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Background: Malaria has remained a major cause of morbidity and mortality among the under-five children in Nigeria. Prompt and accurate diagnosis of malaria is necessary in controlling this high burden and preventing unnecessary use of anti-malarial drugs. Malaria rapid diagnostic test (MRDT) offers the hope of achieving this goal. However, the performance of these kits among the most vulnerable age group to malaria is inadequate., Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 433 out-patients, aged <5 years with fever or history of fever were enrolled. Each candidate was tested for malaria parasitaemia using ACON; malaria pf. Thick and thin films were also prepared from the same finger prick blood for each candidate., Result: Malaria rapid diagnostic test had sensitivity of 8.3%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 100% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 74%. The sensitivity of MRDT increased with increasing age. This effect of age on sensitivity was statistically significant (P = 0.007). Similarly parasite density had significant effect on the sensitivity of MRDT (P = <0.001)., Conclusion: Histidine-rich protein-2 based MRDT is not a reliable mean of diagnosing malaria in the under-five age children with acute uncomplicated malaria.

One hundred and forty five children aged 1 month to sixty months who had fever at presentation to the paediatric department of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital were investigated for urinary tract infection in this prospective study from November 2004 to October 2005. Prevalence of urinary tract infection was found to be 13.7 per cent. While the female sex and malnutrition were found to be significantly associated with urinary tract infection, height of temperature and symptoms referable to urinary system were not. Ninety per cent of the isolates were Gram negative; mainly coliform Spp, the remaining 10 per cent were due to staphylococcus aureus. Gentamicin was still found to be effective against most of the urinary pathogens. However, clavulinic acid potentiated amoxicillin, ampicillin, nalidixic acid and cotrimoxazole were found to be poorly effective. We therefore conclude that all ill children especially younger ones presenting with fever be screened for urinary tract infection. A regular surveillance of urinary tract infection pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern is recommended.