In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases among a homogenous group of students attending the health colleges of a Saudi university and to investigate the relationship between their atopy profile and associated clinical symptoms of allergic diseases. A total of 222 students completed the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and underwent skin prick testing (SPT) using a standardized panel of allergenic extracts. Overall prevalence of physician-diagnosed allergic diseases was 27% for bronchial asthma (BA), 13.1% for atopic dermatitis (AD), and 5% for allergic rhinitis (AR). Atopy was present in 90 (40.5%) students. Students with atopic disease were more likely to have physician-diagnosed BA, AR, and AD. Atopy and polysensitization was more frequent among male than female students. SPT results were positive in 20.8% of participants for Bermuda grass, 18.9% for cat fur, and 12.7% for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The prevalence of atopy and allergic diseases in Saudi young adults is high and worrisome. Comorbid allergic diseases were more prevalent among our participants with atopic disease. Determination of allergen sensitization patterns in patients with atopic disease is crucial for selecting proper preventive and therapeutic strategies.

The objectives of the study were to study the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among health college students (HS) and health care workers (HCWs) in the Najran Region of south-western Saudi Arabia and to study the students’ knowledge of occupational exposure to blood-borne viral infections.

BACKGROUND: In the last three decades, an increasing incidence of allergic diseases has been associated with increasing morbidity and mortality in children and young adults. OBJECTIVES: The study a...

Objectives: Epilepsy is a very common chronic neurological disorder in children throughout the world. This study was conducted to assess Saudi male schoolteachers' knowledge of epilepsy and practice in Southern Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among male teachers; 315 teachers filled a well-designed and pretested self administered questionnaire. Results: Approximately three-quarters (72.7%) of the schoolteachers had witnessed epileptic fits. Forty-six percent believed that epilepsy was caused by electrical discharges. Most of the school teachers (79.7%) disagreed with the idea of teaching children with epilepsy separately, or preventing them from sporting activity (50.5%). In addition, 94.9% disagreed with the idea that epilepsy was shameful. Unfortunately, 64.1% of the teachers who were exposed to cases of seizures were not able to provide first aid to students having epileptic fits (P = 0.03). Conclusions: The schoolteachers were generally knowledgeable about epilepsy. This fact can be used to design a national program through which teachers can help to bring about a well-informed and tolerant community toward epileptics.

The aim here was to study the possible environmental and dietary determinants of asthma among school-aged children in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. In a cross-sectional study on a representative sample in Najran in Southwestern Saudi Arabia using an Arabic version of the modified ISAAC Phase III, parent-administered questionnaire data were collected. Skin prick tests (SPTs) were performed. The study included 1700 school children, out of them 468 (27.5%) were diagnosed with, cases of bronchial asthma and 20.8% (353) reported a 12-month nocturnal cough (as a proxy of severe asthma). In multivariable analysis, the study identified the following risk factors for having asthma or severe asthma: having dogs in the house, being male, being exposed to dense truck traffic on the street, using wood as a cooking fuel, conducting vigorous exercise, consuming eggs, consuming vegetables, having an allergic sensitization to dog hair, and being exposed to Cladosporium, pigweed, and Bermuda grass. On the other hand, the following food stuffs were found to be protective: seafood, fruit, and dairy products. Comprehensive school educational programs for both children and their parents should be adopted to prevent the use of wood in cooking and heating, to ensure that house pets are properly cared for, and to encourage proper dietary habits. Physicians should be informed of the patterns of allergens in order to improve asthma diagnosis and management.

Emergence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia nosocomial isolates in a Saudi children’s hospital. Risk factors and clinical characteristics