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INTRODUCTION: A medical emergency known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) affects the ears suddenly, has a considerable probability of negative cognitive and functional outcomes, and can influence the patient's quality of life. Primary care physicians play a crucial role in diagnosing SSNHL and initiating prompt and efficient management since they are the ones who would likely encounter it initially. This study aims to evaluate the present knowledge, diagnostic, and management perspective of SSNHL among primary care physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A self-generated questionnaire with 17 questions was developed, and a link to the online survey was delivered to primary care physicians (PHPs) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, concerning the management of SSNHL. RESULTS: The knowledge level regarding SSNHL was evaluated, in which 21 (25%) of the participants had a low knowledge level, 34 (40.5%) had moderate knowledge, and 29 (34.5%) had a high knowledge level. Among 84 participants, 20 (23.8%) were confident in their ability to administer and understand the findings of tuning fork tests (TFT) to differentiate between sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss, whereas 64 (76.2%) were unsure about it. In addition, to distinguish between sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss, 62 (73.8%) participants were confident, and 22 (26.2%) participants were skeptical about their ability to interpret a formal audiogram. CONCLUSION: Considering SSNHL as a medical emergency, in our survey, many family doctors would make proper referral and treatment decisions. However, TFTs were underutilized for guiding management decisions compared to other ways to distinguish between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
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We report a case of antrochoanal polyp, which has unusual presentation according to the location of the polyp in a 15-year-female patient. The patient came complaining of nasal obstruction, headache, and postnasal drip for a two-week period. The antrochoanal polyp measured 2.5 x 2 cm in the left maxillary sinus and extended to the anterior part of the nasal cavity. CT imaging demonstrated a total opacified left maxillary sinus, maxillary ostium with widening of the left maxillary ostium by polypoid mucosal thickening suggesting an antrochoanal polyp obstructing the left anterior nasal cavity. This case is reported as there are not many articles in world literature describing an antrochoanal polyp presented in the anterior nasal cavity.
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CONTEXT: Epilepsy is said to be intractable when two or more trials of anticonvulsants fail to control the seizures. Literature suggests that intractable epilepsy carries a higher morbidity than controlled epilepsy in children and their caregivers. AIMS: The aim of this study is to assess the quality of life (QOL) in children with intractable epilepsy (IE) in KASCH, a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study utilizing a self-administered questionnaire filled by caregivers of epileptic patients visiting the outpatient neurology clinics. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The quality of life in childhood epilepsy (QOLCE-55) scale examined four domains of life: cognitive, emotional, social, and physical. The sample consisted of 59 parents whose children aged 4-14 of either sex. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The collected data were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. RESULTS: The mean age of children was 8.9 (SD = 2.9). The mean QOL was 52.8 (SD = 12.9), which reflected a poor QOL. Age was not related to the QOL. Gender was significantly associated with the total and social scores, (P = 0.04) (P = 0.001), respectively. Out of all comorbidities, global developmental delay (GDD) and encephalopathy were significantly associated with the QOL (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intractable epilepsy impacted all functioning domains of life rendering a poor QOL. Males have reported better QOL and social functioning compared to females. Children with GDD and encephalopathy showed lower well-being.