The complexities of infant and child health management especially in a developing country like Nigeria was dissected at a recent scientific forum held at Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua Centre, Abuja.
Exploring the theme: Promoting Sound Paediatric care for Neonates, Nutrition and Skin Health, the experts identified three main areas of infant and child health-care to include nutrition, which starts with exclusive breastfeeding for proper developmental milestones; skincare on medical basis to ensure infant delicate skin is nurtured to guarantee protection of the internal organs as well as protective and barrier functions for effective performance of skin as excretory system and outpost for immune surveillance. The third area is neonatal resuscitation which helps to rescue endangered infants and neonates suffering from Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS/Hyaline Membrane Disease).
The scientific forum organized by Thompson & Grace Pharmaceuticals Limited, exclusive distributor of Sebamed Medical Skin Care Products from Germany, Humana Infant Nutrition Products from Germany, and BLES from Canada had Philip Abiodun, a Professor, Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Nutritionist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, (UBTH) Benin-City as Chairman.
Delivering a paper on Nutritional Management of Childhood Cholestasis, the Role of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT), Abiodun said Cholestasis occurs due to the retention of all substances in the blood, which should normally be excreted in the bile, noting that this results in increase in serum bile acids. He said the accumulation of toxic bile salt in the liver leads to liver damages, further leading to obstruction of bile flow and absence of bile acids in the intestinal lumen. Abiodun identified “Biliary Atresia” as the most common cause among other causes of Cholestasis.
According to him, clinical presentations of Cholestasis include jaundice, greenish skin, pale faecal colour and offensive odours, etc. He said though nutrition is very important in managing Cholestasis, the Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) are better because they are of shorter chain length and largely short-circuit the steps necessary for dietary fat. Among other conclusions, Abiodun said it is advisable to increase, rather than decrease fat intake in liver patients with Cholestasis and chronic liver diseases.
Similarly, Chief Consultant Pediatrician/Neonatologist, National Hospital Abuja, Mariya Mukhtar-Yola said adequate nutrition, normal hormonal actions, emotional stability, secured family environment among others are key requirements for normal human growth. She advocates for exclusive breastfeeding for new born babies in the first six months and continue to 12 to 24 months with other foods. But where the mother is unable to breastfeed, they should use approved commercial infant formula. Folasade Ewarts who presented a paper on Humana Nutrition Products, A Panacea for Healthy Child Nutrition identified mother’s milk as the best food for infants, but said where it is impossible to feed the children with mother’s milk as a result of lack of enough milk, illness or death, a credible alternative should be used. She said Humana Infant Formula 1 is good alternative to breast milk where any of the above listed factors occur to deny the baby the mother’s milk. According to Ewarts, Humana Infant Formula 1 contains MCTs and does not contain gluten which makes food hard for infants to digest.
Obumneke Genevieve Kalu, Medical Director, Thompson & Grace Pharmaceuticals Limited, in her presentation on Neonatal Resuscitation, submitted that improved techniques and potent surfactants such as Bovine Lipid Extract Surfactant (BLES) will eliminate avoidable infant mortality, particularly the neonates at birth. She further submitted that the prevalence and high mortality rate of the new born and infants emanating from Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS/Hyaline Membrane Disease) are a known fact to Neonatologists. This undisputed fact shows that much work need to be done to improve chances of survival of the neonates and premature babies often endangered with Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS/Hyaline Membrane Disease).
She however, informed fellow healthcare givers and medical scientists that her company has some cheering news for the medical community with the presence of BLES in Nigerian market. BLES is indicated for rescue treatment of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS/Hyaline Membrane Disease). BLES is an all natural lavaged product manufactured by BLES Chemicals Inc., Canada and exclusively distributed and marketed in Nigeria and West Africa by Thompson & Grace Pharmaceuticals Limited.
Olanrewaju Falodun, Senior Consultant Physician / Dermatologist at the National Hospital Abuja who spoke on Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Children, said that atopic dermatitis which he describes as a group of disorder that include eczema, asthma and allergic rhinitis affects approximately 5 – 20 % of children worldwide. Adults are not spared either as people of ages from 12 years have also presented with the disease.
He identified dry skin and too much bathing without moisturizers as trigger factors of atopic dermatitis. Treatment includes the use of mild non alkaline soaps; avoiding frequent hand washing and use of lotions within three minutes of leaving the bath. The Sebamed medicinal skin care product range has worked to maintain the required acid mantle of the skin at pH5.5 to leave the skin well moisturized, supple and reduce the effect of aging.
Commenting on the Scientific Forum on Infant and Child Health, which his organisation sponsored, Group Managing Director, Thompson & Grace Pharmaceuticals Limited, Isaac Thompson Amos said: “We are committed to providing solutions to managing common health challenges whether it is skin scare or infant and child nutrition through our product ranges such as Humana for child nutrition, BLES for rescue treatment of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS/Hyaline Membrane Disease) and Sebamed skin-care products for the treatment of infant and children skin diseases as well as caring for delicate skin of infants from the very first day.
