Factors influencing the choice of pediatric resident: program directors perspective in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Pediatrics is one of the most important medical specialties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) KSA) since it serves a large population. Therefore, the pediatrics residency program is considered one of the most important and competitive programs. Obtaining acceptance in Saudi programs depends mainly on the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) score, then the applicant enrolls to do the interviews with the training centers in the accepted region. This study aimed to evaluate the factors used by pediatric program directors (PD) in accepting applicants in their pediatric residency program in KSA. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, an online questionnaire consisting of 49 items was distributed among 76 current and former pediatric PDs in KSA. Participants were selected via non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected and analyzed using the Social Sciences Statistical Package (SPSS version 26). RESULTS: Of the sample of PD studied, males represented 77.6%, while females represented 22.4%. Most of the PDs were over 50 years old. Most of them were former pediatric PDs (71.1%). The current study found that the Saudi Medical Licensing Exam was the most important factor [3.87 (0.89)] followed by services and electives [3.86 (0.65)], research [3.84 (0.83)], interview [3.77 (0.89)], GPA [3.50 (0.62)], and letter of recommendation [3.39 (0.76)]. CONCLUSIONS: For those interested in pediatrics residency programs in KSA, this study recommends that seeking a high Saudi Medical Licensing Exam (SMLE) score, taking pediatric elective rotations during internship, and acquiring excellent basic knowledge in research were the most important aspects of pediatrics residency selection from the pediatrics PD's perspective.

The adherence to asthma medication for hospitalized children with asthma: A cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

AIM: The aim of the study was to assess adherence to asthma controller therapy and factors that influence asthma control and to determine the association between asthma knowledge of the caregiver and asthma control among admitted children with asthma. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2022 and May 2023 in a tertiary care hospital. Children with a diagnosis of asthma aged 2-14 years, who were admitted to the hospital with an exacerbation of asthma were identified. METHODS: Caregivers of the admitted children were interviewed using the Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire and Pediatric Inhaler Adherence Questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Demographic and clinical data were described using descriptive analyses, where mean and standard deviation were used for normally distributed continuous variables, median and interquartile range (IQR), if otherwise. A P < 0.05 was set as a cutoff for statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 144 caregivers completed the survey. Median score for parents' knowledge of asthma was 64%, with an IQR of 59-67. Both mother's and father's educational levels were associated with a good level of knowledge: odds ratio (OR) = 2.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-5.6, and OR = 5.33, 95% CI = 2.23-12.7, respectively. Median adherence to metered dose inhaler (MDI) was 4 (IQR = 2-6). Children who had been admitted to the general ward in the last 6 months were three times more likely to be nonadherent to MDI (OR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.18-7.82). Forty-three percent of children who were nonadherent to MDI were less likely to have their asthma controlled (OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.17-1.06). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that a low level of knowledge among caregivers of asthma patients is linked to inadequate adherence to asthma controller therapy. As medication adherence is crucial for achieving desirable asthma control and improving the quality of life for this population, efforts need to be made to enhance the knowledge level of parents of children with asthma.

The Limping Child: A Guide for the Trainees.

Limping is a common presenting complaint in children. Despite this, it remains to be a diagnostic challenge for treating physicians due to an expanded list of etiologies. It arises from a spectrum of disorders, ranging from physiological variations of gait at different stages of development to systemic causes, such as inflammatory diseases or musculoskeletal infections. On rare occasions, non-musculoskeletal causes could result in limping. The diagnostic challenge increases in younger age children where a detailed physical examination that helps identify the exact source of pathology may not be possible. In older patients who have a well-developed gait cycle, the physical assessment might be easier. Clinical assessment in a child presenting with a limp includes gait analysis, which is essential to guide the appropriate request of diagnostic laboratory tests and imaging studies. In this paper, we provide a practical guide for a trainee in General Pediatric and Pediatric Rheumatology on an approach to a limping child, aiming to identify the common causes of limping and to describe normal and abnormal gait cycles. We also discuss other diagnostic considerations in the assessment of these children.

