Centre of Excellence
Paediatrics
Children are not small adults, and the commonest mistake in Nigerian paediatrics is treating every fever as malaria. Our paediatric work is built on getting the diagnosis right the first time, and on being the people who look after children going through the surgical programme: tonsils, grommets, hernias and circumcision.
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed 5 October 2026. This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
What we treat
- Fever, and working out what is actually causing it
- Malaria, typhoid and the illnesses they are confused with
- Asthma and recurrent wheeze
- Sickle cell disease and its complications
- Growth and development concerns
- Diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration
- Newborn problems including jaundice
- Children scheduled for surgery, before and after
How care works here
- 1
The child is examined, properly
A full examination at every visit. A great deal of what is treated as malaria in Lagos is something else that an examination would have found.
- 2
Tested before treated, where it matters
A malaria test before antimalarials. Treating a negative test is how resistance spreads and how the real diagnosis gets missed.
- 3
Parents told what to watch for
You leave knowing the specific signs that mean come back now, rather than a general instruction to return if worried.
- 4
Surgery explained to the family first
Where a child needs an operation, the paediatrician explains why, what the alternatives are, and what the recovery really looks like, before you meet the surgeon.
- 5
Vaccinations kept on schedule
Checked at every visit, because a clinic appointment for something else is the best opportunity to catch up a missed dose.
Treatments and published prices
Questions people ask
Is every fever malaria?
No, and assuming so is the commonest error in Nigerian child health. Viral illness, urine infection, pneumonia and typhoid all present with fever. A test and an examination separate them.
My child keeps getting ill. Is something wrong with their immunity?
Usually not. Young children in nursery get a great many minor infections, and that is normal. What we look for is a pattern that is not normal, which is a specific thing rather than a general worry.
Does my child need their tonsils out?
Often not. The thresholds are repeated proven infections over a year or more, or obstructed breathing in sleep. The paediatrician counts the actual episodes before anyone involves a surgeon.
Can I use my HMO?
Yes, on plans covering paediatric care. Surgery needs prior authorisation and the desk files it for you.