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BACKGROUND: Substance use disorder (SUD) is related to the interplay of various factors. The primary objective of this study was to assess the variation in substance use (SU) among a set of Lebanese people undergoing treatment for SUD during the Lebanese economic crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, and Beirut Blast. METHODS: A cross-sectional study including Lebanese adults previously diagnosed with and being treated for SUD at the Skoun center was conducted. Data collection was done using a paper-based Arabic questionnaire tackling the economic crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Beirut Blast, as well as the following scores: APGAR, PHQ-9, GAD-7 and PCL-6. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 with P value<0.05 considered significant. A bivariate analysis was conducted to study the association between the use of substances and study variables and scores. RESULTS: The sample included 126 men and 10 women. Most participants had a stable consumption of illicit drugs (58.8%), alcohol (76.5%), prescription drugs (70.6%) and non-prescription drugs (89%). Additionally, most participants had concomitant mild or moderate depression (55.1%), mild or moderate anxiety (50.7%), and PTSD (61.8%). Factors found to significantly increase SU were economic distress, change in employment status, and decrease in working hours. PTSD was also identified as a risk factor for increased illicit drug and alcohol use. Furthermore, severe anxiety was found to be a risk factor for increased alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: Most participants were able to maintain a stable pattern of SU despite the quadruple crisis in Lebanon highlighting the important role played by Lebanese Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and efforts employed to control SUD.
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Morphea, a rare skin disorder characterized by localized areas of thickened and sclerotic skin, typically presents as circumscribed plaques. The linear variant, however, manifests as linear bands of sclerosis affecting the extremities, and its association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not been documented until now. In this article, we present the case of a 22-year-old previously healthy female patient who contracted COVID-19 complicated by an erythroedema on the back of the right hand, extending notably to the forearm on the 10th day of the infection. Skin biopsy revealed dermal and septal hypodermal fibrosis with a mild lymphocytic interstitial infiltrate in the dermis consistent with morphea. Treatment with low-dose corticosteroids was started, and regular follow-up was established. An isolated recurrence of cutaneous symptoms was observed after the first COVID-19 vaccination (Sputnik V) administered five months after the initial infection, with spontaneous regression in 10 days. This clinical evolution underscores the importance of a comprehensive understanding of dermatological manifestations in COVID-19, particularly in the context of post-infection vaccination.
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Background Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency worldwide with scarce reports about its prevalence in the Middle East. To date, no epidemiological article has described the incidence of appendicitis in Lebanon. Our primary objective was to estimate the rate of appendicitis in a single center in Lebanon. Our secondary objectives included identifying differences between simple and complicated appendicitis regarding demographics, pre and postoperative characteristics, and symptoms and signs of appendicitis. Methodology A retrospective study was conducted at a single central university hospital in Lebanon. Patients with a clear diagnosis of acute appendicitis were included. Pregnant women, lactating women, patients with organ dysfunction, and patients younger than 18 years old or older than 80 years old were excluded. We reviewed and collected the data of patients who presented to the hospital between November 2018 and November 2019 and November 2020 and November 2021. Results A total of 95 patients were included in our study, with 35 women and 60 men. The mean body mass index of patients with simple appendicitis was 19.14 ± 9.66 kg/m2 compared to 18.97 ± 10.37 kg/m2 in patients with complicated appendicitis (p = 0.94). A total of 42.3% of patients who used antibiotics 24 hours after the operation had simple appendicitis, whereas 20.8% had complicated appendicitis (p = 0.004). Conclusions Antibiotic usage and the length of hospital stay were correlated with the severity of appendicitis, as reported in the literature. Further randomized studies with a larger number of patients and covering several hospitals in Lebanon are warranted.