The Epidemiology of Pediatric Thermal Injury-Associated Toxic Shock Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Thermal injury-associated toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a life-threatening condition that can occur in children following burn injuries. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical manifestations, treatment, and outcomes of children who experienced TSS following a thermal injury. Additionally, the existing literature was systematically examined, and published cases of pediatric TSS occurring after burns were compiled. In June 2023, without regard for time constraints, articles that met the criteria were searched across several electronic databases. The inclusion criteria were English-language publications, pediatric patients, and reported outcomes of interest for clinical questions. Due to the heterogeneity of the included publications and the lack of data in an appropriate format, a meta-analysis was not feasible. Our research identified 23 studies published between 1980 and 2023, including 72 cases (from multiple countries) that met the inclusion criteria. Of the 72 patients with thermal injuries complicated by TSS, 53 (73.6%) children survived, 6 (8.3%) died, and for 13 (18%) cases, the outcome was not documented. Our systematic review highlights the rarity, severity, and complexity of pediatric thermal injury-associated TSS. Key findings from the review indicate that pediatric thermal injury-associated TSS carries a high mortality rate and significant morbidity. By increasing awareness, improving diagnostic accuracy, and optimizing treatment strategies, healthcare professionals can improve patient outcomes in this challenging condition.

Unplanned Readmissions in Children with Medical Complexity in Saudi Arabia: A Large Multicenter Study.

Background: Children with medical complexity (CMC) account for a substantial proportion of healthcare spending, and one-third of their expenditures are due to readmissions. However, knowledge regarding the healthcare-resource utilization and characteristics of CMC in Saudi Arabia is limited. Objectives: To describe hospitalization patterns and characteristics of Saudi CMC with an unplanned 30-day readmission. Methodology: This retrospective study included Saudi CMC (aged 0-14 years) who had an unplanned 30-day readmission at six tertiary centers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Alahsa, and Almadina between January 2016 and December 2020. Hospital-based inclusion criteria focused on CMC with multiple complex chronic conditions (CCCs) and technology assistance (TA) device use. CMC were compared across demographics, clinical characteristics, and hospital-resource utilization. Results: A total of 9139 pediatric patients had unplanned 30-day readmission during the study period, of which 680 (7.4%) met the inclusion criteria. Genetic conditions were the most predominant primary pathology (66.3%), with one-third of cases (33.7%) involving the neuromuscular system. During the index admission, pneumonia was the most common diagnosis (33.1%). Approximately 35.1% of the readmissions were after 2 weeks. Pneumonia accounted for 32.5% of the readmissions. After readmission, 16.9% of patients were diagnosed with another CCC or received a new TA device, and the in-hospital mortality rate was 6.6%. Conclusion: The rate of unplanned 30-day readmissions in children with medical complexity in Saudi Arabia is 7.4%, which is lower than those reported from developed countries. Saudi children with CCCs and TA devices were readmitted approximately within similar post-discharge time and showed distinct hospitalization patterns associated with specific diagnoses. To effectively reduce the risk of 30-day readmissions, targeted measures must be introduced both during the hospitalization period and after discharge.

Impact of restructuring an inpatient pediatric service on length of stay and patient flow.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of implementing a new pediatric inpatient structure - the clinical teaching unit (CTU) - on length of stay (LOS) and other patient care outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on children admitted to the General Pediatric Inpatient Service at King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between July 2015 and December 2018. The main outcome measures were median and mean LOS before and after CTU implementation. Other outcomes measured were the proportion of patients discharged on weekends, during daytime, and within 24 hours of admission, and the proportion of patients readmitted within 7 days of discharge. RESULTS: Median LOS decreased from 2.80 to 2.63 days after CTU implementation (p<0.0001). The proportion of weekend discharges significantly increased after CTU implementation from 18% to 21.5% (p<0.0243) and daytime discharges significantly increased from 6.9% to 25.6% (p<0.0001) after CTU implementation. The improvements in LOS were sustained in the years after CTU implementation, with median LOS decreasing from 2.71 to 2.60 days during 2016-2018 (p<0.001) and mean LOS decreasing from 5.03 to 3.92 days (p=0.0031). During the same period, readmission rates remained stable at 3.5-4%. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a new pediatric inpatient team structure led to significant improvements in many patient care outcomes, including decreased LOS.

