RESUMO
To identify potential risk factors for developing congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction [CNLDO]. A cross-sectional study. A quantitative questionnaire was distributed to a sample of mothers attending the Pediatrics Clinic at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 756 mothers responded to our questionnaire. Of the 756 filled questionnaires, 389 [51.67%] were male children. 5.3% of the mothers lived in non-urban settings. CNLDO was reported in the children attending the clinic by 17.1% [129/756] of their mothers. Average age [ +/- SD] of infants when persistent tearing was noticed was 3.2 +/- 2.7 months, while average age [ +/- SD] of resolution was 9.6 +/- 3.7 months. Of the children with CNLDO, 37.2% [48/129] still have persistent tearing at the time of distributing the questionnaire. Among the group with CNLDO, 17% [22/129] of their mothers have experienced an infection during pregnancy [p = 0.022]. Within the same group, 14.7% [19/129] of the affected children were reported by their mothers to have other children with CNLDO which was statistically significant [p = <0.001]. CNLDO could have a genetic predisposition and maternal infection is a possible risk factor for developing CNLDO. Surgical management awareness should be emphasized to relieve children from this relatively common and benign condition
RESUMO
Complementary and Alternative Medicine [CAM] covers a wide range of over 100 healing approaches, philosophies and therapeutic modalities that are not provided by conventional medicine. Complementary and Alternative Medicine [CAM] covers a wide range of healing approaches not provided by conventional medicine. The study was aimed at identifying sources of information about CAM that patients usually depend upon, estimating common diseases for which patients use CAM, reasons of using CAM, attitudes towards using CAM and its relation to patients' socio-demographic characteristics. This was a hospital based cross - sectional study. Data was collected using random sampling during March 2010 from patients attending the outpatient clinics of King Saudi Medical complex and King Khalid university hospitals. All patients aged / 18 years were included in the study using pre-tested questionnaire, after execution, the data was available for 399 patients out of 409 distributed questionnaires. After execution the response rate was 399 [97.5%]. The percentage of patients who used CAM before for the treatment of any disease was 348 [87.4%]; Abdominal pain 195 [48.9%] and common cold 195 [48.9%] were the most common conditions for CAM use, followed by evil eye 110 [27.6%]. Most of patients 286 [71.7%] supported that CAM helps conventional medicine and majority of them also don't consider it as a myth 278 [69.7%]. Fever, abdominal pain and acne were treated more commonly among manhood [25 - 59 years group] by using CAM [p < 0.01], while treatment of headache using CAM was more commonly reported in adulthood [18 - 24 years group] [p<0.006]. No significant association was observed between CAM usage and socio-economic status [p > 0.05]. Majority of the patients 296 [74.2%] used internet as the main source of CAM knowledge. CAM is commonly used by all age groups, different educational levels, singles, married, and all socio-economic standards for many diseases. It should be investigated more thoroughly in this community. Internet websites addressing CAM should also be considered. This emphasizes the role of having official locally directed Arabic websites that target the use of CAM in Saudi Arabia