ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Epidemiological studies in recent decades have been indicative of increased prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis [MS] in the world. In this study we investigated awareness, risk perception, and protective behaviors in relation to multiple sclerosis among people in Sanandaj, Iran
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 800 people over 15 years of age. Samples were selected randomly from all of the city areas. The questionnaire included questions regarding demographic information, knowledge, perception of risk and protective behavior for MS. Using STATA12; data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistical tests including x[2] and regression. P-value less than 0.05 were considered significant
Results: Mean age of the participants was 38.27 +/- 14.91 years. In all age groups, the knowledge of the participants about MS was low [P<0.001]. Knowledge and perceived risk showed significant relationships with educational level [P< 0.001]. The knowledge about MS and the perception of risk were higher in women compared to men [P< 0.03]. The most important source of knowledge about MS was the relatives' information [46.4%]
Conclusion: Knowledge of people of Sanandaj about multiple sclerosis was suboptimal. Designing and implementation of intervention programs to enhance people's understanding of MS, ways to prevent, and promoting protective behaviors at the community level is necessry
ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Headache is one of the most common reasons causing the patients to refer to pain clinics. Most people have experienced severe headache at least once in their lifetime. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of thunderclap headache and associated symptoms in Sanandaj
Material and Methods: This descriptive study evaluated all patients admitted to Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj with acute or sudden headaches from October 2012 to September 2013. Data were collected from the patients' records. Using SPSS version 18, data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, T-test, Fisher's exact test, Chi-square, and Logistic regression
Results: Based on the sites of the headache, 43 [36.1%] and 24 [20.2%], patients had frontal headache and generalized headache, respectively. 58 patients [48.7%] had a space-occupying lesion in the brain. 47 [39.5] patients had thunderclap headache. Among the patients with severe headache, 30 [25.2%] patients had subarachnoid hemorrhage, which was more common in the group with thunderclap headache. Results of logistic regression showed that risk of having brain injury in the patients suffering from headache of less than one week duration increases up to 11.657 times [P=0.027].This risk increases in the patients with headache aggravated by coughing or sneezing and headache with no previous history to 42 times [P=0.006] and 5.6 times respectively [P=0.052]
Conclusion: Headaches aggravated by coughing, sneezing, and with no previous history were associated with higher incidence of space-occupying lesions [brain tumor, S.A.H, ]. Also subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH] and meningitis were two major causes of thunderclap headache. Other studies showed that migraine is the most common cause of thunderclap headache, but in emergency wards, intracranial hemorrhages including SAH and ICH were more common causes of this type of headaches. Therefore, more investigations are required for the patients with thunderclap headache
ABSTRACT
Although neurological symptoms in brucellosis are frequent, central nervous system [CNS] involvement is uncommon. A 42-year-old man was admitted with an episode of faint without loss of consciousness, right hemi paresis, diplopia and headache lasting for four days. The neurological examination revealed left hemi paresis. Limitation of gazing in left eye in lateral view was seen [partial paresis of 6[th] cranial nerve]. The results of laboratory examinations show positive Wright and Coombs Wright in blood and C.S.F. In the brain CT scan hydrocephaly and in magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] some brain atrophy, few high signal foci in the deep with mater had been detected. Treatment included concurrent administration of three drugs: doxycycline, rifampicin and co-trimoxazole. This patient fully recovered. We suggest that Neurobrucellosis [NB] should always be sought in young patients with ischemic stroke, especially if they do not have any additional risk factors for stroke and live in an endemic area for brucellosis, even if they do not have other systemic signs of brucellosis