[Knowledge, attitude and practice about self-medication among mothers in Arak, Iran]

To determine the knowledge, attitude and practice about self-medication among mothers in Arak, Iran. This was a cross-sectional study that was carried out with random sampling on 300 mothers referring to health centers in Arak. The data was collected by a questionnaire and a checklist. For analyzing the data we used the chi-square test' analysis of variance' Pearson correlation and considering significant values of P<0.05. The mean age of mothers was 34.5 +/- 6.6 years and 61.2% of mothers had poor knowledge '28.6% average and 10.2% had good knowledge about correct consumption of drugs. In this study 15.2% of mothers had poor attitude ' 48.5% moderate and 36.3% had positive attitude about self medication. In this study the prevalence of self-medication in mothers was 56.5%. There was a significant relationship between knowledge and practice about self medication [P<0.01]. Self-medication was more common in women having more knowledge than the others. More self-medication was seen among mother with a job and higher education level. The prevalence of self-medication among the mothers was very high and necessarily there should be a program for changing the attitude and the habits of mothers to refer to physician when they are ill

Unusual presentation of a massive pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolus clogs the artery that provides blood supply to a part of the lung. The embolus not only prevents the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide but also decreases blood supply to the lung tissue itself, potentially causing the tissue to die [infarct]. A 52-year-old man presented with syncope and anxiety. He had sinus tachycardia and dilated right ventricle with trabeculations. A differential diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and pulmonary embolism prompted CT angiography, which revealed a bilateral massive pulmonary embolism. The patient was treated successfully with thrombolytic drugs