Prevalence of Obesity among Children and Adolescents in Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Population-Based Study.

Background: Childhood obesity has increased in Saudi Arabia over the past few decades. However, a representative burden of obesity remains unclear, as most studies had relied on small samples and/or used international growth references, which may have resulted in over-or underestimations of prevalence. Objective: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia using the Saudi growth chart. Methods: This population-based retrospective study included children and adolescents aged 2-19 years who visited any facility within the National Guard Health System (5 hospitals and 24 primary care centers) across Saudi Arabia between 2016 and 2021. The Saudi growth reference for children and adolescents was used for classification. Those with body mass index ≥95th percentile were considered as obese and ≥85th to <95th percentile as overweight. Chi-square tests were used to compare frequencies across groups. Results: A total of 351,195 children and adolescents were included, of which 337,316 (96%) were Saudis. Overall, about one-fifth of the population was overweight (11.2%) or obese (9.4%). The prevalence of obesity was highest among children aged 2-6 years (12.3%), and it was higher among boys (10.4%) than girls (8.3%). In terms of region, the prevalence of obesity among Saudis was highest in the Central and Eastern regions (9.9% for both). Conclusion: The findings highlight an urgent need for national interventions to focus on the upstream determinants of childhood obesity and to improve healthy options for children and adolescents in terms of food and physical activities.

The Association of Corticosteroid Therapy With Mortality and Length of Stay Among Children With Septic Shock: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction Septic shock remains a leading cause of mortality in pediatric patients. Corticosteroids have been used in the management of sepsis and septic shock, but there is conflicting evidence on the potential benefit of corticosteroid therapy. This study assessed the risk of mortality and length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) among pediatric patients admitted with a septic shock diagnosis. Method A retrospective cohort study was conducted among pediatric patients (up to 14 years old) admitted with a septic shock diagnosis to the PICU of King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in Riyadh from January 2016 to December 2021. The clinical outcomes of patients receiving corticosteroid therapy were compared to those of control patients who were not given corticosteroids. Electronic medical records provided clinical data, severity scores, and the management given for each patient. The patients were followed up from the date of sepsis diagnosis to hospital discharge. Proportional hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated to compare the risk of mortality, length of PICU stay, and length of hospital stay. Results A total of 182 pediatric patients were included in the study, and 86 (47%) received corticosteroid therapy. The median age of the study population was 15 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 2-72 months). Compared to the controls, the patients who received corticosteroids had a higher total Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (mean±SD: 5.5±3 vs. 7.1±3.3, respectively; p <0.01) and required more ventilation support (72% vs. 28%, respectively) and the use of inotropes and vasopressors (74% vs. 34% and 32% vs. 6%, respectively). In-hospital mortality did not significantly differ between the groups (adjusted HR: 2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66-10.28). Those patients who received corticosteroids had 42% less risk of staying in the PICU for over six days than those not receiving steroids (HR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.13-0.98) Conclusion After adjusting for baseline characteristics, severity scores, and medical intervention, no association was found between receiving corticosteroids and mortality (p=0.492). Furthermore, patients who received corticosteroids had less risk of a prolonged stay in the PICU than those who did not.

Elemental Milk Formula as a Possible Cause of Hypophosphatemic Rickets in Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome.

Phosphate has a fundamental role in bone mineralization, and its chronic deficiency has multiple negative consequences in the body including defects in bone mineralization that will manifest in children as rickets and osteomalacia. We present here a young boy known to have Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome with multiple co-morbidities that necessitated gastric tube feeding. The child at 22 months was found to have hypophosphatemia and a high alkaline phosphatase level associated with rachitic skeletal manifestations that were attributed to low phosphate intake and/or gastrointestinal absorption as there was no evidence of excessive phosphate wasting based on appropriate tubular renal re-absorption of phosphate. The primary nutritional source was an elemental amino acid-based milk formula (Neocate®) from 12 months of age. After switching from Neocate® to another elemental amino-acid based milk formula, all biochemical and radiological abnormalities returned to normal, indicating that the Neocate® formula was the possible cause of the patient's low phosphate intake. However, in the literature, this formula-associated effect was only described in a limited number of patients. Whether or not some patient-related factors, such as the very rare syndrome described in our patient, could influence this effect warrants further exploration.

