Authors :
Dung Gabriel Davou; Nyam Nathaniel; Dr. C.D Luka; Dr. B. P Omoniwa
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 1 - January
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3IIfn9N
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/3I9LFxu
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7619661
Abstract :
Kurga or makia-kia is a disease of neonates and
infants, common to Plateau, Nassarawa and Kaduna
states of Nigeria, and said to be more pathological in male
children than female. Although the disease is well known
among the local population, unfortunately, medical
professionals have often denied the existence of such a
disease due to the absence of scientific data to back up
such a claim. The disease is characterized by
dermatological irregularities such as skin patches, often
around the nose and face, skin ulcers and desquamation,
greenish –yellowish mucoid stools, abdominal
discomforts, anal ulceration, constipation and neonatal
hemorrhoids. Most parents whose infants were affected
by the disease often claim that hospital prescriptions were
ineffective, thereby resolving to alternative medicines,
prominent amongst which is Acalypha wilkensiana or
Allium sativum. Thus, the aim of this study is the
‘Evaluation of the effect of co- administration of Acalypha
wilkensiana and Allium sativum on kurga or makia –kia
disease, provide some scientific basis to ascertain the
existence of the disease and to isolate the causative
pathogen. The study employed a combination of
qualitative and experimental research design.
Questionaires were used to sample out the opinions or
experiences of local women within some of the affected
areas in order to establish a theory pertaining the
diseases. Young albino wistar rats, weighing between 250
to 800g were divided into five groups, with each group,
made up of five young rats. Causative pathogens isolated
from stool samples collected from infants who have
shown 85% of the disease symptoms were used to induce
the disease into four of the affected groups , designated as
infected untreated group (IR) , infected treated group (
ITR1), which were administered 100mg/kg bw of the
extracts mixture, ITR-2 which were administered only
Acalypha wilkensiana aqueous mixture at a dose of
100mg/kg bw , and finally, ITR-3 , which were
administered aqueous extract of Allium sativum at
100mg/kg bw. Thereafter, stool and blood samples were
collected for analysis and documentation. The qualitative
approach revealed 89% of the study respondents,
affirming the existence of the disease, with only 11%
denying. 78% of the women admitted to have had
children who were affected by the disease, most of whom
were between 0 and 6 months old at the time. 94% of such
parents belief that hospital prescriptions were ineffective
against the disease, while 76% admitted to taking their
affected wards to herbal homes. Ninety percent (90%) of
the samples obtained from infants who have presented
with at least 80% of the disease symptoms revealed E.coli
isolates. It is thus safe to establish that kurga disease does
exist and is caused by E.coli, and could be managed
effectively by Acalypha wilkensiana and Allium sativum,
except in cases of co-infection with other pathogens with
no registered susceptibility.
Keywords :
Kurga, Makia-Kia.
Kurga or makia-kia is a disease of neonates and
infants, common to Plateau, Nassarawa and Kaduna
states of Nigeria, and said to be more pathological in male
children than female. Although the disease is well known
among the local population, unfortunately, medical
professionals have often denied the existence of such a
disease due to the absence of scientific data to back up
such a claim. The disease is characterized by
dermatological irregularities such as skin patches, often
around the nose and face, skin ulcers and desquamation,
greenish –yellowish mucoid stools, abdominal
discomforts, anal ulceration, constipation and neonatal
hemorrhoids. Most parents whose infants were affected
by the disease often claim that hospital prescriptions were
ineffective, thereby resolving to alternative medicines,
prominent amongst which is Acalypha wilkensiana or
Allium sativum. Thus, the aim of this study is the
‘Evaluation of the effect of co- administration of Acalypha
wilkensiana and Allium sativum on kurga or makia –kia
disease, provide some scientific basis to ascertain the
existence of the disease and to isolate the causative
pathogen. The study employed a combination of
qualitative and experimental research design.
Questionaires were used to sample out the opinions or
experiences of local women within some of the affected
areas in order to establish a theory pertaining the
diseases. Young albino wistar rats, weighing between 250
to 800g were divided into five groups, with each group,
made up of five young rats. Causative pathogens isolated
from stool samples collected from infants who have
shown 85% of the disease symptoms were used to induce
the disease into four of the affected groups , designated as
infected untreated group (IR) , infected treated group (
ITR1), which were administered 100mg/kg bw of the
extracts mixture, ITR-2 which were administered only
Acalypha wilkensiana aqueous mixture at a dose of
100mg/kg bw , and finally, ITR-3 , which were
administered aqueous extract of Allium sativum at
100mg/kg bw. Thereafter, stool and blood samples were
collected for analysis and documentation. The qualitative
approach revealed 89% of the study respondents,
affirming the existence of the disease, with only 11%
denying. 78% of the women admitted to have had
children who were affected by the disease, most of whom
were between 0 and 6 months old at the time. 94% of such
parents belief that hospital prescriptions were ineffective
against the disease, while 76% admitted to taking their
affected wards to herbal homes. Ninety percent (90%) of
the samples obtained from infants who have presented
with at least 80% of the disease symptoms revealed E.coli
isolates. It is thus safe to establish that kurga disease does
exist and is caused by E.coli, and could be managed
effectively by Acalypha wilkensiana and Allium sativum,
except in cases of co-infection with other pathogens with
no registered susceptibility.
Keywords :
Kurga, Makia-Kia.
