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Introduction Overcrowding in emergency departments (EDs) is still a national and international issue. Among the variables contributing to this crisis are an increase in patient numbers and the severity of sickness. One significant issue that has not yet been addressed and is burdening healthcare facilities is the use of EDs by parents of children who have mild illnesses. Developing successful interventions requires an understanding of the factors that lead to nonurgent visits to pediatric EDs (PEDs). Our objective was to assess the variables that could influence parental visits to PEDs. Methodology In the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, between September and November 2023, a descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among parents who had previously visited a PED. The survey had 21 questions. Along with parental viewpoints and healthcare utilization, parents' evaluations of their child's emergency state were investigated. In addition to gathering and evaluating demographic data, the survey evaluated respondents' impressions of the severity of a disease or injury. Results A total of 776 participants were included in the study. The mean parental age was 32.1 ± 12.7 years, and approximately 32.1% of the participants' children were between the ages of 1 and 5. Nearly half of the children, 44.7%, visited the ED during the evening shift. The most common reasons for presenting were fever (50.5%) and upper respiratory tract symptoms (37.1%). Among these visits, parents perceived 48.5% as nonurgent and 30.2% as urgent. The majority of respondents (54.9%) had received advice before going to the ED. In most cases (47.9%), this was from a relative or a healthcare provider (16.7%). Conclusion This analysis identified some of the reasons parents bring their children to the ED for mild illnesses. The results emphasized the varied nature of the problem. Understanding the reasons for parental ED visits may help us better design targeted interventions to decrease unnecessary visits and lessen the burden on healthcare systems.
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Background Because of the use of invasive devices and procedures in critically sick patients, patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are particularly vulnerable to nosocomial infections. Although a significant illness may necessitate admission to the PICU, infections can also emerge after admission. Nosocomial infection is a major public health issue related to increased morbidity, death, and healthcare costs. This study aimed to determine the pattern, frequency, and outcomes of nosocomial infections among children who were admitted to the PICU. Methodology This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in the pediatric population aged from one month to 14 years old who acquired infections after 48 hours of admission to the PICU at East Jeddah General Hospital, Saudi Arabia from 2021 to 2022. The data were collected from medical and laboratory records. Results A total of 51 patients developed 145 nosocomial infections. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) were the most commonly reported type of nosocomial infections (28.3%). The majority of the isolated organisms (58.7%) were gram-negative, followed by fungal infections (35.1%) and gram-positive organisms (6.2%). The death rate for patients with nosocomial infections was 29.4%. Increased death rates among individuals with CLABSIs and gram-negative isolates were observed to be significantly correlated (p = 0.001). Conclusions Our findings suggest that regular surveillance systems were necessary to assess the relationship between these well-known risk variables with PICU, implying that preventing these infections through particular treatments could be cost-effective and contribute to the safety of healthcare systems.
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BACKGROUND: Migraine is a primary headache and a complicated neurological disorder with sensory and autonomic abnormalities. Many variables, including genetic and psychological ones, contribute to migraine onset and development. Anxiety and depression are typical psychiatric comorbidities among migraineurs. This kind of comorbidity increased migraine chronicity, treatment effectiveness, and the likelihood of additional comorbidities. The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of depression among Saudi migraine sufferers in AlAhsa. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional research of 101 migraine patients at King Fahd Hospital-Hofuf, AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia from May to December 2021. Depression was assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire which is a reliable tool (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 measures the presence and severity of depression. Consider sociodemographic, clinical, and individual variations that impact migraine development and prognosis. Results: The inclusion criteria were satisfied by 94 migraine patients in total, with a mean age of 36.9 ± 9 years and they are predominantly females 75.5%. The majority of the participants (76.6%) were on medication to relieve migraine attacks and only 13.9% reported that >75% of attacks were relieved by medication. Almost all of the patients (96.8%) used to drink coffee and tea. The prevalence of depression and migraine was revealed to be 42.6% mild and 8.5% severe among the participants. Four statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) were young age, being female, low level of education at higher risk to have depression compared to another group of migraineurs. CONCLUSION: A neurological disorder that commonly causes disability is migraine. Numerous studies have shown that mood disorders and migraines are often co-occurring, and these individuals are more likely to have a migraine-related disability. This research has shown that it is beneficial to prevent psychiatric comorbidity by using PHQ-9 as a regular screening tool for migraine patients.
