Asthma knowledge and behaviours among mothers of asthmatic children in Aseer, south-west Saudi Arabia.

Mothers of children with bronchial asthma consecutively admitted to Aseer central hospital, Saudi Arabia (n = 171), were interviewed using a questionnaire based on the Chicago Community Asthma Survey to study their knowledge and behaviours concerning bronchial asthma. The least known information among mothers was the complications of bronchial asthma. Breathing exercises during asthma attacks were the least practised behaviour. In a multivariate analysis, significant risk factors for poor knowledge and behaviours among mothers were female sex of the child, illiterate mother and young age of mother (< 30 years). More education is needed to help the mothers of asthmatic children to acquire the necessary knowledge and practices to care for their children.

Asthma knowledge and behaviours among mothers of asthmatic children in Aseer, south-west Saudi Arabia

Mothers of children with bronchial asthma consecutively admitted to Aseer central hospital, Saudi Arabia [n = 171], were interviewed using a questionnaire based on the Chicago Community Asthma Survey to study their knowledge and behaviours concerning bronchial asthma. The least known information among mothers was the complications of bronchial asthma. Breathing exercises during asthma attacks were the least practised behaviour. In a multivariate analysis, significant risk factors for poor knowledge and behaviours among mothers were female sex of the child, illiterate mother and young age of mother [< 30 years]. More education is needed to help the mothers of asthmatic children to acquire the necessary knowledge and practices to care for their chiIdren

Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding as a late complication of spinal instrumentation.

Posterior or anterior fusion with spinal instrumentation is a well-known operation for scoliosis. There are multiple potential complications; the most common are blood loss during the initial surgery and wound infection. Vascular injury has been reported. However, to the authors' knowledge, acute gastrointestinal bleeding has not been reported. The authors report on a child who presented 6 years after posterior spinal instrumentation with massive acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding resulting from internal iliac artery injury and bowel perforation. The etiology, diagnosis, and management of such bleeding is reviewed.

Hypereosinophilia associated with intrahepatic cholestasis in early infancy.

A male infant presented with intrahepatic cholestasis due to idiopathic eosinophilia damaging the biliary epithelium. No other etiological agent or cause could be identified. He responded well to prednisone therapy.

Neonatal deaths in the Asir Region of Saudi Arabia: Experience in a Referral Neonatal Intesive Care Unit.

We reviewed a total of 169 deaths among 969 infants referred from various health institutions in the Asir Region to the neonatal intensive care unit of Asir Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, during a four-year period (January 1992 to December 1995). The results showed that the major causes of neonatal mortality in the region were low birth weight (LBW) (45%), congenital malformations (CM) (30.8%), infection (13.6%), and birth asphyxia (7.7%). The majority of the LBW infants died from respiratory insufficiency, sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis. The alimentary, central nervous and cardiovascular systems were the parts most commonly involved in CM, with cardiac defect accounting for the highest fatality rate due to lack of facilities for cardiac surgery in the region, and delay in effecting a transfer. Klebsiella, Serratia and E. coli are the predominant organisms causing neonatal sepsis, in contrast with the group B streptococcus dominating in America and the United Kingdom. Generally, factors causing neonatal deaths in the Asir region are similar to those reported in other tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia, and tally closely with observations in America and Europe, where the standard of health care is excellent. Nevertheless, the study indicates the need for upgrading of facilities, as well as for more trained personnel for obstetric and neonatal care in Asir region. It may be necessary to consider the need for the establishment of a regional cardiac surgery center in the region.