0665
+44 1478 350008
Peter O Ebigbo, Hildegard M Ebigbo, Chimezie L Elekwachi, Felix Nweze, Amara N Nwogwugwu and Nneka Okeke
University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Pediat Therapeut
Africa in terms of family has been segmented into unclear and polygamous family types with some still clinging to old traditional system, some others having been westernized and the bulk of the people in transition of the mixed type. However, the family extended or unclear still remains under clans, towns, states, tribes etc. At the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, the Child Abuse and Neglect Monitoring Centres of the African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect Nigeria Chapter and at the Therapeutic day Care Centre and Boarding School Abakpa Enugu (TDCC) for Special needs of children, families are involved in the care of the ill, disturbed and or violated child. The paper presents several cases drawn from the above institutions to illustrate the importance of family involvement in paediatric care in Nigeria. A case is presented as illustration. A 12 year old epileptic child with intellectual impairment at the Therapeutic Day Care Centre and Boarding School Enugu was placed on 400 mg Tegretol by her paediatrician. Unknown to the school, the father in apparent denial of her daughter�s disability reduced her dosage to 200 mg taken in the mornings. One day, she gave two big bites to a 12 year old quiet autistic child (female). She repeated the bite on the same girl after 2 weeks. School authorities became suspicious and invited family members. The father boasted, he had reduced the dosage to 200 mg and was proud the child had no more seizures. The unprovoked bites were pointed out to the father as possible sequelae of her low Tegretol dosage and family members were referred back to their paediatrician.
Email: peterebigbo@yahoo.com