Health
Uncontrolled diabetes in pregnancy may lead to cataracts in children – Ophthalmologists
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By Francesca Hangeior
Contrary to the belief that cataracts mainly occur in older adults, eye specialists say babies and children could be born with it or develop the eye disease due to certain health conditions.
The ophthalmologists said pregnant women with uncontrolled diabetes and other metabolic diseases might give birth to babies with cataracts, though there were other causes of congenital cataracts in children.
The experts said it was important for pregnant women to have good antenatal care to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications that could affect the eyes of their babies when they are born.
Besides diabetes in pregnancy, the ophthalmologists also disclosed that certain infections in pregnancy like rubella (German measles) can lead to a woman giving birth to a child with cataracts while advising teenage girls to go for rubella vaccination.
They noted that cataracts in children could either be by birth (congenital) or acquired after birth, warning that an injury to the eye could cause cataracts in children.
However, the physicians who spoke during an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise, said not all cataracts in babies and children had a known cause.
The World Health Organisation says cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that normally affects vision, stressing that cataract is the most common cause of blindness and visual impairment often related to aging.
The global body, however, said, “Occasionally children are born with the condition, or a cataract may develop following an eye injury, or as a result of inflammation or other diseases, such glaucoma and diabetes. Sometimes, the development of cataracts is linked to steroid use or it may develop after exposure to some types of radiation.”
Speaking with our correspondent, a paediatric ophthalmologist, Dr. Halima Alimi, also disclosed that some cataracts in children could also be hereditary, assuring that children with significant cataracts could be effectively treated by surgery.
The eye expert, who is the Executive Director of Restore Foundation for Child Sight, a non-government organisation that advocates for improved eye care for children, said parents should ensure that their babies go for routine eye checks after six months of birth to detect the condition early before it negatively impacts on the overall growth and development of the child.
Giving insight into why children also suffer from cataracts like older people, Alimi explained, “Why children suffer cataracts is because of the variety of things that potentially upset the clarity of the lens of a child’s eye and so we have said that it can be congenital or acquired.
“Part of the congenital causes of cataracts are children whose mothers suffer certain infections while they are pregnant with them which we call intrauterine infections. Most of them are viruses and so there are a host of diseases that pregnant mothers can have. Top on the list is something called rubella. It is a German measles.
“It is a sort of measles but a little bit different from the popular measles that is known. It is caused by the rubella virus. So when a pregnant woman is affected by German measles, the virus will go ahead to cross the placenta and infect the baby depending on the stage of the pregnancy at which it infects the baby.
“If it is in the early stage of the pregnancy when the eyes are still developing, it can cause congenital cataracts as well as other problems that the child may be born with.
“This is one of the most common causes of infective cataracts in children born with it. And then also children whose mothers have certain metabolic diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes, the children themselves if they are born diabetic and other metabolic diseases, can cause cataracts as well. “
According to an international non-governmental organisation that works with partners in developing countries to treat and prevent avoidable blindness, Sightsavers, cataracts are one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness in children.
Alimi also pointed out that there are a variety of other causes of cataracts in children that are not congenital but are acquired.
“Things like injury. We all know that children can suffer eye injury from moderate to severe. So if an injury is severe enough it can result in cataracts just by having an injury. Injury is the cause of cataracts occurring in one eye in children. Inflammation inside the eye can lead to cataracts in children if not handled effectively. That is why we discourage self-medication”, she said.
The ophthalmologist also said genetically inherited diseases and indiscriminate use of steroids can cause cataracts in children.
On signs of cataracts in children, Alimi identified delayed milestones such as sitting, social smile, walking, and standing as some of the early indications, urging patients to establish the habits of routine and annual eye checks for their children..
According to her, squinting during bright light, a white dot within the eye, abnormal movement of the eye, not focusing when looking, and squinting the eyelids when there is sunlight are also some of the signs of cataracts i.n children
Commenting on the treatment, the eye specialist said cataracts when they are significant are treated surgically, adding also that vision rehabilitation for the children after the surgery will enable them know how to use their spectacles and how to maintain good eyesight.
She said cataracts in children could be prevented through immunisation in pregnancy, optimal antenatal care, prevention of injury, avoidance of drug abuse, vaccination of teenage girls against rubella.
A Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Dr. Folasade Fasina, told PUNCH Healthwise that cataract is the most common cause of blindness in Nigeria.
The ophthalmologist disclosed that cataract is treated by the removal of the cloudy lens, adding that this is replaced with a clear artificial lens.
She stressed that the removal can only be done through surgery.
Fasina explained, “There are various methods of removal but all are surgical.
“Diagnosis is made when a doctor, an eye specialist, examines and carries out some tests on a patient complaining of blurred vision.
“Cataract is treated by an ophthalmologist who performs surgery on the eye. When the cataract is still small, vision can be improved with prescribed glasses, but the definitive treatment is surgery.”
In a 2021 study published in ScienceDaily, researchers from Denmark found that mothers who have diabetes before or during their pregnancy are more likely to have children who go on to develop eye problems.
The researchers analysed the associations between maternal diabetes before or during pregnancy and the risk of high refractive error, conditions in which there is a failure of the eye to properly focus images on the retina.
They advise that early screening for eye disorders in the children of mothers with diabetes may play an important role in maintaining good eyesight health.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured Nigerians that there was no confirmed case of Hantavirus in the country despite reports of an ongoing cluster linked to cruise ship travel involving multiple countries.
In a public health advisory on Friday, the Director-General Jide Idris, said the agency was aware of recent reports of an ongoing Hantavirus cluster linked to a cruise ship travel involving multiple countries.
