Table 1 Demographic and clinical features at disease presentation

Age, (mean ± SD years) (13.4 ± 3.2)

Duration of symptom (mean ± SD months) (18.0 ± 17.9)

Duration of disease, (mean ± SD years) (4.5 ± 2.8)

Sex

 Female

89

73.6

 Male

32

26.4

Comorbidity

 Sickle cell disease

4

3.3

 Asthma

2

1.7

 Peptic ulcer

1

0.8

 None

114

94.2

Hepatitis

 B - tested Positive

731

60.3

 C– tested Positive

710

58.7

Signs and symptoms

 Fatigue

42

34.7

 Fever

55

45.5

 Anorexia

21

17.4

 Weight loss

49

40.5

 Morning stiffness

19

15.7

 Rash

50

41.3

 Hair loss

21

17.4

 Oral ulcers

24

19.8

 Photosensitivity

15

12.4

 Eye pain

10

8.2

 Joint pains and joint swelling

121

100.00

 Abdominal pain

16

13.2

 Chest pain

19

15.7

 Cough

17

14.0

 Oedema

14

11.6

 Muscle weakness

20

16.5

 Paralysis

6

5.0