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Momodou
Denmark
11751 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Mar 2007 : 13:14:02
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12 YEAR OLD GIRL NEEDS HELP
By Amie Sanneh
A twelve year old girl, Ann Marie, residing in Ebo Town, has difficulty in breathing since early infancy. She has not really been well all this period. Ann Marie is said to be suffering from chronic respiratory difficulty, easy fatigability, recurrent chest infections, growth failure, occasional squatting and sudden syncopal episodes. A medical report from the Director of Health Services confirmed these complications. Young Ann Marie is said to have been admitted and managed for these conditions at the Serrekunda Health Centre on several occasions.
She was seen at the Paediatric Cardiology Clinic of the RVTH" undernourished with facial puttiness, a grade III digital clubbing with no pedal oedema or cyanosis. The percordium was hyperactive, the apex beat was displaced to the 6th left intercostal space, there was an increased area of cardiac dullness and there was a grade IV/VI systolic murmur accompanied by a thrill at the mitral area. The other systematic examinations were unremarkable" stated the medical report.
Given her deteriorating clinical condition, a medical board has been convened to evaluate her current state of health. Today the Medical board on Ann Marie has seen her undernourished, asthenic and shunted.
Her weight is 15 kg, which is about 40 per cent of that expected for her age. Ann Marie's height is 120cm being much below the 3rd centile for her age. She is ill looking, distressed and unhappy. She has a grade III digital clubbing, with a puffy face, with no pedal or sacral oedema; she is not clinically pale or cyanosed. The pulse rate of Ann Marie is 121 beats per minute, which is regular, of a good volume and non-collapsing; there is no radio radial or radio-femoral delay. The apex beat is at the 6th left intercostal space at the anterior axillary line.
On the basis of the findings on Ann Marie's overall evaluation, it is likely that she has a congenital structural cardiac defect including a mitral stenosis with possibly other associated cardiac defects.
Given that extended facilities for further cardiovascular evaluation, intervention paediatric cardiac reconstructive surgery are not readily available within the sub-region.
Thus the medical board on Ann Marie recommends that she should proceed overseas for a more extended evaluation such as cardiac catherization, etc, rexue cardiac reconstructive surgery and other more definitive management as soon as possible to prevent progression to irreversible complications and sudden death.
Due to the expense and cost involve in the treatment of young Ann Marie, the parents are calling on the general public to come to their aid. Any individual or institutions who wish to assist this young girl can contact Foroyaa.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 026/2007, 5-6 March, 2007
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