Abstract
Clinical determination of mild splenomegaly is notoriously inaccurate. To determine sonographically the spleen to left kidney ratio according to age and somatometric parameters among school age children in a tropical environment. A cross sectional study and convenience sampling were done on 947 apparently healthy subjects (496 boys and 451 girls) aged 6-17 years at the University of Nigeria Medical Centre, Nsukka. The sonographic examination was performed on Shenzhen DP-1100 machine with 3.5 and 5 MHz convex transducers. Spleen and left kidney lengths were obtained using appropriate techniques. The weight and height of the subjects were obtained with the participants wearing light weight street clothes without shoes. Measurement of spleen and left kidney lengths were reliable within and between sonographers. The spleen and left kidney lengths were not statistically different in boys and girls (p > 0.05). The spleen to left kidney ratio according to age and somatometric parameters is constant at about 1.13 with 1.3 as the upper limit of normal in the studied population. Sonography can be used to detect mild splenomegaly if the spleen to left kidney ratio is greater than 1.3 in the absence of renal disease among school age children.
Highlights
Malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever and other water borne parasitic infections are a major public health concern in Nigeria
In 2003, it was estimated that half of the Nigerian population has at least one episode of malaria annually, and majority of outpatient visits can be attributed to malaria.[1]
There are many conditions where organomegaly may be the only feature on ultrasonography like splenomegaly in malaria
Summary
Tuberculosis, typhoid fever and other water borne parasitic infections are a major public health concern in Nigeria. Objectives: To determine sonographically the spleen to left kidney ratio according to age and somatometric parameters among school age children in a tropical environment. Spleen and left kidney lengths were obtained using appropriate techniques. Results: Measurement of spleen and left kidney lengths were reliable within and between sonographers. The spleen to left kidney ratio according to age and somatometric parameters is constant at about 1.13 with 1.3 as the upper limit of normal in the studied population. Conclusion: Sonography can be used to detect mild splenomegaly if the spleen to left kidney ratio is greater than 1.3 in the absence of renal disease among school age children.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
