Abstract
Background: Esophageal Atresia and Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula (EA/TEF) occurs sporadically and its eti-ology is poorly understood. We observed six cases of EA/TEF within three weeks of October 2007 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Nigeria. Aims: To analyze the monthly trends of presentation of EA/TEF at the LUTH from 2002-7, test the hypothesis that the October figures were not due to chance and correlate data with known local disease patterns. Setting: Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Patients, Materials, Method: A retrospective analysis of all EA/TEFs managed at the LUTH within stated period. Results: 25 babies with EA/TEF presented over the period. 10 (40%) were seen in the month of Oc-tober, 5 (20%) occurred in May while the rest were spread over the rest of the months. Chi-square analysis confirmed that the EA/TEF cases occurred significantly more frequently in October (P < 0.001) and this ob-servation was unlikely due to chance. Conclusions: There seems to be a seasonal variation in the occurrence of EA/TEF in Lagos, with a significantly higher frequency in the month of October. 96% of mothers of ba-bies with EA/TEF lived in low socioeconomic parts of Lagos. This study highlights the possibility of local viral etiology of EA/TEF.
Highlights
There seems to be a seasonal variation in the occurrence of Esophageal Atresia and Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula (EA/TEF) in Lagos, with a significantly higher frequency in the month of October. 96% of mothers of babies with EA/TEF lived in low socioeconomic parts of Lagos
This study highlights the possibility of local viral etiology of EA/TEF
The etiology of oesophageal atresia with tracheo-esophageal fistula (EA/TEF) has been a subject of intensive investigations over the years but little if anything is known about specific causative agents in humans [1]
Summary
The etiology of oesophageal atresia with tracheo-esophageal fistula (EA/TEF) has been a subject of intensive investigations over the years but little if anything is known about specific causative agents in humans [1]. We sought to analyze the trend and test the hypothesis that the October 2007 figures were not due to chance and correlate our data with known local disease patterns. Records of all cases of esophageal atresia managed by the Pediatric Surgical Unit at the LUTH between January 2002 and December 2007 were retrospectively compiled and analyzed for date of presentation, age at presentation, maternal age, tribe, maternal socio-economic locale, occupation, maternal last menstrual period, history of occupational exposure to chemical teratogens, and firsttrimester maternal illness. Be due to chance, and the occurrence of a seasonal variation in the occurrence of EA/TEF was real
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