Child abuse and its long-term consequences: an exploratory study on Egyptian university students

Child abuse and its long-term consequences in adulthood have been recently gaining increased attention in the Arab world. This study is an extension of a similar study in Saudi Arabia, and aims to explore some epidemiological characteristics of the problem in Egypt. To study the prevalence of child abuse and associated psychological problems in adulthood, as presented in a sample of university students in Egypt. 963 students, from three different colleges of Zagazig University [Medicine, Education and Arts and Literature] answered multi-questionnaires including: General health Questionnaire [GHQ], Child Traumatic Questionnaire [CTQ] and Psychological Problem Scale [PPS]. Students reported having suffered Emotional neglect [19%], Emotional abuse [8.9%], Physical neglect [44%] and Physical abuse [6%] and Sexual abuse [13%]. Moderate to severe childhood abuse was correlated with various combinations of psychological problems [Low Self-Esteem, Dissociation, Self Harm, Impulsivity and Aggression] in adulthood. Gender and situational stresses, as indicated by GHQ, did not seem to influence the results as much as low income and large family size. In a large proportion of our sample reported both child abuse and several long-term pathological consequences of abuse in adulthood. The problem seems to be serious in this middle class sample and it remains possible that these problems could be worse in lower social classes

Results of standard patch testing in contact dermatitis patients with a short review of other diagnostic aids

Standard patch test is one of the reliable tests to identify the allergen in allergic contact dermatitis [ACD]. In the department of Dermatology and Venereology in Rumailah Hospital - Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha - Qatar, 235 patients who were diagnosed to have ACD were patch tested using the European Standard si000 [chemo technique diagnostic with 25 allergens for patch testing - Sweden].86.3% of the patients patch tested were in the age groups from 11-50 years old. The results showed that 85.5% had positive results while 14.5% were negative.The total numbers of positive patch testing readings were 590 varying from one to 12 per patients. The percentages of patients with one, two, three or four positive readings were 23.8%, 20%, 17% and 11.5% respectively. The top ten allergens in this group were;1- Potassium dichromate 18.14%2- Nickel sulfate hexahydrate 13.05%3- Cobalt Chloride hexahydrate 12.03%4- Fragrance mix 7.12%5- 4-phenylene diamine base 5.60%6- formaldehyde 4.58%7- Neomycin sulfate 3.55%8- Colophony 3.55%9- Wool Alcohol 3.4%10- Balsam of Peru 3.4%The result of patch testing was relevant 100% in potassium dichromate, nickel sulfate, cobalt, fragrance mix, paraphenylene diamine and neomycin sulfate

Quiz

six years old female is presented with lesion in the left upper limb from the shoulder to the nail. The lesions were verruciform, linear start to develop soon after birth [Fig 1]. Biopsy showed orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, moderate acanthosis and irregular papillomatosis [fig2 and 3]