Identifying the Prevalence and Causes of 30-Day Hospital Readmission in Children: A Case Study from a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital.

Introduction: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of unplanned readmissions in the pediatric population within 30 days of discharge, identify the possible reasons behind them, and develop a predictive model for unplanned admissions. Methods: A retrospective chart review study of 25,211 patients was conducted to identify the prevalence of readmissions occurring within 30 days of discharge from the King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital (KASCH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between Jan 1, 2019, and Dec 31, 2021. The data were collected using the BestCare electronic health records system and analyzed using Jamovi statistical software version 1.6. Results: Among the 25,211 patients admitted to the hospital during the study period, the prevalence of unplanned readmission within 30 days was 1291 (5.12%). Of the 1291 patients, 1.91% had subsequent unplanned readmissions. In 57.8% of the cases, the cause of the first unplanned readmission was related to the cause of the first admission, and in 90.64% of the cases, the cause of the subsequent unplanned readmission was related to the cause of the first unplanned readmission. The most common reason for the first unplanned readmission was postoperative complications (18.75%), whereas pneumonia (10.81%) was the most common reason for subsequent unplanned readmissions. Most patients with subsequent unplanned readmissions were also found to have either isolated central nervous system pathology or chronic complex medical conditions. Conclusion: Internationally, the rate of unplanned readmissions in pediatric patients has been estimated to be 6.5% within 30 days, which is comparable to the results of our study (5.12%). Most of the causes of first and subsequent unplanned readmission were found to be related to primary admission. The diagnosis/causes of readmission vary depending on the patient's age. A predictive model for pediatric readmission should be established so that preventive measures can be implemented.

Impact of a same day admission project in reducing the preoperative bed occupancy demand in a pediatric inpatient hospital.

Background: A same day admission approach was established for pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery owing to an increase in demand for bed availability and the need for medical, logistical, psychological, and fiscal improvements. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the same day admission approach for reducing demand for preoperative bed occupancy in pediatric inpatient units. Method: Data on elective surgery patients considered for same day admission were prospectively collected in an Excel spreadsheet. Results: Same day admission patients numbered 269 (25.87%; n = 1040), 461 (41.7%; n = 1104), 382 (38.67%; n = 998), and 560 (44.20%; n = 1267) in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. Over the 4-year period between 2018 and 2021, pediatric orthopedic surgeries accounted for the majority of same day admissions (29.72%; n = 497), followed by ear, nose, and throat (21.30%; n = 356), general (16.99%; n = 284), plastic (14.53%; n = 243); urology (9.87%; n = 165); optometry and ophthalmology (3.77%; n = 63); neuro (2.51%; n = 42), and dental (1.31%; n = 22) surgeries. The total number of days of saved preoperative beds over the 4-year period was 1672 days (an average of 418 hospital days per year). Conclusions: This study showed that same day admission approach should be implemented in pediatrics institutions to reduce hospital bed demand. The implementation of this initiative is widely variable between specialties due to interlinked medical, operational, and logistical factors. Level of Evidence: III.

