Yar’Adua Has Acute Pericarditis- Spokesman

UMARU YAR'ADUA.

San Francisco (THEWILL) - Aso Rock Spokesman, Segun Adeniyi in a statement on Thursday said Nigeria’s ailing president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, 58, is being treated for Acute Pericarditis, in a Saudi Arabia Hospital.

Acute pericarditis is an inflammation of the membrane (pericardum) surrounding the heart and usually lasts for 6 weeks. 'Compare images on the right.' Its symptoms include chest pain and fever.

“THE medical review and tests undertaken at the hospital have confirmed the initial diagnosis that the president is indeed suffering from acute pericarditis. He is now receiving treatment for the illness and he is responding remarkably well,” Adeniyi said after speaking with Yar’Adua’s personal physician.

Medical experts say it is treatable with drugs or surgery in extreme cases.

This diagnosis complicates issues for the ailing leader as he is also suffering from a kidney related disease called chung-straus syndrome.

The president left Abuja suddenly on Monday after his health deteriorated over-night and is not yet certain when he will return to Abuja.

The president is receiving treatment at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah.

Nigeria’s Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan has stepped in as acting president until the president returns. 

The statement from the president's physician is reproduced below;

PRESIDENT YAR’ADUA’S HEALTH CONDITION  

At about 3pm on Friday, November 20^th, after he returned from the Abuja Central Mosque where he performed the Juma’at prayers, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua complained of left sided severe chest pain. Preliminary medical examinations suggested ACUTE PERICARDITIS, (an inflammatory condition of the coverings of the heart).

It was then decided that he should undertake confirmatory checks at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where he had his last medical check-up in August.

The medical review and tests undertaken at the hospital have confirmed the initial diagnosis that the President is indeed suffering from ACUTE PERICARDITIS.
 
He is now receiving treatment for the ailment and is responding remarkably well.

Dr. Salisu Banye, FWACP

Chief Physician to the President

November 26, 2009