A Case Report of the First Filipino Infant Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis through the Philippine Newborn Screening Program.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a rare condition among Asians and has not been reported in the Philippines as of this time. The inclusion of this disease in the Philippines' Expanded Newborn Screening Program (ENBS) has provided this Filipino family the opportunity of early detection and appropriate management of this condition that could ensure the survival of the proband and his other surviving siblings. Here we present a case of a 24-month-old male who had a positive Expanded Newborn Screening (ENBS) test for cystic fibrosis and eventually underwent further tests to confirm a homozygous deletion of exons 1 - 2 of the CFTR gene. He subsequently had recurrent pneumonia but is being managed by a team consisting of a pulmonologist, gastroenterologist, and a metabolic dietitian. The proband had an older sibling whose Newborn Screening (NBS) test was normal and who eventually expired from recurrent bouts of pneumonia. This sibling was never managed as a case of cystic fibrosis. Implications on the diagnosis and management of CF in the local setting is also discussed. The importance of an appropriate CF panel customized to the local population should be reiterated and carrier testing should be encouraged to help with proper family counseling for future pregnancies for the family involved.

Taking action on climate change: Testimonials and position statement from the International League Against Epilepsy Climate Change Commission.

The release of the 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report makes clear that human activities have resulted in significant alterations in global climate. There is no doubt that climate change is upon us; chronic global warming has been punctuated by more frequent extreme weather events. Humanity will have to mitigate climate change and adapt to these changing conditions or face dire consequences. One under-appreciated aspect of this global crisis is its impact on healthcare, particularly people with epilepsy and temperature-sensitive seizures. As members of the inaugural International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Climate Change Commission, we recount the personal motivations that have led each team member to decide to take action, in the hope that our journeys as ordinary clinicians and scientists will help persuade others that they too can act to foster change within their spheres of influence.

Clinical experience on the use of perampanel in epilepsy among child neurologists in the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Perampanel is the latest anti-seizure medication introduced in the Philippines in 2015. This was initially approved as an adjunctive treatment for focal seizures and those with secondary generalization among individuals 12 years old and above. By March 2020, it has been approved also for generalized seizures and in children 4 years and above. The general objective of this research is to describe the clinical experience of Filipino child neurologists on the use of perampanel in children. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study that surveyed child neurologists with review of medical records of children who have received perampanel as either an adjunctive therapy or monotherapy for epilepsy. RESULTS: There were 65 patients included in the study aged 1 to 18 years with a mean age of 10.0 ± 5.2 years and a median of 10 years. Follow-up duration were between 2 weeks to more than a year. Perampanel was started in 98.5% as an add-on treatment between 5 months and 18 years of age. The responder rate is 69.2% (45/65), seizure-free rate is 29.2% (19/65), seizure-aggravation rate is 9.2% (6/65), and perampanel retention rate is 83.1% (54/65). Treatment emergent adverse events were noted in 53.8% of the children with somnolence (20.0%), gait problems (12.3%), weight gain (10.8%) and dizziness (9.2%) as the most common events experienced. Dizziness was experienced significantly more among children 12 to 18 years of age. CONCLUSION: Perampanel is seen to be effective and relatively safe to use among Filipino children.

The effect on patient and health provider satisfaction regarding health care delivery using the teleconsultation program of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University-School of Medicine (ADZU-SOM) in rural Western Mindanao

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effect of a Teleconsultation Program on health care provider and patient satisfaction regarding health care delivery. It is a descriptive cohort that described the satisfaction of health care providers and patients with the combined web (moodle) and Short Message Service (SMS)-based system of teleconsultation of the ADZU-SOM. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort that included Municipal Health Officers from Region IX and Sulu and their patients. Questionnaires on satisfaction with the Teleconsultation program was given and filled up. Utilization of the mode of teleconsultation was monitored. RESULTS: The study included 8 municipal health officers and 39 patients who completed questionnaires on satisfaction with the Teleconsultation program. Only 35% of physician-respondents and 36.4% of patient-respondents returned the questionnaires. The most common method of referring is through mobile phone SMS. High satisfaction rating was noted by both health providers and patients but concerns were raised regarding the costs of the system. The respondents felth that privacy issues were kept confidential with the system. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, given the preference for mobile phones among Filipino rural physicians in municipal health units, telemedicine applications should be developed specifically for use in that platform.

Pediatrician's perspectives on discharge against medical advice (DAMA) among pediatric patients: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The phenomenon of discharge against medical advice (DAMA) among pediatric patients places pediatricians in a dilemma between respect for the parent's decision and the desire to provide complete care for the vulnerable child-patient. Little has been written about factors that affect a pediatrician's decision to allow a parent to discharge his child against medical advice. This qualitative study aims to answer the question of how pediatric residents in a tertiary government hospital perceive and decide on a DAMA request from a parent or primary caregiver. METHODS: Using a focus group discussion approach, 11 pediatric residents from a government-run tertiary hospital were recruited for the study. The session was digitally recorded and dominant themes were coded and identified. RESULTS: There were three prominent themes that arose in the discussion: variability of definitions of DAMA, factors considered before "allowing" the patient to be DAMA, and the implications of a DAMA request on their performance as pediatricians. Definitions vary from one resident to another based on the main reason for DAMA (terminal, cultural, or financial). A conflict was noted in the definition of Home per Request (HPR) versus DAMA. Factors that influence a pediatrician to sign out a case as DAMA include: their ability to do something about the reason given for the DAMA request, the condition of the patient when the DAMA request was given, their impression of the kind of care that the parents provide, and their legal liabilities. Pediatric residents generally maintain a positive attitude towards the parents who request for DAMA and in the event of readmission, accept the patient into their care again.The occurrence of a variety of definitions and subcategories for DAMA may cause confusion among the pediatricians and should be clarified. The familiarity with cultural traditions contributes to their ability to handle situations that may lead to DAMA but this should always be considered in the context of the pediatrician's legal liabilities. The attitude of being helpful in spite of readmission after DAMA is an important attribute to be encouraged among new trainees. CONCLUSION: In most reviews about the phenomenon of DAMA, patient characteristics have been identified that make them prone to request for DAMA however; physicians also experience a complex process of decision-making in DAMA situations. It is therefore vital for every training institution to include ethical, legal and moral aspects of learning into their training programs especially in dealing with cases of DAMA.