Residents and staff perceptions of a pediatric clinical teaching unit in a large tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The clinical teaching unit (CTU) is a commonly used model of patient care and teaching. Despite being a common model of care, very few studies have looked at its impact on the education of trainees. In addition, it is a relatively new structure for pediatric inpatient care in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this study was to compare postgraduate trainees (residents) and staff perceptions of the old and the new (the CTU) inpatient team structures, and to evaluate the impact of the CTU on residents' education. METHODS: An online survey was sent to nurses, pediatric residents, and attending physicians who worked under both structures. Questions for residents were adopted from the National training survey of the General Medical Council, United Kingdom. RESULTS: A total of 147 pediatric healthcare workers completed the survey (97 nurses, 39 residents, and 11 attending physicians), most of whom worked in both the old and new inpatient team structures. More than 97% of residents reported being supervised by their attending on a daily basis in the CTU structure as compared with 15% in the old structure. A higher proportion of residents favored the old structure in terms of the opportunity it provided to develop their leadership skills. Eighty-seven percent of nurses believed the CTU had improved patient safety of pediatric inpatients. Overall, 82% of residents, 91% of nurses, and 100% of attending physicians favoured the CTU structure over the old inpatient model. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that pediatric residents and staff perceived the CTU structure as superior to the old inpatient team structure, especially in terms of patient safety. Although the CTU seemed to have a positive impact on residents' education, this must be further examined especially with respect to its impact on residents' leadership skills.

IL-35 and IL-37 are negatively correlated with high IgE production among children with asthma in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is one of the most prevalent inflammatory disorders among children in Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the correlation between the serum levels of vitamin D, immunoglobulin E (IgE), and cytokine (interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-35, and IL-37) in relation to the severity of disease in patients with asthma. METHODS: This case-control study was carried out at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital, Saudi Arabia, and included 48 patients with asthma and 47 matched controls, aged 6-14 years. A validated questionnaire was administered to the participants, after which each patient with asthma underwent pulmonary function tests. The serum levels of vitamin D, IgE, IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-35, and IL-37 of each participant were also measured. RESULTS: Patients with asthma demonstrated significantly higher IgE and cytokine (IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-35, and IL-37) levels compared to the control group (p value < .001). The levels of IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 were consistently positively correlated with the serum levels of IgE among patients with asthma. However, the IgE levels in patients with asthma were consistently negatively correlated with IL-35 and IL-37. CONCLUSIONS: We found significantly higher levels of eosinophils, IgE, IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-35, and IL-37 in patients with asthma compared to the controls, but no relationship between vitamin D and asthma.

Mutated VWA8 Is Associated With Developmental Delay, Microcephaly, and Scoliosis and Plays a Novel Role in Early Development and Skeletal Morphogenesis in Zebrafish.

Von Willebrand A domain-containing protein 8 (VWA8), also named KIAA0564, is a poorly characterized, mitochondrial matrix-targeted protein having a putative ATPase activity. VWA8 is comprising of ATPase-associated domains and a VWFA domain associated with ATPase activity inside the cell. In the present study, we describe a large consanguineous family of Saudi origin segregating a complex developmental syndrome in an autosomal recessive fashion. All the affected individuals exhibited severe developmental disorders. DNA from three patients was subjected to whole-exome sequencing followed by Sanger sequencing. VWA8 knock-down zebrafish morpholinos were used to study the phenotypic effect of this gene on zebrafish development. A homozygous missense variant [c.947A > G; p.(Asp316Gly)] was identified in exon 8 of the VWA8 gene, which perfectly segregated with the disease phenotype. Using zebrafish morpholino, we observed delayed development at an early stage, lack of movement, light sensitivity, severe skeletal deformity such as scoliosis, and facial dysmorphism. This is the first homozygous variant identified in the VWA8 gene underlying global developmental delay, microcephaly, scoliosis, limbs, and cardiovascular malformations in humans. We provide genetic and molecular evidence using zebrafish morpholino for a homozygous variant in the VWA8 gene, associated with such a complex developmental syndrome in humans.

COVID-19 Disease in Infants Less Than 90 Days: Case Series.

