ABSTRACT
Objectives: Use of tobacco begins early in childhood and builds up to lifelong habit. The present study determined the knowledge of school students regarding the effects of tobacco and attitude towards anti-tobacco activities
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at four schools [Grades IX to XII] in Ajman. A self-administered questionnaire was used focusing on the knowledge regarding tobacco use among adolescents, reasons for initiation, associated health risk, and social problems; previous participation and willingness to participate in anti-tobacco activities. Descriptive and inferential analysis was performed using SPSS 19
Results: 229 male and 182 female students [mean age: 15.6+1.1 years] participated. Grade XII, XI, X, IX students constituted 31.4%, 29.4%, 29.7%, and 9.5% respectively. 328 [79.8%] were aware of the use of cigarettes, shisha, midwakh, chewing and sniffing tobacco among adolescents. About 75% indicated the possible reasons for initiation: to blend with friends, elevate mood, and to deal with family problems [Females more than males p<0.05]. More than 80% were aware of associated health risk and social problems [Females more than males p<0.05]. The social problems stated were problems with family, peer and teachers. As regards the level of health risk, 66.9%, 52.8%, 48.7%, felt that severe risk is associated with cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco, and smoking midwakh respectively. The source of their knowledge included television, internet and newspaper
About 66.2% had advised individuals to quit tobacco; 21.2% participated in anti-tobacco activities. Suggested measures to increase awareness were through media, seminars, workshops and student groups in schools. More than 75% were willing to participate in anti-tobacco activities, and 63.5% interested to give talks on the effects of tobacco
Conclusion: The students possessed positive attitude towards anti-tobacco activities and had knowledge of the health and social effects of tobacco. Active participation of adolescents in anti-tobacco activities can help to root out the problem of tobacco use among adolescents
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The objective of the present study was to determine the antimicrobial prescription pattern in patients with acute tonsillitis
Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among all the patients attending the ENT outpatient department with acute tonsillitis from January 2011 to December 2011. The data were retrieved from the medical records using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS. 19
Results: A total of 238 patients were included in the study [Males 138; females 100]. The majority of the patients were Indians [49 [20.6%]], Emiratis [35 [14.7%]], and Pakistanis [31 [13%]]
The common types of tonsillitis noted were acute parenchymatous tonsillitis, acute follicular tonsillitis and acute pharyngotonsillitis. Of the total, seven [2.9%] patients had self medicated themselves prior to the hospital visit. About 96% of the total drugs were prescribed by brand name. The median number of drugs prescribed was four [range 1-7]. Eighty eight percent of the prescriptions contained antimicrobial agents, which was the most commonly prescribed group of drugs, followed by analgesics and antipyretics. Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid [24.8%] and Ceftriaxone [12.2%] were the most commonly prescribed antimicrobials. About 23.7% of the patients on Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid had received the drug as intravenous injection
Culture and sensitivity tests were carried out in 106 [44.5%] of the cases. Antimicrobials were changed/ added on after the culture and sensitivity test in 25 patients. No pattern was noticed with regard to the change in AMA; however Cefuroxime was the most frequently added AMA based on the sensitivity report
Conclusion: Therapeutic guidelines based on the current sensitivity pattern can be developed to optimize the use of antimicrobial agents and provide cost effective treatment
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the various clinical patterns of cutaneous adverse drug reactions [ADRs] and to identify the causative drugs
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional hospital based study was carried out with patients reporting with cutaneous ADRs to the Department of Dermatology at GMC Hospital, Ajman, U. A. E., between 2010 and 2012. Medical records of the patients were used to obtain demographic, diagnostic and ADR-related information. The data were subjected to detailed statistical analysis using SPSS. 19 software
Results: A total of 43 patients were included [46.5% males and 53.5%females] in the study. The mean age of the patients was 30.07+13.63 years. The majority of the patients were from the Middle East, followed by Asian countries. The commonest cutaneous ADRs seen were maculo-papular rash [48.8%], Erythroderma [18.6%], urticaria [11.7%] and Fixed drug eruption [11.7%] The drugs most responsible for the various cutaneous ADR were antimicrobials in 11[48.8%] arid NSAIDs in 14 [32.5%] cases. Carbamazepine and Ciprofloxacin were responsible for two cases [6%] of life-threatening Stevens Johnson syndrome. Mean reaction timewas 5.63+ 0.5 days. Reactions were mild [46.7%], moderate [40%] and severe [13.3%]. Based on the WHO Causality assessment of ADRs, 34 [80%] cases were probable in nature; 8 [27%] possible and 1 [3%] case uncertain. A total of 5 [11.6%] cases had past history of ADRs. Three patients[9%] had secondary bacterial infection over ADR lesions and required antimicrobial treatment
Conclusion: The clinical pattern of ADRs and the drugs causing cutaneous ADRs was largely similar to that observed in other countries
ABSTRACT
Objective: The prevalence of wheezing and allergies among the population in Arab countries are on a rise due to urbanization that resulted in substantial environmental changes. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms is about 14% among school children but data on adolescent groups in the Gulf region are lacking. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of wheezing and bronchial asthma among undergraduate students of Gulf Medical University
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students of Gulf Medical University using a self-administered questionnaire for data collection. The demographic data, the wheezing and bronchial asthma characteristics and family history were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 19
Results: Of the total of 255 students that were included, 120 [47%] had allergic rhinitis and 31 [12.2%] bronchial asthma. A total of 71 [27.8%] had symptoms of wheezing (females were 66% and males 34%; African [24%] and Pakistani [22.5%] nationals). Of the 71 students, 41 [57.7%] students experienced 1-3 episodes during the previous year, 13 [18.3%] and had episodes limiting their speech. Exercise-induced wheezing was experienced by 62 [24.3%] participants. The wheezing episodes were most frequent in January and March. A positive family history of wheezing was reported by 29[40.8%] of the students. 40.8% students reported that wheezing interfered with their daily and extra-curricular activities. Bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis had a positive association with family history [p<0.05]. Allergic rhinitis was frequent among Pakistani, African and Emirati nationals. Symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis had significantly affected the quality of life of the students
Conclusion: Strong family history was also noted for allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Asthma was associated with a high rate of allergic rhinitis symptoms. The prevalence of asthma in this study is within the reported prevalence ranges from UAE and many other parts of the world