Hauwa M., 10

Hauwa Muhammadu is a seven year old girl from a farming family in Birniwa, Jigawa State. She was previously healthy, active, and attending primary school. She lives in a home with limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities. Hauwa is the second of four children and was described as playful with a good appetite before this illness began. Approximately four weeks before coming to our clinic on 19th May, Hauwa developed recurrent episodes of bloody diarrhea, occurring four to six times daily. She also complained of crampy lower abdominal pain, a constant feeling of needing to pass stool, and fatigue. Her parents noticed she was eating less and losing weight. She had no fever or vomiting. The symptoms persisted despite oral antidiarrheal medications from a local pharmacy. Examination confirmed diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis (Inflammatory bowel disease).

Hauwa was diagnosed with mild-to-moderate left-sided ulcerative colitis at Adari Medical Clinic after presenting with paleness, fatigue, and left lower abdominal tenderness. While stool cultures were negative and required no surgery or hospital admission, laboratory tests confirmed mild anemia, elevated C-reactive protein, and high fecal calprotectin levels. Dr Zainab wrote that, With prompt outpatient medical therapy including mesalazine, a tapering course of prednisolone, iron supplements, and probiotics, Hauwa’s prognosis is good for achieving clinical remission without long term intestinal damage. Her fever and diarrhea should gradually improve within one to two weeks. However, if left untreated, ulcerative colitis can progress to severe anemia, intestinal perforation, toxic megacolon, growth failure, or colorectal cancer in later life.