ABSTRACT
Background and objective Breath-holding spell (BHS) is a serious condition that affects healthy and normal children. It is a paroxysmal non-epileptic disorder and usually occurs after the child gets angry, annoyed, or aroused. In such a scenario, an episode of crying and silent expiration associated with color changes, either cyanosis or pallor, leads to loss of consciousness in the child. In Saudi Arabia, studies assessing the awareness among parents about BHS have been scarce. In light of this, this study aimed to evaluate the awareness of BHS among parents in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, in 2023. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study conducted between June and October 2023 by using Google Forms to collect data about awareness of risk factors of BHS among the general population in Makkah. We employed a validated and self-generated survey that was distributed through social media platforms. Results The study included 602 participants; 138 (22.9%) of them had witnessed BHS episodes. Of note, 407 (67.6%) thought that there was a connection between BHS and iron deficiency anemia. A significant majority (n=565, 93.9%) mentioned that spells can lead to passing out and seizures, and 542 (90%) thought that spells are dangerous. The majority (n=479, 79.6%) reported that the actions required during spells involve laying the child on the floor, keeping the child away from anything sharp, staying with the child, and calling 911 if the child remains blue or is not breathing for longer than a minute. The most common source of information for the participants was the Ministry of Health (n=182, 30.2%). Conclusions This study found a generally low level of awareness among parents regarding several aspects of BHS. Hence, we recommend conducting educational campaigns to ensure parents have accurate information about BHS so that they can respond appropriately to its occurrence in children.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acute gastroenteritis is one of the most common causes of dehydration in children. Parents' education is an essential part of its management. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of discharge instructions in the pediatric emergency department for parents of children with acute gastroenteritis, together with disease prognosis and parents' satisfaction. METHODS: An observational prospective cohort study was conducted among parents of children with acute gastroenteritis, with mild-to-moderate dehydration, who presented to the pediatric emergency room from March 2018 to July 2018. Parents were interviewed upon their child's presentation and in follow-up phone calls after one week to assess the parents' knowledge and the disease's prognosis. RESULTS: There were a total of 218 parents of children with acute gastroenteritis of mild and moderate dehydration. The mean age was four years and one month ± three years and seven months. Forty-four percent of study participants had reasonable awareness of their child's condition, and most patients (86%) improved fully. The exact adherence to instructions was 54%, the proportion of children who returned to the emergency department was 13%, and parental satisfaction and appreciation of the provided education was 98%. CONCLUSION: In the study group, not strictly following fluid rehydration plans in discharge instructions did not negatively affect the course of improvement. This indicates that simple instructions to rehydrate with any fluid a child might accept and give clear red flags for observation are likely to be enough to treat gastroenteritis of mild-to-moderate severity.
