Diseases & Conditions

Lactose intolerance occurs when the body does not produce enough lactase, the enzyme needed to break down lactose, the natural sugar found in milk and dairy products, in the small intestine. Undigested lactose passes into the colon, where it is fermented by gut bacteria, producing gas and drawing water into the bowel, which causes the characteristic digestive symptoms. Lactase production naturally declines after infancy in most of the world's population, and this decline is especially common among people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent, meaning a large proportion of Nigerian adults have some degree of lactose intolerance, even though it may go unrecognised as the specific cause of their digestive symptoms. It is distinct from a milk protein allergy, which involves the immune system and can be far more serious.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the Arenavirus family. It is endemic in Nigeria and several other West African countries. The virus is transmitted to humans primarily through contact with the urine or faeces of infected multimammate rats (Mastomys natalensis), which are common household pests in Nigeria. Person-to-person transmission also occurs through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals. Nigeria reports thousands of suspected Lassa fever cases each year, with Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Borno, and Plateau states among the highest-burden areas. While approximately 80% of infections cause mild or no symptoms, severe disease can be fatal — Lassa fever accounts for significant healthcare worker deaths in affected areas.