A descriptive characterization of acute flaccid paralysis in Nigeria, 2015

Introduction : World Health Organization defines Acute Flaccid Paralysis(AFP) as a syndrome characterized by sudden and rapid weakness of the extremities. The outbreak of wild polio virusin Borno State in August, 2016, necessitated intensive responses in the northern parts of Nigeria with several Polio Immunization Plus Days activities. This study aimed at descriptively characterization of AFP in Nigeria, with a view of identifying the population at risk of AFP, to assess the health seeking behavior of patients with AFP and to determine the pattern of paralysis. Methods : we did a retrospective descriptive data analysis of AFP cases in Nigeria from January to December, 2015. We obtained data from National Primary HealthCare Development Agency. The cases were analyzed descriptively in terms of person, place and time using Epi info 7. For person, we analyzed in terms of age, gender, vaccination status and pattern of paralysis. Place was analyzed in terms of location and specific prevalence. For time we plotted a bar chartof proportion of cases by month of the year to note which month had the most cases. Results : total AFP was 13,980 and 7,894 (56.47%) were males. The mean age of cases was 3 years .Less than 5 years had the highest number of AFP cases 5933 (77.30%). Kano State recorded the highest number of AFP cases 1,338 (9.98%) and prevalence of 60 per 100, 000 population .The highest number of cases was seen in the month of June. Most patients, 8,080 (58.12%) sought care from home. 60 (0.43%) cases had not received any dose of oral polio vaccinewhile 12,228 (87.5%) received at least four doses of oral polio vaccines. Left leg was most affected 8,783 (63%). 13,337 (95.4%) had complete paralysisafter three days. A total of 10,233 (73.2%) cases had asymmetrical paralysisand those with sudden flaccid paralysiswere 13,807 (98.8%). Conclusion : no wild polio viruswas isolated as the vaccination status of cases was good. Most cases had asymmetrical paralysisand sought care at home. Health promotion was instituted to encourage patients to seek care in health clinics to improve outcome.