School-based intervention to promote healthy nutrition in Sousse, Tunisia.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity among children is a major risk factor for chronic diseases. School interventions programs can represent a mean to implement healthy nutrition attitudes at early ages. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of a school intervention program to promote healthy nutrition among adolescents, in terms of knowledge, behaviors and intention. METHODS: Quasi experimental study among urban students in Sousse, Tunisia with 2 groups, intervention and control. The intervention group had an interactive program integrated with school courses that promoted healthy nutrition habits. Both groups had a pre post evaluation. RESULTS: 2200 students aged from 12 to 16 participated to the pre post evaluation. In the intervention group, there were significant changes form pre to post test in knowledge, intentions, and behaviors. In the control group, almost no significant changes were observed. CONCLUSION: School intervention programs can represent an interesting approach to promote healthy nutrition habits among adolescents.

Effect of diabetes self-management education on health-related quality of life of Tunisian children with type1 diabetes mellitus and their parents: A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To assess the effect of diabetes self-management education (DSME) on health related quality of life (HRQoL) of Tunisian children/adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and their parents. METHODS: This monocentral study used a randomized controlled trial design, during five-month intervention and five-month follow-up and including 110 patients (54 in the DSME intervention group and 56 in the Individual Education by Pediatrician (IEP) control group) and their parents. Pediatric Generic Core Quality-of-Life Inventory 4.0-Scale (PedsQL4.0) evaluated HRQoL. RESULTS: At baseline, both groups had similar clinical features and PedsQL4.0 scores (p>0.05). In DSME, clinical outcomes were significantly improved from baseline to follow-up (p<0.001), while in the IEP group, which received no intervention, these outcomes remained unchanged. During follow-up, DSME showed higher PedsQL4.0 scores in parents' proxy-report and children/adolescents self-report (p<0.001). According to parents' proxy-report, PedsQL4.0 scores were significantly higher during follow-up compared to baseline in DSME (p<0.001) while they remained the same in IEP (p>0.05). DSME had higher percentage of change in the PedsQL4.0 scores than IEP (p<0.01). The median change varied from -5.01% to 0% vs 5.41% to 36.36% in IEP and DSME, respectively. CONCLUSION: Encouraging healthcare professionals to incorporate these interventions could enhance the HRQoL of diabetic children and bolster their self-esteem.

Cribriform plate dehiscence with encephalomeningocele revealed by recurrent meningitis: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Meningitis is a potentially life threatening illness. It requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Recurrent meningitis needs detailed investigations to identify the underlying cause. OBSERVATION: We report a case of recurrent pneumococcal meningitis in a 9-year-old boy with an underlying congenital skull base abnormality. Brain computed tomography (CT) scan showed no obvious skull base defects. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a dehiscence of the cribriform plate with encephalomeningocele. The patient underwent an endoscopic repair of the bony defect and had not developed any new infections ever since. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the need to investigate recurrent bacterial meningitis with CT scan and MRI of the brain and skull base. Repair of these congenital skull base defects are mandatory to prevent the recurrence of meningitis.

Turner syndrome: results of the first Tunisian study group on Turner syndrome (TuSGOT).

