Hormonal Contraception Use and Depression Among Women in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of depression amongst hormonal and non-hormonal contraception users, and the risk factors associated with depression in the sample. Patients and Methods: This is a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from October to November 2021, covering all regions of Saudi Arabia. All participants were women, living in Saudi Arabia, ≥21 years old and ≤45 years old, using a contraceptive method, and with no established history of depression. Results: A total of 4853 out of 18,596 met our criteria and were included in this study. Among all sample groups, 29% had moderate to severe depression. Rates of depression and association studies' results in women using hormonal were higher than those who use non-hormonal birth control methods. Psychiatric disorders, medical illnesses, substance use and depressogenic medication use were all associated with depression in both hormonal and non-hormonal contraception users. Conclusion: The current study shows high prevalence of depression amongst hormonal contraceptive users compared to non-hormonal contraceptive users.

Pityriasis Rosea Following Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccination in an Adolescent Girl.

Pityriasis rosea (PR) is an acute self-limiting exanthematous skin disorder characterized by the presence of a primary solitary lesion called a herald patch and the subsequent development of diffuse papulosquamous lesions within 1 to 2 weeks. This is a case of COVID-19 vaccine-induced PR in the age group (12-18 years) that was recently approved for vaccination. We report a case of a 15-year-old otherwise healthy female with a history of 2 weeks of single oval primary plaque appearing on the right wrist 2 days after receiving the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, followed by diffuse and mild itchy skin eruptions spreading over the abdomen, back, chest, and extremities. The patient had no other symptoms and no PR risk factors. The patient was placed on 800 mg acyclovir five times a day and improved markedly after 1 week. As vaccine-induced PR/PR-like eruptions (PR-LE) is an uncommon phenomenon, we recommend further studies to determine the association between PR/PR-LE and COVID-19 vaccination.

Hidradenitis supparativa complicated by penoscrotal lymphedema and renal amyloidosis.

Genital lymphedema usually develops after 4-30 years of chronic hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). However, our patient exhibited signs of it as early as 2 years after being diagnosed with HS. Renal amyloidosis is a rarely reported complication of HS. Unfortunately, our patient was asymptomatic but was found to have end-stage renal disease secondary to advanced renal amyloidosis. We report a case of a 42-year-old Indian gentleman who had HS for 9 years presenting with 2 rare complications: penoscrotal lymphedema and end-stage renal disease secondary to renal amyloidosis. The patient was treated with prednisolone and adalimumab to treat both his HS and renal amyloidosis, and was referred to general surgery to manage his genital lymphedema. We recommend following adult patients with moderate-to-severe HS and clinical duration of greater than 3 years and screening for amyloidosis before they reach end-stage organ disease, similar to what happened to our patient with end-stage renal disease.

An approach to café au lait macules in primary care setting.

Café au lait macules (CALMs), if solitary, are benign lesion with no clinical meaning, and are common in the general population. Multiple CALMs may be the hallmark of some disorders and need to be assessed by an interprofessional team. The diagnosis and evaluation of a patient with a suspected condition may include a team of pediatric neurologists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists, geneticists, and orthopedic surgeons. To evaluate the progression of the disease, an annual follow-up is required.

What are the barriers and facilitators of volunteering among healthcare students during the COVID-19 pandemic? A Saudi-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess the volunteering of undergraduate health students and interns in the Ministry of Health (MOH) services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the COVID-19 pandemic, its motivational factors and barriers, as well as their risk perception of COVID-19. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: From 12 to 21 May 2020, an online survey was sent to all undergraduate health students and interns in the KSA. This included questions on demographics, volunteering status, risk perception of COVID-19, as well as motivations and barriers towards volunteering. RESULTS: In a convenience sample of 6016 students and interns across KSA, 1824 (30.31%) have volunteered with the MOH services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteering was more likely among older participants, from the College of Medicine, those with self-perceived at risk of COVID-19 infection and those with self-perceived healthy participants. Females, those who did not think that students had moral duties to volunteer, those who were at risk of seasonal influenza and those with self-perceived at risk of hospitalisation from COVID-19 were less likely to volunteer. Patriotism, gaining experience, assisting when able and religious rewards all were reported as major motivators to volunteer. Non-volunteering participants reported that lack of interest, protocol and knowledge, as well as issues related to their personal health and transportation were the main barriers to volunteering. CONCLUSIONS: About one-third of undergraduate health students and interns volunteered during the first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in KSA. Moral values were the most important motivations among volunteers. Efforts to encourage heath students and interns to volunteer and providing those with appropriate educational programmes are recommended.