The objective of this study is to describe the clinical presentations, radiological and laboratory findings, and outcomes of COVID-19 disease in infants ≤ 90 days of age at presentation. We conducted a retrospective study of infants in this age group who were found to be SARS-CoV-2 positive. Asymptomatic infants who were identified through routine testing following delivery to COVID-19-positive mothers were excluded. We classified infants according to their presentation: asymptomatic, mildly symptomatic, moderately symptomatic, and severely/critically symptomatic. A total of 36 infants were included. Of them, two were asymptomatic and four had severe/critical presentation. Of the severely symptomatic infants, two were considered as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and there was one death. One infant in the severe symptomatic group presented with cardiac failure, with the possibility of congenital infection. Another infant presented with cardiogenic shock. None of these infants received antiviral medication. The study found that infants ≤ 90 days can present with a severe form of COVID-19 disease. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, although rarely reported in infants, is a possible complication of COVID-19 disease and can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

The epidemiology of drowning among Saudi children: results from a large trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death among children worldwide. Although natural waters pose a risk of drowning in low-income countries, swimming pools are more prevalent in high-income countries. In Saudi Arabia, injuries and drowning are a significant threat to population health. Local data is limited, which affects an understanding of the extent of the burden and the development of prevention strategies. OBJECTIVE: Determine the epidemiological characteristics, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of drowning among children. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Patients admitted to the tertiary care unit of a hospital in Riyadh. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data was collected on children who drowned (age 0-14) between January 2015 and August 2020. Cases were identified from the electronic health record system where the diagnosis was drowning. Differences in characteristics and outcomes between nonfatal cases with no neurological damage and fatal cases with neurological damage were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Drowning mortality and morbidity. SAMPLE SIZE: 99. RESULTS: Of the 99 drowning cases, 22 (22.2%) had a fatal outcome or resulted in neurological damage. The most-reported drowning site was private pools (82%). The majority of cases involved children younger than the age of two (54%). Eighty-four cases (84.8%) occurred on holidays. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in 61 (61.6%) of cases. A significant association was found between the delay in initiating resuscitation and an unfavorable outcome (P<.01). A high Glasgow Coma Scale score upon admission was a predictor of normal recovery (P<.01). CONCLUSION: These findings warrant investment to increase public awareness of the risks of leaving children unsupervised in swimming pools. In addition, there is a need to ensure early resuscitation of drowning victims by promoting life support courses in order to facilitate positive outcomes. LIMITATIONS: The study was conducted in one tertiary center located in a non-coastal city so the results may not be generalizable. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, clinical characteristics, diagnostic findings and therapeutic interventions at a tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 was first identified in Wuhan, China. All ages are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Few studies had reported milder course in children however, severe course of illness has been reported. We aimed to describe the clinical features of COVID-19 in pediatric patients including diagnostic findings and therapeutic interventions in sever disease manifestation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 742 patients with SARS-CoV-2 proven infection at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital, from April 2020 and July 2020. Inpatients, outpatient, including those with sever manifestation treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were included. We collected data including demographic data, comorbidities, symptoms, imaging data, laboratory findings, treatments and clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19. RESULTS: Among of 742 patients, 71 (9.6%) were hospitalized. The median age of patients was 75 months old and 53.6 were male. A total of 461 (62.1%) had close contact with confirmed cases, 45 (6.1%) had no contact history, and 236 (31.8%) with unknown exposure risk. The most common symptoms at the onset of illness were fever (32.5%), respiratory symptoms (21%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (10.3%). Among the entire cohort, 7 patients were admitted to PICU with COVID-19 related symptoms, five patients diagnosed with MIS-C, one patient with Kawasaki, and one patient with pneumonia. All patients received supportive therapy, no antiviral treatment had been used however, in MIS-C patients IVIG had been given to all patients, five patients received Anakinra; and one patient received tocilizumab. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, children infected with SARS-CoV-2 are less likely to develop symptomatic or serious diseases. Among symptomatic children, the most common clinical features were fever and respiratory symptoms followed by gastrointestinal manifestations. The majority of infected children have reported contact with an infected individual. MIS-C associated with COVID-19 is a severe presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and of a major concern as an overlapping features with other diseases could happen, making the diagnosis challenging.