OBJECTIVES: Early diagnosis in Turner syndrome is desirable to optimize growth and puberty and yet, it is often made late. Here, we aim to identify age at diagnosis, clinical features at presentation and potential strategies to improve the care of TS girls. METHODS: Retrospective study, including patients from 14 care centers across Tunisia including neonatal and pediatric care units, adult endocrinology and genetics departments. RESULTS: We identified 175 patients with TS, karyotype showing 45, xmonosomy in 83(47.4 %) with mosaicism in 37(20 %). Mean ± SD, median (range) age at diagnosis available in 173 patients was 13 ± 9.2,12 (birth-48) years. The diagnosis was antenatal in 4(2.3 %), from birth-2 years in 14 (8 %)with lymphoedema (8)and dysmorphic features (9),2-12 years in 53 (35.5 %) including 35 with short stature, 13-18 years in 43(28.8 %) with short stature(28) and delayed puberty(14) and 35(23.5 %) after 18 years, related to ovarian insufficiency (20) and short stature (11). The associated malformations were cardiac in 14 (12.8 %), renal in 22 (19.6 %). A total of 56 girls (32 %) had proven gonadal dysgenesis and 13 (7 %) had otological problems. Parental height was available in 71 girls (40 %) of whom 59 were below the lower end of parental target range (LTR) (83 %). CONCLUSIONS: This first Tunisian multicenter study, the first African of its kind, reveals that more than half of Turner syndrome cases are diagnosed after the age of 12 years. Subsequently, national strategies for an earlier TS diagnosis are needed such as measuring and plotting parental heights as well as introducing a systematic height screening at 5 years in Tunisia with a view to carrying out a re-audit in five years' time.

Disseminated BCG infection revealing a severe combined immunodeficiency: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine, which is administered to all newborns in Tunisia, can lead to serious complications ranging from local disease to disseminated disease in a group of patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases. CASE REPORT: A 3-month-old boy presented with persistent fever, hepato-splenomegaly and multiple osteolytic lesions. He was diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency disease and disseminated BCG infection. Despite anti-tubercular therapy combined with intravenous immunoglobulin, the evolution was fatal. CONCLUSION: The case highlights the possible risk of such rare yet lethal complication of BCG vaccine. In suspected cases of primary immunodeficiency disease, inoculation of BCG should be postponed until appropriate screening tests exclude such diagnosis to prevent serious complications.

Reversibility of pancreatic ß-cells dysfunction after vitamin D and calcium supplementation: a pilot study in a population of obese and prepubescent North-African children.

The mechanisms of diabetogenesis in children remain largely obscure. This study aimed to determine the impact of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on pancreatic ß-cells function in terms of insulin secretion and sensitivity. This was a quasi-experimental study involving 30 obese and prepubescent Tunisian children (57% boys). During three months, the children received calcium and vitamin D supplementation at therapeutic doses. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at the beginning and at the end of the study. The following metabolic definitions were applied: i) hyperinsulinism: insulinemia sum > 300 µ UI/ml during OGTT, ii) insulin-resistance: homeostatic model assessment of insulin-resistance > 2, iii) normal glycaemic profile: normal plasma levels during OGTT without any spike, and iv) pancreatic ß-cells dysfunction reversibility: disappearance of the aforementioned disorders. The means ± standard-deviation of age and body mass index were 10.87 ± 1.9 years, and 30.17 ± 4.99 kg/m2, respectively. All children were at the stage of hyperinsulinism associated with insulin-resistance. These disturbances were noted even in children having a normal glycaemic profile at OGTT. After calcium and vitamin D supplementation, glycaemic profile as well as insulin-secretion improved significantly (p < 0.0001). Hyperinsulinism and insulin-resistance decreased significantly by 56.67% (p < 0.0001) and 70.00% (p < 0.0001), respectively. Complete reversibility of these two disorders was noted in 26.6% of children. To conclude, in obese and prepubescent children, vitamin D and calcium supplementation led to the reversibility of the pancreatic ß-cells dysfunction.

Comparison of cigarette and waterpipe smoking among pupils in the urban area of Sousse, Tunisia.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological and observational evidence suggests that waterpipe use is growing in popularity worldwide. AIM: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of cigarette and water pipe tobacco use among pupils aged 13-17 years in the urban area of Sousse, Tunisia and to identify the factors which predict current cigarette and/or waterpipe smoking in this population. METHODS: Across-sectional study was carried out on a representative sample of schoolchildren aged between 13 and 17 years in colleges and public secondary schools of the urban area of Sousse. We used a pre tested and self administered questionnaire to measure tobacco consumption. The significance level for all analyses was p<0.05. Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS 10.0 software. RESULTS: Participants were 1569 youth. Fifty two percent of them were male. The mean age of the sample was 15+/-1.5 years. Total cigarette smoking percentage for ever and current use were 33.1% and 7.6% respectively. Total water pipe smoking percentage for ever and current use were 19.3% and 5.2% respectively. Overall, the total percentages of cigarette and water pipe smoking (ever and current) were higher for male and aged pupils. Multivariate regression analyses showed that the two types of tobacco use were related. CONCLUSION: Despite the growing adoption of water-pipe smoking, there remains limited research in this area. Increased surveillance and additional research are necessary to address this growing threat to public health.