He explained that the development involved a limited number of confirmed and suspected cases associated with the cruise ship, with investigations and contact tracing ongoing, adding that current reports indicate that the risk to the general public remains low.
The NCDC boss described Hantaviruses as a group of viruses primarily carried by rodents, noting that humans could become infected through contact with infected rodents or exposure to their urine, droppings, saliva or contaminated dust particles.
According to him, symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache and gastrointestinal symptoms, while severe cases could result in breathing difficulties and respiratory complications.
Idris stated that the current cluster had been linked to the Andes virus strain, “for which limited human-to-human transmission has previously been documented, particularly through close contact.”
Speaking of the implication for Nigeria, he said, “At this time, there is no evidence of Hantavirus cases in Nigeria. NCDC is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining surveillance for emerging infectious diseases.”
He advised Nigerians to remain vigilant and sustain preventive measures aimed at reducing exposure to rodents and maintaining proper hygiene.
“The preventive measures are similar to those recommended for other zoonotic diseases we have managed in the country and include maintaining clean environments and preventing rodent infestation, storing food properly and disposing of waste safely, avoiding contact with rodents and their droppings, and using appropriate protective measures when cleaning rodent-infested areas,” Idris said.
He also urged citizens to practice regular hand hygiene and maintain optimal infection prevention and control practices in communities and healthcare facilities.
The NCDC boss added that the agency would continue to monitor global developments closely, noting that most epidemic-prone and emerging infectious diseases were zoonotic and often transmitted by animals such as bats and rodents.
He further advised Nigerians to rely only on verified information from official public health authorities and avoid spreading unverified reports or misinformation.
The Cross River State Ministry of Health has confirmed a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk who made the confirmation while briefing journalists at the ministry’s headquarters at the state secretariat, Calabar Tuesday, said the case, which was confirmed on the 17th of April, 2026, is the first case to be reported in the state in recent times.
According to him, the reported case of the outbreak involved a Chinese national who works with Lafarge and flew into the country on March 17 before falling ill.
The commissioner stated that the Chinese’s condition became worse at the medical facility under his office and had to be taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
He explained that at the UCTH, samples were taken and all protocols followed; it was subsequently confirmed that he had symptoms of COVID-19.
“We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” the commissioner said.
Ayuk said the Ministry of Health had been repositioned by the current administration to handle and manage any situation, including diseases or epidemic outbreaks.
“I wish to assure residents of the state that we have been beefing up our preparedness capabilities since the confirmation of this case and we will use all the resources made available by the government to respond to this case.
According to him, there had been silent infections and clear cases from time to time.
“But we are determined that for every ailment, every disease or outbreak, if it is identified here in the state, there should be no alarm.
“The state will do well in terms of surveillance or containment of an outbreak. Whatever it is, we will do our best to contain it. So, there is no alarm.
“When this case was reported about three or four days ago, we decided to be careful to confirm and ensure that the processes involved in identifying and confirming every case of COVID-19 are duly followed.
Also speaking, the State Epidemiologist, Dr Inyang Ekpenyong, announced that in response to the case, the state emergency response unit had been activated.
She noted that contact tracing and line listing of persons the Chinese may have come in contact with were ongoing.
While noting that the last confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cross River was in 2022, the epidemiologist said the Chinese may have contracted the virus in Nigeria.
“The incubation period for this virus is usually between two and 14 days, but the Chinese flew into Nigeria from China on March 17 and started developing symptoms on April 10.
“This is well beyond the 14-day incubation period. Like I said, we are doing the line listing of those he may have come in contact with, as part of our containment efforts.
“We have also activated the emergency response centre and deployed rapid response teams to Akamkpa, where the victim works.
“There is no way we can stop this disease, but we can stop the disease outbreak.
“It will be wrong not to contain or manage it by ensuring that people do not die,” she stated.
She therefore advised residents to regularly and thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser, maintain at least 1 & half metres (5 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
“Persons with persistent cough or sneezing should stay home or keep a social distance, but not mix in crowd, make sure you and people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene, meaning cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or into your sleeve at the bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Similarly, the World Health Organisation Coordinator in Cross River, Dr Yewande Olatunde, stated that the disease was still around.
In a bold move to tackle the growing shortage of medical professionals, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has approved a significant salary increase for doctors across the state, alongside a new tax-free allowance for house officers.
The announcement was made by the State Commissioner for Health, Joseph Onojaeme, during a press briefing, where he revealed that entry-level doctors will now earn ₦570,000 monthly, up from the previous ₦370,000.
House officers are also set to benefit, with their earnings rising from just over ₦250,000 to above ₦350,000, boosted by a newly introduced ₦100,000 tax-free “MORE Special Allowance.”
Why the Pay Raise?
According to the commissioner, the decision was driven by concerns over the low turnout of doctors in the state’s ongoing recruitment exercise.
Despite receiving over 6,000 applications for more than 700 health worker positions, the number of qualified doctors who showed up fell short of expectations—raising alarm over staffing gaps in the healthcare system.
Government’s Strategy
The state government believes the improved salary structure will:
Attract more qualified doctors
Retain existing medical professionals
Strengthen healthcare delivery across Delta State
Joseph Onojaeme also reassured the public that the recruitment process will remain strictly merit-based, stressing that no form of payment or favoritism will be tolerated.
Big Picture
With Nigeria facing an ongoing brain drain in the medical sector, Delta State’s move is seen as a strategic attempt to compete with better-paying opportunities abroad and in the private sector.
If successful, this could set a precedent for other states struggling to keep their healthcare workforce intact.
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