High altitude and related illnesses awareness among general population in Albaha City

Background: high altitude illness [HAI] refers to a number of acute syndromes that may take place in individuals who are not acclimatized to high altitude, including acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary edema and high altitude cerebral edema. Awareness of the general population about the manifestations and risk factors of high altitude illness may enhance the recognition of patients and ensure adequate management of acute cases

Objective: this study was carried out to assess the awareness of general population of Albaha city regarding high altitude and related illnesses

Methods: this questionnaire was distributed among the general public in Albaha city, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire consisted of two sections: section 1 included personal data and section 2 was concerned with awareness and knowledge of people regarding high altitude illness. Only completed questionnaires without missing data were statistically analyzed

Results: a high frequency of the participants identified the risk factors contributing to HAI including ascending too quickly, overexertion, dehydration and sleeping at high altitude. On the other hand, participants had some false believes about the risk factors, the gravity of the illness and the lowest level of altitude at which manifestations may develop. Only 30.1% identified the lowest altitude at which HAI can occur. About one third of the subjects had symptoms of HAI in the form of difficulty in breathing, exhaustion, headache, weakness and difficulty in sleeping

Conclusion: overall, respondents were interested in learning more about high altitude sickness. Physicians and the internet were the most attractive sources of information for this population

assessment of knowledge towards acute cholecystitis among general population of Albaha city

Background: Acute cholecystitis is an acute inflammation of the gallbladder, and it is the most common cause of acute pain in the right upper quadrant. It is a critical clinical problem representing up to 5% of emergency room visits

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge of the general population of Albaha City, Saudi Arabia towards acute cholecystitis [AC]

Methods: A representative sample of 634 subjects from both sexes, aged from 18-80 years who completed a standardized questionnaire was involved in the study

Results: Only 48 subjects had history of the disease with a prevalence rate of 7.57%. More than half of the participants [58.7%] recorded family history of AC in one of their direct relatives. Great percent of the study participants considered obesity, high cholesterol and high triglycerides responsible for increased incidence of AC [59.9%, 54.3% and 66.9%]. A high percentage of the participants [55.2%, 48.3%, 38.2%, 62.8%, 36.9% and 54.3%] did not know whether their food or habits could predispose to AC. Higher percentages considered intolerance to fatty meals, nausea and vomiting as symptoms of AC [55.5%, 48.9 %and 46.7% respectively]. Most of the participants [75.7%] did not receive any information about AC prevention. Their established information was highly or to some extent effective in changing the participants' life style [39.0% and 42.9% respectively]

Conclusion: This survey has been useful in determining the current regional knowledge towards AC among general population in Albaha city. Such study emphasizes the need for more efforts that focus on novel preventive strategies to overcome the onset of gallstones. Further much bigger collaborative national studies are recommended