Malignant hyperthermia in a 4-year-old girl during anesthesia induction with sevoflurane and succinylcholine for congenital ptosis surgery.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare pharmacogenic disorder of skeletal muscle calcium regulation, resulting from general anesthesia that can be fatal. Most cases are caused by administration of volatile anesthetics or depolarizing muscle relaxants. It has been generally reported that both of sevoflurane and succinylcholine can induce the delayed onset of MH. Here, we report a case of malignant hyperthermia in a four-year-old girl during anesthesia induction for unilateral congenital ptosis surgery, two minutes after sevoflurane and succinylcholine administration. The crisis was atypical but early recognized and managed by administration of dantrolene with symptomatic treatment.

Long term effect of a school based intervention to prevent chronic diseases in Tunisia, 2009-2015.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the long term effect of school based intervention to prevent non- communicable disease risk factors. METHODS: It was a quasi experimental study conducted during the period of 2009-2015. We involved school children aged from 11 to 16 years old. For the assessment of the program's effectiveness, subjects in both groups were examined at baseline, at the end of the 3-year intervention period and at the follow-up, one year after program's cessation. RESULTS: In the intervention group, the prevalence of school children who reported to be eating 5 fruits and vegetable sdaily increased significantly from 30.0% at pre-assessment to 33.2% at post-assessment, one year after (p=0.02, p=0.41 respectively). For the control group, this prevalence had significantly decreased from 40.2% at baseline to 35.0% at post-intervention, at the follow up, this proportion increased to 44.5%(p=0.001, p<10-3 respectively). Concerning smoking habits, we observed a decreasing trend in the intervention group from 5.7% at pre-assessment, to 4.8% at post-assessment and to 3.4% at the follow-up (p=0.19 and p=0.25 respectively). There was also a significant decrease in school children who did recommended physical activity in the same group. CONCLUSION: The present work showed that interventions promoting healthy lifestyles should be maintained. Developing countries should be encouraged and supported to design, conduct, and evaluate robust preventive interventions.

School-based Intervention to Promote Healthy Lifestyles in Sousse, Tunisia.

BACKGROUND: Integrated actions against selected risk factors (i.e. smoking, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet) can lead to the reduction of major chronic diseases. OBJECTIVE: To implement and evaluate a school-based intervention program to prevent cardiovascular risk factors among children. DESIGN: Pre- test post-test quasi experimental design with a control group. SETTING: Four secondary schools in Sousse, Tunisia. INTERVENTION: The overall intervention program lasted for a school year and incorporated educative actions concerning tobacco use, physical activity, and healthy diet. RESULTS: Globally, knowledge, behaviors, and intentions concerning smoking improved in both groups between baseline and the end of the study, particularly in the intervention group. Nutrition knowledge, behaviors, and intentions improved in both groups between baseline and final stage, particularly in the intervention group. At the final stage, there was an increase in the proportion of children walking to and from school in the intervention group. There was also an increase in the percentage of children with intention of practicing sport in the future particularly in the intervention group. There were no significant differences in BMI after the intervention neither in intervention nor in control groups. At the end of the study, the incidence of overweight and obesity was similar to that at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study has demonstrated the potential of school as a suitable setting for the promotion of healthy lifestyles in children. The study resulted in substantial improvements concerning knowledge, behaviors, and intentions in the intervention group.