Comparison of Saudi child versus parent-report of child tooth-brushing practices.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study compared Saudi children's tooth-brushing practices as reported by children and parents and then matched the agreement of reports. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 100 Saudi parents and their children of ages 8-12 years participated in this cross-sectional investigation. A self-administered structured questionnaire regarding the current tooth-brushing practice and habits at home was filled by the child. The same questionnaire was filled independently by parents. RESULTS: Mothers were more likely to teach children about tooth-brushing and fathers were minimally helping children during tooth-brushing. Mothers were the first to teach the children and approximately 33% of the children started brushing their teeth by age 5. Children and parents reported that children clean their teeth using a tooth-brush (73.74% and 76.77%), miswak (5.05% and 5.05%), or both (21.21% and 18.18%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was some agreement between reported tooth-brushing practice of children and their parents. It is important to question both the child and parent regarding oral hygiene practice and compare their answers to get more broad knowledge about their practices. Approximately, one-third of the children started brushing their teeth by age 5, which differs from recommended oral hygiene practices.

Evaluation of tablet PC as a tool for teaching tooth brushing to children.

AIM: This study evaluated the effect of a single time tooth brushing instruction using video on a tablet PC (Apple iPad) compared to operator presentation using jaw model for plaque removal. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included a convenience sample of 100 children divided into two groups. For Group 1 brushing was demonstrated to the child by the operator with the use of a jaw model. This demonstration was videotaped for subsequent use in Group 2 using a tablet PC (Apple iPad). Plaque index was recorded before and after demonstration of the assigned method of teaching tooth brushing. RESULTS: The results showed a significant difference using the two methods. The difference between the mean plaque index values with the jaw model and tablet PC at baseline and after tooth brushing represented 17.27% (50% improvement) and 11.56% (34% improvement) respectively. Boys showed a 18.3%. higher improvement in tooth brushing compared to girls. Seventy-five percent of the children reported using tablet computers in their daily life. CONCLUSION Teaching children by using a jaw model was more effective in improving plaque index score than using video on tablet PC by 16%. Both methods of tooth brushing teaching were fully accepted by all children.

Vitiligo: Epidemiology and clinical pattern at King Khalid University Hospital.

The incidence of vitiligo at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was 2.5% for the period from 1985-1990. The majority (96.1%) were Saudis. Approximately 64% were below the age of 30 years and the average was 25.6+/- SD 13.7 years. Fifty-six percent of the patients were males and 43% were females. More than half of the patients had the lesions for a period between one and nine years and 17.17% had them for more than 15 years. Only 12% had a positive family history of vitiligo. The majority (54%) of the lesions were in exposed areas. The associated diseases with vitiligo are also reported. It appears that the clinical pattern of vitiligo is not different from what is reported in other studies.

A study of 45 cases of ectopic pregnancy.

Forty-five (45) cases of ectopic pregnancy are reported, an incidence of 1:742 pregnancies. Approximately (40%) of these patients gave a positive history of infertility, pelvic infection or abdominal surgery. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the cases were among gravida 1-5; nullipara and grand-multipara constituted the low-risk group. In 88% of the cases, the pregnancy was tubal ectopic, with 58.5% in the right fallopian tube. History of amenorrhea and lower abdominal pain with tenderness were the presenting features in 95% of the cases, while vaginal bleeding was reported by 50%. Vaginal examination is singled out as of poor diagnostic value, and laparoscopy is found to be the best diagnostic procedure. The pertinent medical literature is reviewed.

PIP: The clinical presentation of ectopic pregnancy is explored in this study along with the most constant predisposing factors among Saudi women. The medical records of 68 cases of suspected ectopic pregnancies were reviewed. Only 45 of the 68 cases, those that were finally diagnosed as ectopic pregnancies, constitute the basis of this study. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy was 1:742 pregnancies. 39 of the 45 patients with ectopic pregnancies were para 1-5; only 1 and 5 patients were reported to be nulliparous and grandmultipara, respectively. 27 of the 45 cases were 20-30 years of age. Between 40% and 45% of the 45 patients had positive histories of pelvic infection, abdominal or pelvic surgery, or infertility. 1 case each of an IUD in situ and of a recurrent ectopic pregnancy were reported. Amenorrhea with lower abdominal pain and tenderness were the most constant features of ectopic pregnancy. Vaginal bleeding was present in about 51% of the cases; fainting attacks and shoulder tip pains were late manifestations. Duration of amenorrhea was 6-8 weeks in about 63% of the cases; 36% had amenorrhea lasting 12-16 weeks. Only 1 patient presented with amenorrhea of longer duration (20 weeks), and she proved to have a cervical pregnancy. Laparoscopy was the only reliable diagnostic procedure. In all cases of clinically suspected hemoperitoneum, laparotomy was performed as a mandatory procedure. Pelvic examinations performed with the patient under anesthesia and also culdocentesis were both unreliable and inconclusive as diagnostic measures. Of the 40 cases of tubal ectopic pregnancy seen at laparotomy, 21 had already ruptured, 15 were still intact and 4 were cases of tubal abortion. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy is modified by age, parity, race, socioeconomic factors, sexual habits, contraceptive used and pelvic infection. The part played by 1 or more of those factors is unknown but definitely variable. In this study there were 40 tubal (88.8%), 1 cervical (2.2%), and 2 ovarian pregnancies (4.4%).