Benign acute childhood myositis in the eastern region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; a 5-year experience

ABSTRACT

To assess the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics, and outcomes of BACM in children diagnosed at a teaching hospital in the eastern province of the KSA. A retrospective study of 28 patients admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of BACM was carried out at King Fahd Hospital of the University, AlKhobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA], from January 2008 to December 2012. Demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and patients' responses were analyzed. Thirty episodes were reported over 5 years with incidence of 3.17 per 100,000. The male to female ratio was 61. The mean age was 6 years. A seasonal peak during the winter months was observed. The major symptoms were fever, inability to walk in all the patients [100%] and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections found in 70%. Major clinical findings were the normal deep tendon reflex and calf muscle tenderness in 76.6% and 100% respectively. The prominent laboratory findings were the high creatine phosphokinase [CPK] and leukopenia in 100% and 60%, respectively. Our findings showed that the clinical and epidemiological features associated with BACM, in the KSA, have the similar pattern of other studies from different regions in the world. A nationwide survey, however, is necessary to investigate the overall incidence, risk factors and the outcome of BACM in the KSA