Pediatric resident's perception of night float system compared to 24 hours system, a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to evaluate the perceptions of pediatric residents under the night float (NF) on-call system and its impact on well-being, education, and patient safety compared with the traditional 24-h on-call system. METHODS: The study is prospective in nature and conducted on two pediatric resident training centers who apply the NF on-call system as a pilot project. Senior residents (PGY-3 and PGY-4) enrolled in the two training centers were invited to participate before and 6 months after the implementation of the change in the on-call system. A self-administered online questionnaire was distributed. Responses were rated using a five-point Likert-type scale (1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree). The items covered three main domains, namely, residents' well-being, ability to deliver healthcare, and medical education experience. Pre- and post-intervention scores were presented as means and compared by t-test for paired samples. RESULTS: A total of 42 residents participated in the survey (female = 24; 57.1%). All participants were senior residents; 25 (59.6%) were third-year residents (PGY-3), whereas 17 (40.4%) were fourth-year residents (PGY-4). The participants reported that many aspects of the three domains were improved with the introduction of the NF system. The system was perceived to exert less adverse health effect on the residents (mean: 2.37 ± 1.01) compared with the 24-h on-call system (mean: 4.19 ± 0.60; P < 0.001). In addition, the NF system was perceived to lead to less exposure to personal harm and result in less negative impact on quality of care, better work efficiency, reduced potential for medical errors, more successful teaching, and less disruptions to other rotations compared with the 24 h on-call system (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The perception of senior residents toward the 24-h on-call system pertains to negative impacts on well-being, education, and patient safety compared with on-call systems with restrictive duty hours, such as the NF system, which is perceived to be less harmful, to exert positive impacts on the quality of delivered healthcare services, and more useful from pedagogic aspect.

Hospital preparedness and management of pediatric population during COVID-19 outbreak.

With the recent pandemic of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), there has been a higher number of reported cases in children more than to the prior Corona Virus-related diseases, namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome and the Middle East respiratory syndrome. The rate of COVID-19 in children is lower than adults; however, due to high transmission rate, the number of reported cases in children has been increasing. With the rising numbers among children, it is imperative to develop preparedness plans for the pediatric population at the hospital level, departmental level, and patient care areas. This paper summarizes important considerations for pediatric hospital preparedness at the hospital level that includes workforce, equipment, supply; capacity planning, and infection prevention strategies, it also span over the management of COVID-19 pediatric patients in high-risk areas such as critical care areas, Emergency Department and operative rooms.

The associations between injury mechanism and extended hospital stay among pediatric patients: findings from a trauma Center in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: A hospitalized patient's length of stay (LOS) can have a significant impact on the performance and operating costs of a healthcare facility. Among pediatric patients, traumatic injuries are common causes of emergency room visits and hospitalizations. In Saudi Arabia, little is known about the burden of pediatric traumas on population health and the healthcare facilities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the associations between traumatic pediatric injury mechanisms and extended LOS in a trauma center. METHODS: Data was obtained from the trauma registry. From 2001 to 2018, trauma patients between the ages of 0 and 18 years old with LOSs of > 0 days were analyzed. The independent variable was the injury mechanism, which was classified as follows: falls, burns, drowning, motor vehicle collisions, motorcycle collisions, pedestrian, and intentional injuries. The dependent variable was an extended LOS defined as ≥21 days. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between the injury mechanisms and an extended LOS. RESULTS: A total of 5563 pediatric patients were included in this study. Of those, 774 (14%) had extended LOSs. Those patients with extended LOSs suffered more severe injuries than those with short hospital stays as measured by the Injury Severity Score (mean scores: 15.4 vs. 6.8, p < 0.01), the Glasgow Coma Scale score (mean scores: 10.4 vs, 14.0, p < 0.01), and the Revised Trauma Score (mean scores: 9.9 vs. 11.0, p < 0.01). Approximately one half of the patients with extended LOSs were admitted due to motor vehicle injuries. In addition, those patients were almost five times more likely to have extended LOSs than the patients who suffered fall injuries (odds ratio: 4.8, 95% confidence interval: 3.2-7.1). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study results, motor vehicle injuries were significantly associated with extended hospitalizations. Prevention is instrumental for reducing healthcare utilization; therefore, these findings call for public health professionals and policymakers to plan, design, and implement preventive measures to reduce the traffic injury burden. In addition, increased traffic law enforcement, such as the use of car restraints, is warranted to reduce the preventable injuries and improve the overall population health.